nrivergeek

Who ever painted these sure as hell never saw a brook trout LOL .. chartreuse brookies ? LOL, even the brown is eh not so hot.. for ghost perch , I buy some china unpainted lures, http://www.dingerbaits.com/store/c2/Unpainted_Crankbaits.html and paint them how I want for ghost lures, take a look at this video called antique minnow

If you fish rocky lakes and rivers .. 40 is doable ,

there is another option been hearing about .. its been around awhile ..Its not really something you want to use indoors.. KBS Diamond Clear , its moisture cure urethane .. dip and drip no spinning .. I here others swear that its the best ever.. but its not cheap, and would only advise to use outdoors, or lots of ventilation like open garage and a respirator . https://www.kbs-coatings.com/DiamondFinish-Clear.html

For most retail lures .. try acetone.. and paint lures isnt that hard.. you can repaint with rattle cans of auto paint and a rattle can clear coat to keep the cost down.. if you want to get really into it get a low cost airbrush .. master brand from tcp global . then upgrade to better airbrush once you get better. You can get started for under 100 bucks to airbrush .I bought used 30 dollar compressor and a harbor frieght brush 10 years ago .never looked back make 90% the baits I use now You tube is your best friend just search for begginer airbrushing, and painting crankbait videos Here is a few I painted

I use US Composites Kleer Koat .. 2 part epoxy http://www.uscomposites.com/epoxy.html

I Make most of my own tackle in general .. cheaper, and can do it how I want.. crankbaits I buy unpainted cranks and paint them and repaint old lures found.. as well as make balsa and cedar crankbaits..and yes custom does catch more .. If won many tournaments on my own handmade cranks.. fished right behind other boats that where fishing a variety of jigs and cranks.. they caught none or a couple dinks .. I came through and caught 30 lb bag in the same area lol .. so yes custom can be better , sometimes its the small differences.. vibration different something that the fish in the area have never seen.. here is a couple of mne.. the group of four are balsa, the other is a unpainted bait I buy

I change boats about once sometimes even twice a year.. keep finding bargains I cant pass up.. Ive had at least 30 boats in 20 yrs, sometimes I have 5 or 6 in the yard .. right now Im down to one a 1986 Hydra-Sport Vee Star 150 w/90hp erude I have $500 in it so far and Im restoring this one new transom stringers and floor, new top cap paint, new upholstery, new carpet, etc etc .. I plan on keeping this one awhile .. but then again I say that on most of them lol