So i was sitting around wondering why i wasn't out fishing today and then looked down and saw one of my wife's paint markers on the table and i started thinking. I've read a few posts across a few of these forums about using fine tip paint markers or sharpies (whatever they have one hand) in a red color to draw gills or ANYTHING to represent a bleeding or wounded look on a variety of hard baits. From spinners (marking the skirts or head), buzz baits(same as spinners), top waters(marking gills or other marks), I've seen different stories with a multitude of results. Does anyone have any experience doing this and, if so, post up and let me know what you think. I've got a few buzzes I'm thinking about marking up, and a couple yellow magics, spooks, and other topwaters im thinking about doing. Let me know thanks!

Red is the first color to disappear in water...if its going to gain you confidence then do it. I'm simplifing these days sticking to basic colors and doin some of my best fishing these days. Chartreause shad in dirty water,shad in stained clear, red in the spring.

O and I wouldn't color on a yellow magic lol

those baits have amazing paint jobs as is. if im tring to add a bleeding effect ill just switch out the front treble with a gammy red ewg treble.

what size on the gammy EWG? im thinking 4's? Also, does anyone know a good place to get any feather tied trebles? I havent learned, nor the resources to tie my own yet. And gotcha on the Yellow Magics... i like the paint job but i wasnt planning on anything extreme lol... but gotcha...

On the other side of modifying hardbaits: I change out the trebs with KVD short shanks. I add oval split rings to all my hardbaits to prevent the knot from getting tied at the rough split. You can add weights to create suspending jerkbaits. You can take one of those swimbait hooks that have the clamp-like weight and glue it to the nose of your DD-22 for getting drop quick at the casting point, but only use it in open water cuz it wont back out and float away from a snag. You can also take a file to the lower lip of yours popper to get more spiting action. Add trailer hooks the your spinnerbaits for the short bite. Drill holes in yer buzzbait prop to create more water turb-bubbles. If you have too many crankbaits with knockers and want to silence them, you can drill out the bearing and recap the hole. As for softbaits, you can put earplugs in the head to add buoyancy. I'm sure there is even more stuff to keep you occupied on a rainy day. LOL - Let me know if you decide to do any of these mods.

I was planning on drilling my buzzes today as well as going to pick up the ewg's to switch out all my trebles...i dont do any deep cranking as of yet but ill keep that in mind when the time comes. Ive already put trailers on the spinners and buzzes and theyve come in quite handy the last couple of days. Good info thoug!

4s are all around the best replacement size. ill go a size bigger on the dd22 and a size smaller on the 1 minus type baits...everything in between gets a 4. and as far as tying feathered trebles...its super simple. just get some white feathers from the craft store or fly tying shop and some red sewing thread...wrap each bit of feather in a different layer(you only need about 3) and make sure its all uniform. once your done tie a few half hitch knots and add a drop of super glue and your good to go. if you want to get fancy you can throw a few strabds of christmas tensile in there.

another way to modify baits is to add bigger eyes to your baits. you can get reflective eyes off of janns netcraft. or for swimbaits you can use the googly eyes from hobby lobby or michaels. they add a real subtle rattle too.

hope this helps,
-mike

soriano... can you slarify on the "1 minus type baits"

pretty much just smaller crankbaits. anything smaller than a 1.5

thx

Thanks coangler took about 5 minutes cost 6 bucks and I have a ton of feathers yarn n glue left over

Oh and those hooks on the 1.5 are size two kvd mustad tripplegrips size one on the 2.5

i hear so much about the kvd mustads but can never find them in stock. hence the gammy ewg

Just bought em at academy yesterday 6 buks for 11 or Wal mart has em 6 hooks for 5 buks