Stringjam

Indeed it is. I painted it over a base of Kosmic Krome (which is also the bars) to give it the really metallic look. The Krome is really neat, but loses it's brilliance when you hit it with clear (it looks like the Terminator robot before that... ;D)

That's sort of what I was going for. One of my best baits last year was a crank I got from Japan.....the finish was black with an abalone shell insert - so as the bait comes through the water, it gives the profile and look of black, but as it rolls and the sun hits the sides, it throws off a colorful flash.

Wow - - awesome stuff!

Messing around with some new ideas / paints and stuff. Photos aren't that great - always out of natural light when I get these things done.

Those are just too cool!! Great job - idea - execution!

EWG's stick and hold more bass for me than any other treble I've used...period. And that includes Owner Stingers. I keep hearing these "theories" about how their design doesn't stick fish as well as a round bend. Real-world is experience is the only basis for my recommendation....give them a try. Just don't get your hand anywhere near them when the fish is floppin' around by the boat, or you'll find out how "inferior" their hooking ability really is. ;D

Thanks! Like Toledo said - HOK acrylic urethanes and auto clear

+1....I like how you come up with interesting settings for your shots. I never would have thought of an air filter - - it compliments that bait perfectly. 8-)

Very nice - the shrunken Charlie-O looks killer!

That is my favorite trap color, period. I just wish that color was available from Jackall, Excalibur, or Lucky Craft. I end up throwing the trap I think is better (the aforementioned baits), but that is the best shad pattern IMHO. What are you talking about, Natural? You have an airbrush, which means that EVERYBODY has a bait available in Smokey Joe.

Lookin' good bnw - - you definitely have the bluegill vibe down pat!

+1 - - looks like a very cool little design.

It's a Bagley Baitfish......they're crap - I just use them for paint practice.

I almost threw my airbrushes through the air trying to paint this thing, and then almost threw my camera through the air trying to take a decent picture......so there ya go.....hope you like. ;D This one went more smoothly....

Nice job, Toledo - - I like the lime version as well.

I agree. Great looking paint jobs there!

I know....I don't want to sound like I'm down on Brian or anything, because I really support these guys and realize that they need to make a decent profit to stay in business - but I pay almost half that much to get crankbaits shipped to me all the way from Japan. There's also a lot of good custom cranks out there right now and quite a bit of competition. Cranks from Zoom, BlackJack, BigM, JawJacker, FlatShad, CLU, Richard Manley (RAM), etc......all worth looking into. I haven't had the same experience as lkn with ThunderShad, however. I got a "Rick Clunn" shallow, fat crank and that thing was a big disappointment. I would take a $4 Speed Trap over it any day. Maybe there's some other models in the lineup I would prefer, but I would be hard pressed to spend more of my money on them after that crank.

I think application should be noted when discussing something like this. To some people "cranking" means throwing a Rat-L-Trap out in open water or a diver down a rocky, clean bank. Sure-Sets might work great for that. This is one of my cranking spots, though.....and if you've got a bait with Sure-Sets on it, you're going to pull your hair out trying to get it through.

I have them on several baits.....basically a good treble hook from VMC. I prefer Gamakatsu EWG or Owner Stingers.

I have the Little Bee and the Mighty Bee. The Little Bee has a very wide action for a flatsided crank. Good bait for throwing in heavy cover in stained water. I don't care for using it in other typical flatsided situations because I much prefer a tighter action. The Mighty Bee was supposed to be based on the Little Petey design and it isn't. On the website it says it's one of Brian's favorite baits. I haven't used it enough to say. Moderately tight action and high buoyancy. The couple of baits I have seem to be built and finished very well - as they should be since they're in the upper end of the price range for custom cranks. I haven't tried more of his baits because I don't dig paying the $7 shipping. Ordering one bait and paying that much to get it shipped is lame. Especially when they don't come with hooks. If I ever get enough scratch to order more than one bait at a time then maybe I'll give some more a try. ;D

Nice job, Marty - - you've been a busy guy!

Those things are heinous...I replace them both.

Nice job, Marty - - - the chocolate shad is killer.

French Fries are old-school......they were calling them that 15 years ago when I started fishing them for the first time. I've caught a TON of bass on them - spots, smallies and largemouth. Go-to Carolina rig bait for sure. The Zoom is great, though there isn't really much of a difference in any of brands I've used......we're just talking about a little straight piece of soft plastic here.