BIG M

If I were a jig man that would be wow, but can't lay the crankin rod down long enough. Good looking bait there Mike.

String, two shades of yellow and green with brown stripe.

Here is a mixed batch of repaints (Dt16, DD22), cedar Big M deep diver, med and shallow divers, and 2 tiny tots.

Stringjam calls these the Big M Subs, both baits are large and diver very deep.

Batch of Yellow Perch jerk baits

Just some standard bass baits here

Here are a few of the baits I've been working on. 1st pic: Biggest and smallest cranks I make. Top bait is 4 inches long and weighes 2oz. Bottom 2 baits are 1-3/16 inches long and weigh 1/16oz.

White cedar is da bomb for building deep divers. I carves and sands much better than western red cedar. The only problem is finding a source to purchase boards finished to the sizes I need. String do those baits peak your interest

String, I'm always impressed with your eye for detail. The bottom two baits are new flatsides. I would not put these baits in with the Big-M Subs. These are 2.5 inches long or less and weigh in 1/2oz or less. I'm trying to build a smaller body that will reach 20 feet. A super deep diving finess crank.

Here are a few White Cedar and Balsa deep divers. These will cover the water from 10-18 feet.

Natural, that looks great for your first. Way ahead of my paint skills. What are you going to use for the clearcoat?

You do not need that thru wire harness, just some handmade screws. Those WEC's that you love so much do not have a thru wire harness. There is a piece of hard wood dowl stuck in the tail for that screw eye to hold in. The belly hanger is pre-made in a poured balast weight. I suggestion on your lip slot would be to measure, mark, and cut first before you cut the bodies out. It's a whole lot easier to get a straight cut that way. You did a very nice job on carving and sanding those bodies to shape.

Natural, that's a good brush you got. I recommend that you get Wildlife Colors airbrush paint and you'll be on your way. You will also need a drying wheel to turn your baits while the clearcoat is drying. Have you picked a product to use as a clearcoat? All of the products have stengths and weaknesses. You just have to find 1 that works for your needs.

Thanks guys I am very pleased with those baits but they could be better. The trick with stencils is not the painting but the cutting of the stencil. String you have a very good eye, very few of that body style in other hands but my own. That one has brought severl big fish to the boat this year. I do a deeper running bait from that style also.

I've starting to play with stencils and painting craw patterns. I need a lot more practice with the stencils but these will do for my brother.

Really cool looking blades

Here are a few off the drying wheel. Top bait is my signature flatside and the bottom bait is just fun to fish on light gear.

I've never used that brush but have read good things from guys that use it. The splatter tip is suppose to be the bomb. Do yourself a favor and spend the money on good paint. It will save you a lot of trouble from trying to spray cheap hobby paint. If you do go the hobby paint route, you will need a big bottle of extender and transparent base for thinning the paint.

wicky, LC does have a sexy shad pattern now. Fishing, sure you can paint any of those patterns. That is a simple pattern to copy. I bet with 1 practice bait you would have it down. I like the one with dark grey scales and a yellow stripe on the side. I've seen brown scales, light blue scales, dark blue scales, and it just depends on what colors work on your water. Strike King had 3 different versions of that color out for awhile. I don't know if they've narrowed it down or not. John Prior paints the best looking pattern I've seen.

Bottom bait is a simple baby bass, and I paint my name with a ballpoint pen.

both of those baits look very good. That sexy shad color pattern has been painted in different ways for over 20 yrs. You'll never match the color KVD uses, unless you know the guy that paints his baits.

These are for wading small creeks and rivers this summer for Brownies. Top bait is a reduced Long A and weighes just under 3/16oz. The bottom bait weighes right at 1/8oz. Both baits have nice little wiggle right on top.

Wicky, a little tip. Before you start all the fancy carving and finish work. Make sure your design is sound and will have the action you are looking for. Nothing hurts worse than to throw that beautiful bait, only to watch it roll back to you. Build it and test with a couple of clear coats on it. Make sure you can repeat the process, then do the finish work. Become the bait maker first then let the artist out. Have you fished those baits yet?

Sorry I forgot to add these. Sexy shad again with a twist and just plain.

kind of like this one. I can paint the sexy shad pattern in what ever color combo you want. SK has put color out in about 3 different combos.