BassThumb Posted February 13, 2011 Posted February 13, 2011 What's the reasoning behind painting crankbaits, especially bright colored crankbaits, with flat finishes? Are there any advantages over gloss finishes, or vice versa? For example, the Chart Light Blue color from Lucky Craft is one of only a handful of baits from LC that has a flat finish, and I can't see a little glare from a bait this bright scaring any fish off. Granted, a darker or more subtle color like the Rootbeer Craw may be a different story. Quote
Steven Ladner Posted February 13, 2011 Posted February 13, 2011 I'm not too sure what difference having a flat finish will make on certain patterns. I assume their available just to offer us another type of crank to choose from. I personally don't care for them at all. Quote
BassThumb Posted February 13, 2011 Author Posted February 13, 2011 I personally don't care for them at all. Any particular reason? Quote
Steven Ladner Posted February 13, 2011 Posted February 13, 2011 Just my preference, I like a glossier finish. I know some guys like to use them. I've never given one a try before, so I can't really say how good they are. Maybe others who fish them will chime in soon Quote
BassThumb Posted February 13, 2011 Author Posted February 13, 2011 I have fished some Xcaliber XR50 lipless cranks with the flat finish. I can't say that I noticed any difference in catch rates. Quote
detroit1 Posted February 13, 2011 Posted February 13, 2011 I too have wondered about flat vs. glossy. The glossy looks great to we humans, but would a flat finish appeal a little more to the bass? If any devcon 2ton guys out there that tried to"flatten" their topcoats please chime-in with your results and procedures..thanks Quote
Super User Grey Wolf Posted February 13, 2011 Super User Posted February 13, 2011 Differant paint schemes are to catch people. Quote
Stringjam Posted February 14, 2011 Posted February 14, 2011 The idea of flat finishes underwater cracks me up. Umm..nothing is "flat" when you get it wet. Quote
WanderLust Posted February 14, 2011 Posted February 14, 2011 Differant paint schemes are to catch people. This. Its caught me a few times as well. Quote
CRANKSTER Posted February 14, 2011 Posted February 14, 2011 Differant paint schemes are to catch people. This. Its caught me a few times as well. Catches me everytime I go to a fishing store... Quote
Pantera61 Posted February 14, 2011 Posted February 14, 2011 The idea of flat finishes underwater cracks me up. Umm..nothing is "flat" when you get it wet. I don't think it's a matter of flat vs gloss. If you look at injured or dying bait fish, there is a loss of iridescence, a dull pallor as opposed to healthy fish's sheen. There's also a difference in shell color when a crawfish is molting as opposed to a solid shell. Both are indicators of weak or compromised prey and the bass MAY trigger on that. Personally, I preferred matte or powdered finishes until this past summer when a metal finished bait just kicked serious bass booty. Now, I'll start with the metal finish and work my way down to more subtle baits rather than the other way around. Quote
tholmes Posted February 16, 2011 Posted February 16, 2011 Some colors, especially flourescent colors like chartreuse and the "hot" pinks and oranges appear brighter as a flat finish. This is because the glossy topcoat reflects a bit of light. These flat finish colors would be brighter underwater also as the glossy topcoat would still reflect some of the available light. But I don't think the fish would notice. Tom Quote
Pantera61 Posted March 7, 2011 Posted March 7, 2011 The idea of flat finishes underwater cracks me up. Umm..nothing is "flat" when you get it wet. I don't think it's a matter of flat vs gloss. If you look at injured or dying bait fish, there is a loss of iridescence, a dull pallor as opposed to healthy fish's sheen. There's also a difference in shell color when a crawfish is molting as opposed to a solid shell. Both are indicators of weak or compromised prey and the bass MAY trigger on that. Personally, I preferred matte or powdered finishes until this past summer when a metal finished bait just kicked serious bass booty. Now, I'll start with the metal finish and work my way down to more subtle baits rather than the other way around. A quite productive metallic finish ... Quote
ChiCityBasser Posted March 8, 2011 Posted March 8, 2011 I read something on tackletour regarding the live target lures and the flat vd glossy finish. In the article is said something to the effect of the flat finish getting more catches in clearer water vs the glossy finish being better in stained or murky water. Quote
Randall Posted March 8, 2011 Posted March 8, 2011 I was at a lake a long time ago probably 20 years ago and saw who I was pretty sure was David Fritts from a distance putting a boat in. When I pulled up next to the truck in the parking lot later there was a bunch of cranks hanging in the sun in his truck to fade the finish. I assume thats where it started with dulled and flat finishes since people had told me he did it to dull the finish later. I don't know if it works but I was sure he wouldn't go to all that trouble to hang them in a truck if he wasn't convinced it did something. Quote
Avalonjohn44 Posted March 8, 2011 Posted March 8, 2011 I was at a lake a long time ago probably 20 years ago and saw who I was pretty sure was David Fritts from a distance putting a boat in. When I pulled up next to the truck in the parking lot later there was a bunch of cranks hanging in the sun in his truck to fade the finish. I assume thats where it started with dulled and flat finishes since people had told me he did it to dull the finish later. I don't know if it works but I was sure he wouldn't go to all that trouble to hang them in a truck if he wasn't convinced it did something. They were probably wooden baits hanging in his truck. A lot of old timers believe that when a crank absorbs the heat it changes the action of the bait and the heat also makes the fish think the bait is something other than a chunk of wood. Read this in bassmasters years ago... Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.