chromedog

Bluesky and Simp, Thanks for the heads up. It is a fairly new technique and I have only used casting reels for one season now. I have 6lb and 4lb fluro that I use for dropshotting so I just used what I had, I will pick up some 15 as you guys suggested. Sadly my season has wound down. Got one more trip to fish for smallies and then done for the year, dog gone northeast weather. So I will be doing a lot of practicing and painting lures over the winter.

Is yellowing just something we have to live with or are there plenty on the market that do include a uv protectant?

It is my understanding that epoxy will yellow with direct sunlight. Do you guys experience this with the topcoats you use?

After doing some research and getting great info from you guys I just realized you guys were pretty much using a clear casting epoxy. It is the same stuff you would pour in a mold with say some little item and create a paperweight. Once I seen it was basically the same stuff used on bars and tables at sports bars to seal memorabilia like sports cards to a table. I can find that stuff in my local art supply store.

So it is possible to brush it on. I was hoping so. I hate spraying topcoat, no matter what kind. So as long as it contains epoxy, it will self level? I am going to head out to the hardware store and look at what they have to offer, just wanna make sure I have a direction. I hate looking like a lost puppy and standing around for 20 minutes trying to decide, lol. Thanks

As I prepare on my maiden voyage I am wondering about applying the clear coat and what type to use. For those that dip, do you find it difficult to achieve and even finish without buildup? What do you use? Have you ever tried it on lures with a joint such as Jointed Rapala style or swimbaits? Does it affect the joints? Has anyone tried brushing on the clear coat? Does it cause streaking? I am hoping to stay away from spraying the clear coat as that is so toxic and is very hard on the airbrush.

I have painted some plastics like mailboxes, helmets and vinyl. I have also painted on sculpy and metal before (also cloth, t-shirts, leather etc.) Is there any little quirks about the properties of the baits to watch out for? Also, are you guys using aerosol can clear coating or are you spraying it through your airbrush? What kind are you using to make sure you are protected from water?

Some airbrushed, some in pen and ink and the one is graphite drawing. I use to do a lot of stuff for the UKC and the NAPBTA.

I ordered (3) hard, jointed swimbaits in 5.5" to get started on. Anyone have any suggestions or warnings before I get started? Any little tips or tricks? I will be using createx paints, and basecoat, but haven't chosen a topcoat yet. I use to airbrush a lot and I use to do a lot of artwork but fishing has replaced that as #1 hobby. Here are a few pictures I did a few years ago...Wish me luck, I appreciate any tidbits anyone can offer. I will update soon.

I am getting my brush and stuff set to start painting as the fishing season is almost done for me. Where can I look at/purchase some swimbait blanks to paint? Nothing huge, maybe some 4 and 5 inchers? Thanks

When you were pitching, how tight did you set the cast control knob? I am trying to learn as well. I picked up a 7' BPS MH Extreme rod and Extreme reel and I put 30lb braid with a 6lb fluorocarbon leader on it. I could get it to go short distances and then the lure would swing right back at me. So it wasn't staying where I wanted it. I think I have the knob too tight, I set it like I would if I was going to cast the lure, tight enough to hit the water and stop. Also, how long of a leader do you guys use? I put on a 4' lead but not sure if that is too long or short.

I have a sahara 2500 I use for drop-shotting and I love the reel. Smooth and powerful, but the bail wire always makes me feel like I will destroy it. It is just so thin. I was wondering about the cardinal as it seems to be in the same neighborhood of quality of the shimano and it has a heavier bale wire. But I do love my sahara so I am up in the air and wanted to see what people thought that have used them.

I am trying to decide between two spinning reels. There is about a 10 dollar difference in price, so the price isn't a deciding factor. Does anyone have any experience with these reels that they can share? Can't make up my mind. The reel will be on a 7' MH spinning rod. I will use it as a kind of "do all" set up. Throw small stick baits, sencos and other weightless soft plastics, small cranks etc..... Thanks

I believe Tpayneful sold the boat to a guy in Kirkwood NY. I think the picture that is on here even has a for sale sign. I really like the boat, so far, but wanna make sure that I don't have a constant headache. A 30 year old boat is a little scary but if it was well taken care of I think she will have several more years of fishing left in her.

Thanks for the advice. I figured a test drive would expose any loss of power issues. I have been on boats since the time I was little and I have done a lot of work on my buddies boat but this will be my first and I wanna make sure I get what I want, as well as, if not more important, get a realiable boat.

I thought the same about the price. I am thinking that if a test drive shows everything works and has been well maintained that 2200 would be a nice open to negotiations.

