Hey folks, Pictured below is probably my best producing squarebill color last fall, the little reflective “scales” started coming off after some use and I was wondering if there was any sort of overcoat I could spray on that might keep them on while not interfering with the reflectiveness of them. Thanks in advance.

 

 

You can try Devcon 2 Ton 30 minute. It will definitely seal everything in, however it may add some weight to your crankbait.

27 minutes ago, cadman said:

You can try Devcon 2 Ton 30 minute. It will definitely seal everything in, however it may add some weight to your crankbait.

Thank you! I think I found a nice quick dirty solution, I looked up some crankbait finishing videos on YouTube and one of the comments mentioned nail polish, I happened to have some clear nail polish which I brushed a thin coat of over the affected areas, seems like it may do the trick, time will tell...

Nail polish will work mas well.

I know you want to protect it and all but I would do anything to it. Keep fishing it. 
 

Look to getting a spare or second one and even start fishing that one also. 
 

Maybe I’m crazy and maybe I’m stupid but I find that my Old crankbaits Work better than when they were new. 
 

I fish a lot of Rapalas for Smallies and rocks can put dings in them (not cracks) down to the balsa. I fill that ding with nail polish. Couple of coats. 

A lot of my best producing crankbaits have little to no paint/finish left on them. Adding anything onto that bait is going to change its action (slightly). My advice is buy a few backups in the same color and fish that one until the wheels fall off. 

An extremely light dusting of some spray stuff, enamel, or whatever will stop the flake from falling off and probably won't hardly be noticed afterwards.

I've used the nail polish trick- didn't last very long

Then I tried the hard as nails polish - didn't last very long either

Tried the 5 minute epoxy - this worked better but also eventually chipped up

 

So I bought about a dozen more of the same lure.

Something about that one specific model brings the fish even with 1/2 the paint chipped off.

Try a can of  this. It dries fast and provides a tough coat of protection

 

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Seaside-Rust-Oleum-American-Accents-2X-Ultra-Cover-Gloss-Spray-Paint-12-oz/988585089?wl13=2537&selectedSellerId=0&adid=22222222222139590590&wmlspartner=wmtlabs&wl0=e&wl1=o&wl2=c&wl3=74904298584993&wl4=pla-4578503869225090&wl5=&wl6=&wl7=& wl10=Walmart&wl12=988585089_0&wl14=Rustoliuum X-2 spray&veh=sem&msclkid=ffd3e7c54caa193b7fc5b9838555637f