Finally Finished the Minnow!

[islandbass]

July 30, 2010 Initial Field Test and Painting

Went to a local lake to make sure it worked properly or there would be no point in completing the paint job and top coat. Relieved to see that it works just fine. The action is pretty lively. Not as lively as a Rapala Floating Original, but still very nice.

The black back, silver body color scheme was the recommendation that received the most votes, so I went with it. Big M suggested using the foil method, which I tried to the best of my ability. Throw in the paint and a substandard airbrush and my minimal, practically non-existent painting skills, I managed to produce another ugly lure.

August 6, 2010 Project Completed

I used Dev Con 2-Ton Epoxy as the topcoat and I can say that this task is done. I hope to fish with it today but the honey-do list is long this weekend.

I need to give a well-deserved and huge thanks to Big M for his help. He gave me a step-by-step process to do this.

[BIG M]

That bait turned out very nice.    Should put off a lot of flash in the water, bass catcher for sure.

[islandbass]

Marty,

You are the man!!! I took the minnow out for a spin and final trial.  I cannot thank you enough.

Update 08-07-10 Success!

August 7, 2010 In One Word Unbelievable!

I got the green light to go fishing and headed out to the lake.  It rained all day before which was a few steady days of dry, weather.  I arrived at about 7:50 p.m. but didn't break it out until it was much closer to sunset.  I chatted with folks on the dock as I worked a Rapala Skitter Walk. 

At 8:30 p.m., I put down the rig with the skitter walk and grabbed the one with the minnow lure.  It was time for the trial.  A couple I was talking to was hoping to see it catch something before they left.  When, they were leaving, the lady said, Just wait, you're going to catch one right before we leave.  I was hopeful, but also just a wee bit doubtful.

This is going to be hard to believe, but right when they got to their car, I felt a hit.  I didn't take any chances, so I winched it in as if I were pulling a pig from the pads and swung it over the dock's rail as you would into a bass boat.  They saw the whole thing and were polite enough to cheer and send kind words my way before taking off.  I am glad she was right and I was wrong.

I also just remembered just how sharp VMC hooks are.  My effort to remove the treble from the bass' mouth and it's wriggling combined to make me drop the bass onto the dock.  Yikes!  Unfortunately, it caught the rear treble on the way down as shown in the picture.  It stayed still long enough for this shot and for me to grab my pliers to remove the treble.  I am relieved that it was not bleeding.

Bass number two came a few casts later, and it was much bigger.  However, I reacted way too quickly and yanked it out of its mouth.  Although the lure was a good 60 ft. or so away, it came flying back right at me.  I moved to the side to avoid it and watched it whiz by me.  You know those sentiments you feel and thoughts that run through your mind when you screw up and lost a fish is the result?  Then I need not say more.  Argh!

Bass number three came a few minutes later.  This little, bad boy slammed the living dickens out of the minnow.  Upon reeling him in, I found the belly treble in its mouth and tail treble right where you see it.  This one preferred to play dead and that made it much easier to remove the hook and release him.

I was in a state of utter disbelief.  I could not comprehend the minnow's productivity.  The little minnow went two for three.  In baseball, that is a nice statistic, and on my home lake, where catching just one bass is the norm, going two for three is practically unheard of.

I will concede that until now, the black back, silver body, and red splotch throat color scheme has not been a player in my arsenal, despite the reputation that precedes it, as it is well affirmed by so many.  After today, you can bet that I am now a member of that group.  Thanks to everyone who recommended that color scheme and a very big thanks to Big M (Marty) for his help.  I still can't get over the whole experience.  Thanks and praise the Lord!

-ib

[MALTESE FALCON]

Nice story, and nice lure. It's very rewarding, to catch a fish on a bait you make. I remember catching my first fish on a crankbait I made.

Falcon

[.dsaavedra.]

haha i love it!! great story.