I have ordered probably 20 of these blanks from him and they are all top notch.

I plan on having sore arms

Great post .... very nice scale effect. Just thinkin' here.... if you want to tweak it a bit try doing the pectoral fins in pale yellow orange with darker color rays and move the iridescent spot up so as to blend it into the darker back. Or just leave it alone as its sure to be a great crankbait color pattern. I caught my PB on a Mann's Deep 10+ with a factory color pattern almost identical to this one. Its gonna slay'em...

The Manns Alabama shad pattern is what I was going for, I missed the mark a little but it should still catch em. Thanks for the kind words and suggestions guys

Good grief, you guys are tough on yourselves. Not sure what mark you were aiming for.

I like the step by step. Thanks for that.

x2

ok here is the first shot at the alabama shad over silver leaf. i didn't clear coat the leaf before i painted this one and i think that was a mistake. the uncoated leaf has a weird effect on the paint. it sort of absorbs it and makes it tough to get the pattern you're going for. i think way too much purple on this one. i still like brad's version done over a basecoat better. now i hope it catches something and i didn't waste a 1.5 blank.

here's the other side with a little different angle. it should brighten up as the devcon2 cures.

Skills

Bcd I like the bait with the exception of the lime green, I think the purple is fine. It will probably catch fish regardless. I can't say much though out of all the leafed baits I have done one made it to the tackle box all the others went in the trash.

one of the problems with leaf is that it changes your colors. that green was a standard green that looks lime over the silver leaf. i like the leaf with baits that have a simple paint schedule. adding a bunch of colors will get you in trouble.

I'm not so sure. I like yours better. The transition from the front to the middle of the bait looks better on your version.

After looking at my finished bait tonight I might have changed my mind. Thanks for the kind words.