purpurite

You're not going to get consistency in any paint brand that you are looking for. You will need to thin all paints to some degree, and not with water. I use any clear glass cleaner, like Stoner's from a spray bottle but the Createx and Wicked reducers also work well. 4012 or 4013 is my go-to if I am using one of their color shift paints. You are likely shooting too low of an air pressure with paints that are not reduced enough. I will shoot anywhere from 20psi to 50psi unless I am doing detail work, which requires more reducing and lower pressures. Also you should be reading your air pressures while the trigger is held open, not static. PSI only matters while paint is flying, not when the trigger is closed. I have been using Createx/Wicked/Faskolor paints for over 30 years with excellent results on R/C lexan bodies, motorsports helmets and all types of fishing lures. It's not the paint. There is a learning curve with painting and airbrushing, like any other craft. It's not going to come overnight. I have a painting series on YouTube @squareheadbaits that can help guide you through the process with a little less stress. It's not difficult to get awesome results, you just shouldn't expect it in the first few days of using an airbrush. Oh, and you were smart to dump the HF airbrush. Nothing but headaches with cheap equipment. Oh, and you mentioned some of the "detail" paints from Wicked... they are essentially transparents or candy colors. You shoot them over other colors to adjust tones, and yes, moss green is a must-have. I also use detail smoke black, yellow ochre, burnt sienna and sepia a lot for lifelike fish colors. Here's the trick with the details, though, I shoot them NOT REDUCED and at 40-50psi. I sometimes will shoot fluorescents like that, too. It's counter-intuitive to everything I know about Createx-based paints, but it works.

Use 303 Protectant if you are worried about UV, if anything—no waxes on the plastic, it's not necessary and doesn't do anything to help.

The best advice, right here. If you aren't peeing at all, you're dehydrated. You have to keep drinking water, and be alert to the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

I use a Plano Stowaway box, 3440. It's water-tight, and it fits my phone and GoPro batteries and cards and keys, if I don't put them in a center console on the yak. Best part is that it floats if it falls over.I use a Plano Stowaway box, 3440. It's water-tight, and it fits my phone and GoPro batteries and cards and keys, if I don't put them in a center console on the yak. Best part is that it floats if it falls over. It's like $5 at Walmart.

I had the same issue on my MGL and it sent me into mild panic. I pulled the spool out, put it back in and made sure it was fully seated in the drive cup. Make sure the latch is fully wide open on the side plate, and that the side plate goes on perfectly square. It's quite fiddly but I was able to get it to sit flat and lock. For me, it was just a matter of getting everything perfectly aligned to get it all seated.

Don't rule out buying anything second-hand. I looked for 6 months on CL and FB Marketplace, as I wanted something fairly specific and in a certain color. I had my list of 2 or 3 different boats I wanted, and I watched the market asking prices for boats that disappeared fast and ones that stuck around in listings for a long time. A week ago tonight, I picked up my 2020 Vibe Sea Ghost 110 about 40 minutes from my office. It had been used once in a river, and like most Covid recreational purchases, was never used again. The seller had listed it on FB as "Kayak" with poor photos and no description at all. I'm still not sure how I found it a half hour after it was listed. I couldn't get there fast enough. Bought it for 50¢ on the dollar for the price of a brand new one. It needed the rudder and pedals set up correctly and a good wash, and it's like brand new. Can't wait to get it out on the water. Don't give up on one if you want it. There is one out there with your name on it.

Laws and rules are not established to remove stupidity completely—just minimize the overall damage to the rest of us.

I managed to get in touch with Steve Corley, who is the nephew of the late Bobby Ditto, the creator of this bait and many others. Here's what I learned... These little snake-headed worms were indeed called the Ditto Verifier, named by the late Dr Loren Hill, because, "these baits will always verify if there are any bass down there or not." He had something to do with the development of the Snatrix, too, and the matter of which came first is up for argument. The Verifier was first molded in 1980. The funky caramel/purple one was called Chocolate Motor Oil, and the back and blue was called (you guessed it), Black and Blue Laminate. He said they were available in both 3" and 11" versions if you can believe that. And it's true that Terry Scroggins owns all of the old Ditto molds and produces them mostly for himself, but does give them away on his social accounts from time to time. Fun little fishing tackle archeology adventure. Can't wait to see how these work, once I figure out the best way to rig one up.

i prefer as fast of a ratio as possible—it's way easier to slow my reel-in than it is to speed up. i want 8 on all of my reels, but 7 is acceptable if it's the fastest of my choices. i don't like anything slower than a 7, personally. i have a 6 on my frog setup and it's my least favorite combo to use.

remember, when the temps of the water and air combined are are less than 120°, hypothermia is the top lottery winner. know the risks before you go out.

Use a little raw Plastisol with the old cut down plastic, and use a heat stabilizer. Microwave back up until it melts down again. Stir often.

Big fan of Z-man Ned baits, but I could do without all of the babysitting the Elaztech to keep it away from every other plastic on the planet. I keep them all in their original bags like they recommend, though I would rather sort my stuff in 3600/3700 tackle boxes.

There are a few really good FB groups for lure painting and a handful of excellent YouTube channels, too. I'd recommend joining and following a couple of those—you'll be surprised at some of the talent out there. Some incredible talent showing off on Instagram, too.

i really like elaztech baits but i hate storing them. they have warped or distorted every container i have had them in, including BUZBE cases. i don't usually keep baits in the bags that they come in preferring to box everything, but for my Z-man stuff i leave it all in the original zip bags and use the plano 1-compartment boxes to store them all. it's the least offensive solution to my OCD organization issues.

I would agree with the CVT comment, too. I'm definitely not a fan, but I don't hate it enough to make me not love my car. I don't think I would buy another CVT car, though. I don't know how to describe it. I have had 35 cars since I was 15 and only 3 of them were automatics, so it could just be my dislike for automatic transmissions, in general. It just feels vague and disconnected, if that makes any sense. Just saw a Car & Driver list of the top 10 fastest selling new cars and the Crosstrek was number 1, with cars not sitting on dealer lots longer than 7.5 days at the most. Tough to get anywhere, and many dealers are marking them up $1500-$2500 over sticker. Dealers are calling owners like me and offering more than I paid a year and a half ago to buy them back.