I have been researching getting a boat, nothing fancy, used boat to get me out there without relying on others. I came across what I perceive as a good deal and since I have gotten great advice on other things here, figured I would ask the "brain trust" what they thought. 1980 15'6 " Skeeter Bass Boat 70 HP Evinrude with tilt trim clean trailer with new tires and wheels and updated wiring and safty chains 40lb thrust Minn Kota bow mounted trolling motor two Minn Kota Depth Finders, one bow one center livewell and bilge pump new waterproof CD player and speakers newer wiring harness and batteries decking only a few years old two pedestal seat and two center seats, no rips or tears rod saver. life jacket and net lights, paddle, and more $2600 OBO I talked to the guy and he seems straight up. We talked a little fishing etc and he seems like a stand up guy. Everything works and is in good condition from his statements. Any input would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

We got out about 6:30, 7 am ish to sunny but cold morning. Hit the first spot, 1 Sm and 1 rock bass, both landed by my dad. We move over to the next spot and we can see them in about 20' of water but unable to get them to bite. I was throwing a shad colored rapala suspending bait (which usually kills them) and got nothing. My brother threw a lot of this and that, but with no bites. My dad was throwing a yo-zuri stick bait and floating a real worm. Slow morning so far. I switch over and throw a 5" pumpkin single tail GYCB grub. I get one decent one swimming it. I also get one on a 4" Aarons magic roboworm dropshotting. So far I am ahead of my brother and rubbing it in. After several drifts we shoot down the lake and finally find a pattern. We are sitting in 25-30' of water. So I drop shot, and the fishing really began. I nailed several decent ones in the next hour, but I was the only one hitting. Over the next hour or so I get a couple more, with a few rock bass scattered in. Now my brother is sick of it, so he grabs my roboworms and a dropshot weight and rigs up on his yellow fireline. I think he got one. He decides the water is just to clear for yellow fireline and switches to 6lb mono. I guess they could see the fireline. He proceeds to get about 4 or 5 in the next half hour. Well, we knew his wife would be chomping at the bit to get home so we got off the water. My dad didn't get a whole lot. He is old school and still uses a lot of live bait but he didn't have minnows and I think it hurt his totals a little. But I was not only successful in out-fishing my brother, but he had to steal stuff from me to finally get some. Either way, it was awesome to spend some time with my dad and brother. Next trip is to the St. Lawrence to fish for LM. Thanks guys for the tips. I would have never thought of throwing the Aaron's magic color, or the grubs. Normally I stick bait till I can't feel my arm. On a side note, I went out with my buddy on our little fishing lake we spend a ton of time on, Friday. I decided to try out the Aarons magic and had to stop using them as they were getting destroyed. My favorite color had been the shad roboworm. I was quickly converted. I seriously out fished my buddy, but he just had to say "you aren't using your pole with the senco, let me throw it for a minute before we leave". So I said go ahead....worst mistake....first cast, as soon as the dang thing lands, huge splash.....to make a long story short (since I didn't catch it, lol) about 7-1/2 to 8lb largemouth. I couldn't believe it. But it is funny because I keep telling him I have no idea what he is talking about as I didn't even bring my camera and his cell phone was dead. HAHHAHHHA. Great fishing weekend.

According to the local report stickbaits and tubes have been the trick the last week. I do have my dropshot set-up ready to roll and I do have a full pack of Aaron's magic ready. The lake is huge and can be overwhelming but we have a few proven areas that usually allows us to get our limits. But with the new moon being tomorrow and the massive temperature drop, I am hoping that they are hungry and we can pick up some really nice ones. There has to be something said for the quality of SM in big, open, deep waters!

Ok, I went out to my local little shop, they mostly are fly gear as it is the home of Cortland Line Co., but they do carry a small amount of bass gear. I know these guys have a small, very small amount of GYCB and I was able to pick up a package of 5" grubs in Watermelon w/balck flake and pumpkin (motoroil color) w/ black flake. Nice soft baits. I looked it up on a few websites and $6.99 seems to be the going price. I got them for $5.25 a pack. Their senco's were the same price! But anyways, what size jighead do you guys suggest for these grubs? I found all I had was some 1/4oz heads in different colors.

Thanks, I am going to give it a whirl. Any color in particular of tubes? I know I have everything from white to purples and perch colors. Am I correct in assuming I am going to try and match the crayfish in color?

I will be running 6lb yo-zuri. With the grubs and the tubes, can I use pegged bullet weights and a bead?

I assume you are saying the 5" grubs? Rig them on a 1/4 or 3/8 oz shakey head or a jig head and drag/bounce them or swim them? I am gonna go grab a few of the GYCB's tonight, I see there are only a couple of colors, so I will probably go with smoke. If I can get some of the skirted ones I will grab some kind of brown/crawfish colored.

Actually forgot about those, I do have several booyah jigs and trailers I have used in the past and a pretty decent amount of tube baits (no real confidence in them yet). So for the most part, drag those jigs and tube baits right along the bottom? The majority of the bottom is rock/sand, very little weeds on this lake. One of my major drop offs has some weeds, but nothing like largemouth habitat.

I have a lake I will be fishing this weekend with my brother and father. Now my brother and I grew up fishing and hunting. We lived in the inner city and that is what my father did to keep us out of trouble. Now he is about 3 hours away and we don't get to fish a whole lot together anymore so when we do.....it is war, the s#@t talking is non-stop. I really want to pound him this time around, lmao. Now I have fished the lake before, we are dealing with all small mouth. The lake is extremely clear and clean and is very deep, depths up to 300 feet. I believe it is the cleanest lake in the US...Skaneateles, in upstate NY. I have a couple of spots where I have mapped big time drop offs as well as a couple of shallow shorelines that hold fish in the early morning hours. I am usually throwing suspended stick bait the whole time I am out as that seems to keep me getting bit. What else do you guys suggest....I have a great drop shot rig, 4" roboworms, gulp leeches; I have brush hogs and beavers. Plenty of rat l traps and stick baits. I know a lot of the smallies I catch on there are spitting up tons of crayfish. How would you attack this besides throwing the suspended baits?