I made my first complete bait, and got the clear coat cured yesterday. I took it out on the lake and got bit! It was so friggin rewarding! I didn't hook up, but any time you get bit on a ~6oz bait its exciting. Add to the fact that it was my first wood bait, and my first attempt at airbrushing, it was pretty sweet. I can see now why some of you guys are into it! It wasnt really economical though. By the time I bought an airbrush, paints, and all of the ancillaries it was the same price as a premium swimbait that would look better. They just don't make one like mine!

nice. what kind of a crankbait was it? could you add some pics? nice job and yes, it is rewarding to catch a fish on something you made.

aaron

Its not a crank, it is a 9" topwater bait.

9inches?   You fishin for jaws over there in Cali?  Thats huge.    Good job though, I like making my own stuff too, but still have to get an airbrush.  Rattle can get it done, but no where near as good in the end.  

Nice lets see some pics. Won't be long before you'll be making baits for Matt.

I don't have any pictures of it yet. I'm working on another one now. Besides its not great looking. Nothing like some of the stuff I've seen here. It was just really cool to get bit on a bait that size that you built from scratch by yourself.

Your screwed now!   Thats how it starts then little by little you only use your stuff and you become completly obsessed with your next bait. You cary a notepad and pencil with you at all times incase you get an idea. You spend ALL your money on supplies. You lay awake in bed trying to solve the many little problems with your prototypes. You get no sleep. You find your self typing on mesage boards just to clear your mind. Yup your screwed!

It was so great getting that blowup. probably only a 4 or 5, but it wasnt a dink. blew up right at my feet and i jerked the bait out of her mouth. (super)Matt was like " DID YOU JUST GET FREAKIN BIT" as I was dancing around like a little girl jumping up and down. too funny. I can see what you are talking about Matt, this could get consuming. I work construction and roughed it out when i was bored one day. thing weighs like six ounces and its real tiring to work. so it sounds like bait making is pretty much the same as swimbaiting. lost sleep, no money, obsession. you're playing both sides of that coin, thats gotta be tough!

Your screwed now! Thats how it starts then little by little you only use your stuff and you become completly obsessed with your next bait. You cary a notepad and pencil with you at all times incase you get an idea. You spend ALL your money on supplies. You lay awake in bed trying to solve the many little problems with your prototypes. You get no sleep. You find your self typing on mesage boards just to clear your mind. Yup your screwed!

LOL thats exactly what I was thinking.  You will go to BPS to look at the products for color ideas instead of purchasing product.  Or is that just me?  But anyway sounds cool congrats.