Clear Coating Your Lures

[Happybeerbuzz]

I like jerkbaits.  However, with many of the jerkbaits I own, it seems like they get hook rash just by working them.  They eventually develop an arc of scuffed paint behind the front front hook.  Has anyone tried applying an additional layer of clear coat to protect the paint job?  Does it help? 

 

[Mobasser]

I have never tried this, but I do know that certain hard baits that get scratched up or beat up can work better at times. Sometimes, better than brand new ones.

[Deleted account]

You can certainly clear coat your lures, but that's almost as silly as sealing cork...

[MAN]

I wouldn't 

[OkobojiEagle]

You will be adding weight to your bait...

 

oe

[fin]

I haven't used it for that particular purpose, but I've used it when the paint starts bubbling on lures that I've found that have been in the water for years, and it works for that. I can't imagine what the downside is for adding a coat. I would expect the added weight to be negligible.

 

Using nail polish on large areas is not easy though. It dries too fast.

[RDB]

I don’t but I know people who do use a light coat of fingernail hardener on occasion.  I don’t know what kind of effect it has on the lure but I do know that some of them are really good sticks.

 

And I ALWAYS use cork sealer before using a rod the first time and will usually reapply once a year ?.

[fin]

To be clear, I was talking about nail polish, not car paint. I don't know why I assumed that's what you were talking about.

[Deleted account]

12 hours ago, RDB said:

And I ALWAYS use cork sealer before using a rod the first time and will usually reapply once a year ?.

I have some BOGO coupons for Miracle Whip, Spam, and Velveeta, just let me know where to send them to you...

[Happybeerbuzz]

4 hours ago, Deleted account said:

I have some BOGO coupons for Miracle Whip, Spam, and Velveeta, just let me know where to send them to you...

Please post an image of the coupons for Spam and Velveeta.  Mystery meat and cheese are okay.  Mystery mayo, not so much. 

 

[RDB]

7 hours ago, Deleted account said:

I have some BOGO coupons for Miracle Whip, Spam, and Velveeta, just let me know where to send them to you...

Lol…very nice.  I started to shoot back but I thought better of it.  I’m not sure how old you are or your parent situation.  This might give you a clue on what I chose not to post ?.

[Bluebasser86]

Beat up baits catch more fish. 

[MN Fisher]

1 hour ago, Bluebasser86 said:

Beat up baits catch more fish. 

Yep - they look like they're prey that escaped being eaten...barely - and those are the ones that get targeted more because the 'skin of their teeth' escapees are usually slower and less nimble...easier prey.

[RDB]

1 hour ago, Bluebasser86 said:

Beat up baits catch more fish. 

True…unfortunately his are getting beat up for the wrong reasons and based on his post, seem to be getting a little bit of a deformity.

[Bluebasser86]

2 hours ago, RDB said:

True…unfortunately his are getting beat up for the wrong reasons and based on his post, seem to be getting a little bit of a deformity.

Never considered hook rash a deformity? Most all my baits have that from normal use ?‍♂️

[RDB]

6 minutes ago, Bluebasser86 said:

Never considered hook rash a deformity? Most all my baits have that from normal use ?‍♂️

Lol…if you read his post, he said he is getting an arc on the lure.  I assumed, maybe wrongly, that the arc part was gouging into the bait but maybe I am wrong.

[Bluebasser86]

50 minutes ago, RDB said:

Lol…if you read his post, he said he is getting an arc on the lure.  I assumed, maybe wrongly, that the arc part was gouging into the bait but maybe I am wrong.

Yeah, the arc is the shape made into the paint from hook rash. I've got dozens of baits with that pattern on them. It doesn't hurt the bait, just happens with use.

 

There are guys in the big swimbait world that install little bumpers on their baits to keep their hundred dollar baits from getting rashed but a majority of those guys are all about the rashed up baits also.

[OkobojiEagle]

It's interesting to me that common thought says a chewed up bait may be a better producer... why not the thought that a better producer becomes chewed up?  Perhaps that particular bait just has that little something right out of the box that the next bait off the production line doesn't have.  A slightly different action or running depth perhaps...  The chewed surface might mean nothing more than a marker to the angler which bait has produced bites in the past.

 

oe

[Happybeerbuzz]

Is nail polish the easiest thing to use?  I am envisioning something I could spray on a few coats after taping up the bill, hook hangers, & eyes while dangling it from a string.

[Yuddzy]

On 6/22/2022 at 6:50 AM, Deleted account said:

I have some BOGO coupons for Miracle Whip, Spam, and Velveeta, just let me know where to send them to you...

This is clearly a lie, no one would simply give away free Velveeta or Spam. That's 5 star camping trip slop right there fella. 

 

Giving away Miracle Whip I could believe. That stuff is wack. 

[Yuddzy]

3 hours ago, Happybeerbuzz said:

Is nail polish the easiest thing to use?  I am envisioning something I could spray on a few coats after taping up the bill, hook hangers, & eyes while dangling it from a string.

You can use any sort of clear coat you desire for this application, I don't think it matters much. Either spray or wipe on polyurethane will be fine, after taping up areas you don't want clear coated. 

 

I don't think it'll make a lot of difference in the fish you catch though? The paint scrapes on lures seem to be cosmetic in my experience, without much impact on actual effectiveness. I have a Rapala Fat Rap with a majority of the paint scraped off the bottom of it, but it still seems to catch fish the same. YMMV as always. 

[RDB]

6 hours ago, Happybeerbuzz said:

Is nail polish the easiest thing to use? 

Whatever you choose, I can’t imagine you would need much more than a touch up on the spots you are worried about.  As far as impacting performance, people put suspend dots on lures all the time.  IMO, any differences you get with a little brushed on protection would not even be measurable.

[Happybeerbuzz]

1 hour ago, RDB said:

Whatever you choose, I can’t imagine you would need much more than a touch up on the spots you are worried about.  As far as impacting performance, people put suspend dots on lures all the time.  IMO, any differences you get with a little brushed on protection would not even be measurable.

I think I will give it the next time I take a jerkbait out of the box.  There is no point for the ones that are already rashed up.  I don't worry about the weight.  I bought one of the jewelry scales for maintaining the same weight when I switch out hooks.  It will weigh about the same when I am done with it.  

 

It's not that I think it will help catch fish.  Teeth marks are battle scars.  Hook rash is just an eye sore.