So what have you been working on lately? Page

Seems kinda slow around here so post up what you've been working on. I enjoy seeing everyone's work a d will post more when I get home.

^very nice!

No where close to the hard bait league but working on these to send out as Script-Lures

Very nice! Here is a sneak peak of our new craw.

Another sunfish pattern inspired by the Warmouth member of the species. Painted on an old BassPro Shops XPS body.

Little johns pre finish.

DT-16, DT-10, DT-6 blanks in paint only, not clear coated.

I really like that crappie pattern. I may have to try that next. I want to do a craw because they look amazing but I don't really fish craw cranks. I just got word my buddy that is a captain for a high school team is sitting in 1st with big baseband two fish were caught on my cranks so I'm pulling for them.

They took 1st!!!

A few bass jigs I wrapped up. When hard baits slow down, I'm usually tying jigs or building rods.

Those are some very nice looking jogs!

Here are a few more.

Hey Brad, what size crank is that and what are you calling the pattern?

That's a.1.5dd 6-8ft diver this one is called Ochre Shad

Some nice stuff being posted here !

Bright bluegill I just shot last night

New Gizzard Shad and Bluegill swimbaits I released recently.

Made some spoons

Sexy sour grape

Build a few Designer Spinner Baits. They are great dock baits, shaded over hands and during low light days or night.

Purple Ghost:


Hologram:


Black Shadow Diamond Dusted:


Hammered Deep Cups:

Spinner baits are looking Good! Here is my first shot at holographic baits. I'm ready to get to finish on them and see see them in the sun.

Been playing around with some UV additive, Stuff is pretty neat, It not glow in the dark but supposed to collect UV rays in low light areas. You can see the two flukes that have the UV additive is putting off a glow when shine a UV light on them, also can see them glow in the shade outside. Two lizards have the additive and the other two don't. Gonna try them and see what the fish tells me

Those UV flukes are really cool.

First trip out with the new color caught 5 smallies and snuck into a 2nd place finish on Saturday!

Tonight's paint jobs

looks great!

Fresh out of paint and ready for finish. These will be donated to Fish For A Cure tournament coming up in a couple weeks on Hubbard. They are taking donations for raffle prizes. I believe we raised over $17,000 for the American Cancer Socity last year and hope to crush it this year. If anyone would like to donate raffle prizes you can PM me or come out and fish.

When do they need the donations by?

The tournament is Saturday Oct 21st. It would be nice to have no later then Friday the 20th so we can have the raffle prizes set out in the AM for the participants to see the raffle prizes. Let me know if you can help, it would be much appreciated and your name or company name will be mentioned during the drawing.

I could probably do some crappie glides that I have painted up, who would I need to mail them too?

Ill PM you my address and ill make sure they get in the right hands. Huge thanks for the donation! Be sure to include your name so we can give thanks!

Looking good. I did a couple of jerk baits for Texoma this weekend.

So I pour a lot of custom jigs, and one of the guys I know was looking for a match for golden shiner. Here is what I came up with.

nice Steven,..tell your pops HI,..!

I guess i had a good day at work

Glitter plopper

I expect my Baby Doll Blades to be the best Crayfish Mimic out there.
- All Blades are laminated two different colors, bottom/top, to get the effect of the 5 TX. Crayfish.
- All Jig Heads have the larges 3D eyes.
- The hook is Gama. 30% rise wide gap.
- Skirts are scented Crayfish in the 5 TX. Cray colors.
I also build these to Mimic all the Pray Fish that are busing the Shad in the backs of the creeks this Fall.

Man those are awesome Brad.

Those should be great colors this Fall/Winter!

Painted the kids up some bath toys today

Another batch of 1.5 squarebill style Bream Patterns







Check out our selection of custom painted patterns at: Bois D'arc Creek Custom Lures
*** all lures ship with black nickel hooks and stainless split rings attached. Free shipping on orders of $30 or more.***

Bought 2 new molds on Friday. Had some junebug plastic ready waiting to be used, so...

Looks great

Made a few of these Crappie are wakin them.

Now that's a color combination! What do you use to "paint" them?

Grape Craw

Did a little facelift on a couple 6th sense cloud 9 c15 deep divers

My citrus shad.

Very nice spin on a citrus shad pattern. May I ask what model and where you purchased those blanks?

Thanks,they came from Barlows. I think they were the DT 10 blanks but don't hold me to it.

Thanks,they came from Barlows. I think they were the DT 10 blanks but don't hold me to it.

Three sets of DT style diving lures painted in various patterns.



The smallest is a DT-6, mid size is a DT-10 and the largest is a DT-16. That covers the water column from the surface to 16+ foot. Each lure will have VMC bronze hooks and stainless steel split rings attached. A set of three would cost around $20.

This is the powder paint I used
then dip them in clear plastic.

Very nice Bois d� arc

Magnum sxy shad flukes

Ghost copper green medium divers

Very nice!

Made some more to fill an empty spot in the box.

Now I gotta pick which one to tie on!

They all look great.

Arig jerkbaits?

