BIG M

Sorry for the crazy pics, my photo shop is on crack.

Here are few baits I just finished.

Here is a new batch fresh off the drying wheel. Old school Tenn Shad and my version of Chartruse shad. Both colors have a little Big M twist.

Thanks for the kind words fellas.

Very nice looking bait, glad to see you painting some purple.

I use windex and water mixed 50/50 with about a table spoon of dish soap in the mix. It's the only solution I ever use to clean my brush. I'm going to start adding a table spoon of simple green to the mixture to see if it works better. I tear my brush apart maybe every 3 to 6 months for a full cleaning. One tool I use is a squirt bottle with a very small tip that fits in the back of the brush and a good flushing from that direction really helps clean out any excess paint.

use a longer rod 6-6.5' and up the power to light or mag light. that will help you get some distance without having to whip the bait. Learn to feather the line with your finger to control how hard the bait hits the water. I make a lot of ul balsa cranks and the rod up grade helped alot with casting the tiny ul baits. Give braid a try 10/2 or 8/1, it will last you for several seasons so it's worth the cost.

I brush on my clear coat and since it's a 2 part epoxy it is self leveling. I use flex coat ultra v and it's the best for me. Other guys will tell you about what is the best clear coat for them. Each product and method of application has it's own + and -. You have to figure out what will work for you. I can only give you my expericence with Devcon and flex coat, these are the only products I've used.

Very nice pics, you should have no trouble painting baits. Now I would suggest to set the jointed baits to the side and practice on some regular cranks. Jointed baits are hard to clear coat and may cause you some frustration. You will need to rig up something to hold the joints in line to clear coat. I'm looking forward to watching you progress with the bait painting. I sure I will hate you in about 2 weeks. It's really not hate but *** as I never like any of my painted baits.

Here is a new batch I finished this weekend.

Thanks guys and that is a Charlie O clone. I'm more impressed that someone is using a spinning rod to fish cranks. I thought that I was the only one in the world, I don't feel so lonely now.

I like that color pattern, keep up the good work.

Those look like some ticked off warts, me like.

Still trying to master the older Bagley baits. Tough patterns to carve but these came out pretty good.

Very nice Jon

Jon, you just suck. You've painted like 10 baits now and you could paint for Lucky Craft. I've seen all the big name painter's work and you are ahead of most right now. That bait looks as good or better than any I've seen or painted myself. I'm very jealous of your talent with the airbrush.

I've been playing around with mixing a faded Chart. color. Now to fade the blue a little more and that color will be perfect. Those are B2 clones sort of, those baits are smaller. I have not painted the true B2 clones yet.

The rest of this batch

Here are a few baits finished this past weekend. All sizes and colors mixed in this batch. Most have square lips.

That's a great looking sunfish pattern to me. I personal don't like exact look alike baits. I want a bait with similar coloration but it also needs to stand out from the crowd.

You have been busy and the new brush looks to be working just fine. Great looking baits there.

Don't be so hard on yourself, those baits look just fine. A different look in the water may be just the ticket. You best look for a different clear coat to protect your hard work. If ilove2fish says it's not any good then that is as good as gets. Dude knows his stuff.

That's the reason I stayed with devcon for 5yrs but I found 1 better in flex coat ultra v. E-tex, devcon, and flex coat have been tested over the yrs by many lure buiders and all three have passed the test of time. I still fish baits made 6yrs ago with the devcon still holding strong.

I hate all of you guys that can paint. I've been at this for 7yrs now and I still can't paint like that. Jon, you did an excellent job on both baits. I'm not sure about drilling eye sockets thru the epoxy sealer. Let me know how that goes on the next batch.

Great post and thanks for the info.