Lure Mods

[BocaGrande]

Does anyone modify their hard baits? Things like adding stripes on the sides or feathers at the tail? I like to tinker with my tackle and was wondering if there was anything I could do to make the lures more appealing to bass

Thanks!

[BASSPATROL247]

I modify lots of my baits usually by adding some different color/colors but ive added eyes to spinnerbait blades,put blades on any lure that you can probably think of. Ive took sandpaper and scuffed up baits so they are not so shiny and bright(i do this alot).. cant give ya no secret on how to make them catch more except to fish with what you come up with and see what happens, ive found a few of my mods work better than the original for me and some may or may not catch more than the original.

[Topwaterspook]

On topwater baits, I generally tie up new trebles with feathers and a few strands of mylar to add a bit of flash on the rear hook.

[Fisher-O-men]

I sometimes get creative with magic markers.  Red under the gills and such.  I don't think it maters much. 

[Mike L]

I sometimes get creative with magic markers.  Red under the gills and such.  I don't think it maters much.

Years ago I did the same, but stopped.

At first I thought it helped but kinda got away from it.

I still use them once in a while but I throw hard lures so infrequently I really can't say if it helps either.

Mike

[buzzed bait]

I sometimes get creative with magic markers.  Red under the gills and such.  I don't think it maters much. 

 

nothing better than red maters.....

not too fond of those green ones myself.

[BobP]

I like feathered trebles on jerkbaits.  On regular crankbaits, they may or may not attract since they definitely will change the action of the bait.  You just have to experiment.  I do all kinds of mods on commercial crankbaits since I also build them as a hobby:  adding ballast, repainting, reshaping, etc.  One thing I'll say - the main thing that catches crankbait bass is the action of the bait.  If you find one that works well and catches fish - leave the darned thing alone!  And by alone, I mean DON'T CHANGE ANYTHING.   

[BocaGrande]

I like feathered trebles on jerkbaits. On regular crankbaits, they may or may not attract since they definitely will change the action of the bait. You just have to experiment. I do all kinds of mods on commercial crankbaits since I also build them as a hobby: adding ballast, repainting, reshaping, etc. One thing I'll say - the main thing that catches crankbait bass is the action of the bait. If you find one that works well and catches fish - leave the darned thing alone! And by alone, I mean DON'T CHANGE ANYTHING.

I have no problems with my crankbaits besides the colors. I got two crank baits from a dollar store that I was thinking about putting some stripes on. Otherwise I'm talking about putting feathers on poppers or jerks. Crankbaits I would not touch unless they needed tuning

[Fisher-O-men]

nothing better than red maters.....

not too fond of those green ones myself.

I definitely deserve that!!!

[buzzed bait]

I definitely deserve that!!!

 

made me laugh.... that's how my dad would pronounce tomatoes....

[WRB]

Use a Sharpie pen, not a magic marker!

Crankbaits with Shad colors that have one color backs, not black, you can add dots of color similar to the side highlite coloration. Dots or spots work good in more open water areas, stripes or bars for areas with more cover. I often add blue dots to chartreuse back cranks and black bars to red sided cranks.

Add black and dark green dots to light green back swimbaits and crankbaits.

Tom

[BASSPATROL247]

X2 on the sharpie. If you ever try to put clear gloss on them to keep the colors it will only make it bleed, but you can do a detail at a time and just one very quick blast of clear and it will bleed alot less and will give some colors a holographic look. I learned from lots and lots of trial and error to get that look so i dont recommend it because its not easy and you will mess ur bait up unless you clean it off wich is a pain in the dairy air...

[BocaGrande]

good tips guys, thanks! i was thinking that if i ever were to stripe or dot a bait, i can use automotice paint via airbrush and regular small paintbrush. and hit it with a clear if necessary. ive worked in autobody for a few years and still hace access to a shop and supplies.  anyone used auto paint? the waters around here are kinda stained . maybe 2 feet or less visibility.. what about a SUPER glittery hard bait.. silver? gold? green? purple? primary baitfish is crappie bluegill and some perch

 

http://metalflakecorp.com/metalflake-chart.html

[WRB]

The older wooden plugs had glider to add flash, today's plastic lures have holographic prism reflective finishes that reflect light very well without adding glider. I have silver, gold and copper glider that I haven't used in years!

Tom

[BASSPATROL247]

Any color you can imagine will catch fish,but will it catch fish on a regular basis or at times when another bait will not work. Id say any sparkly or flashy color will catch fish..experiment and see. Every color has its time and place and figuring that out is the fun for me..

[BASSPATROL247]

The older wooden plugs had glider to add flash, today's plastic lures have holographic prism reflective finishes that reflect light very well without adding glider. I have silver, gold and copper glider that I haven't used in years!

Tom

Some newer plastic cranks have glitter in their color schemes with or without holographic prizm finishes..with glitter i kinda lean towards less is more...