I am a newbie here (although I have been making fishing lures for several years) and I was wondering where you get the fish patterns for photo finishes.

good 'ole google images.

or you can take them yourself if you have a nice camera. i've done both.

Thanks for the info! Now another question: How do you get mirror images of the fish?

print the fish image on tissue paper and glue it to foil (or foil tape) and then glue (or stick) the foil(tape) onto your bait.

you can print on tissue paper by taping a piece of tissue paper onto a piece of printer paper (dull side of the tissue up). be sure to completely tape the edges down, or it could foul up as it runs through the printer. only tape the edges though.

i have found that if you do the tissue/foil method, you get a decent image that is reflective, however, if you just print on printer paper and then glue that to foil and then on the bait, it provides more detail but its not reflective at all.

the easiest method i could think of would be to just use full sized adhesive sticker paper in your printer. you can buy it at staples, etc. i really want to try this. i think next time i go out i'll pick up some of this adhesive paper and try it out.

heres a great tutorial on how to photofinish: http://www.tackleunderground.com/forum/hardbait-how/12431-photo-finishing-foil-faux-finishes.html

How do you get mirror images of the fish?

When you are printing the image from your computer you can reverse it using any simple photo editing or painting software. If you don't know how to do it, tell us what operating system you are using and if you have any photo editing software and we can tell you how to do it.

As far as Dave's comment about printing on the full-size sticker sheets, that is what I do and recommend.

How do you get mirror images of the fish?

When you are printing the image from your computer you can reverse it using any simple photo editing or painting software. If you don't know how to do it, tell us what operating system you are using and if you have any photo editing software and we can tell you how to do it.

As far as Dave's comment about printing on the full-size sticker sheets, that is what I do and recommend.

jeez, i need to read more carefully. when i read his question, i thought he meant mirror images as in shiny, not as in reverse. lol  :

Thanks for the input! Both tips were a big help.