Matt had some of these with him this weekend. They are definitely a DT10 size, but they were 1 knocker baits so quite a bit heavier than a standard DT10 and noisier as well. I haven't seen one like it before. Nice work!

Brad, I had PM'd you earlier this year to see if you could make Copper Green Shad rattling baits both 1.5 and 2.5 size. You were MIA for a while so I never heard back. Will you have some at the FNS show in January? These are awesome looking baits!

Nice looking bait Matt. I need some of those and I usually don't even mess with throwing crankbaits.

https://texasfishingforum.com/forums/pics/usergals/2017/11/full-91083-190084-dsc02241_1.jpg[/img]

Very nice work, I like those craws, who makes that mold if u don't mind me asking?

Thanks. We designed the craw in CAD design and had it cut. Within the next month or so we will have 2 CNC machines in house and will be able to come out with new product as soon as we can design it.

Our 8" trick worm.

nice, will you make custom molds for customers?

That very well may be an option in the future. Our primary focus will be having the ability to add new proprietary skus faster. Having your own mold designed is a lengthy process from CAD design to prototypes to modifications then more prototypes until it's just right.

Packaging finally came in and I'm blown away!

Wow! Very nice!

Looks great! Russell hooked me up with a few pack awhile back can�t wait to get some more!

Matt, it appears Russell is keeping you busy (out of trouble) This is a good thing! Nice work

those all look great matt, Like the color combos.

My cranks were working really well on Lewisville yesterday

Matt, you and Russell have been really busy and I too am blown away not just by the packaging but have had a blast working with these baits. They are going to definitely be some of the top quality baits available and I have been able to catch fish rigged a lot of different ways on them. I was looking at the motion of the Flappy Craws on the back of a jig and decided last weekend to rig it pretty much weightless and was pulling it through some vegetation almost like a frog bait and had a nice 4 lber crush it.
Keep up the good work. Can't wait for these to go on sale.

Topwater using a tablespoon as a mold and then adding silicone skirt material:

or flapper tails:


Figured I may as well use spike tail mold and not remove spikes to form this creature lure:

Spikes added to grub body with Mend-It glue:



paddle tail worm worked first cast (note modifications):



A new mold worth the money:



Cone tail:

(one of my best designs)

Tried my hand at making stencils for the vertical lines and I'm not that crazy about them.

Like this craw pattern...the color is spot on.

A couple of jigs with Trokar hook and living rubber.

Just a few for fun. iWarts. Crappie Candy.

These jigs completely sold out at the Fun N Sun show in our Illustrious Action booth. The living rubber skirts with matching Flappy Craw trailer already attached was a huge hit with everyone. We have another 400+ in production that will be available soon. I personally can't wait to be drowning one on Palestine this weekend along with my Trap bait Matt custom painted.

what weed guard is that?

That is the jig head we use from NuTech lures for our custom made jigs with the living rubber skirts at Illustrious Action lures.

I figured I would try some spinnerbait blades. They are drying not but I think they turned out well. I'll have to do up some heads now.

I did some bluegill heads and I realized I painted them upside down. It still worked out.



With living rubber.

Very nice work, Matt. I started with crappie jigs and then started bending wire and that got me into all other bass lures. I enjoyed making spinner baits and people who have never made them don't realize how many steps it takes to make a spinner bait that looks like yours. I realize it and I appreciate you taking the time to go the extra mile. Thank you for posting them.

Txmed speaks true...when making spinnerbaits there's a lot more to it than meets the eye. Nice touch on the blades & skirts.

Thank you for the kind words, and yes y'all are spot on about the steps it takes to build one. I painted both sides of the blades and will paint the heads to match. So basically it equates to three crankbaits painting wise. Then you have to put it all together and skirt it they will make some nice personal stock spinner baits because I'm sure no one will pay what they are worth in time.

Matt - Save me a couple because I guarantee you I will pay for those spinnerbaits. Those blades are awesome and the bass won't know the heads are painted upside down.

Haha I haven't painted the shad heads yet. I will try my best to pay attention.

can't decide what to call this -- flip-n-shake or shake & bake

Those look great. If you don't mind me asking how did you modify your mold to take a screwlock?

Craig--
If you go to page 6 ( in Building lures & pouring plastics)there is a topic titled "Where to get this mold" and it will explain my way to build just the shakey head version. On this one I just snip below the skirt collar instead.

Very nice work, the patterns looks great...could tie a little dark braid around that back hook hanger (or hook) and make it look even more realistic. How about a photo showing the edge (width) of the lure? Wondering how that style rattle bait fishes compared to other vibrating lures?

Cool design on those lipless cranks. Would be interested to see the unique wobble on retrieve.

I've not had a chance to fish these yet. I'm kinda wondering the same thing about how they fish. They have a large weight in the nose toward the front hook. I'm guessing they are really designed to rip off the bottom and let settle back. They are a little wider than a rattle trap, with the top rounded (no flat spots to make it wiggle)

Thanks Steven. I have the same mold and want to get more use out of it.

Wanted too try customizing some Jigs. Found a TFF'r too buy some jigheads from. Took a 6011 1/8 welding rod. It worked perfect too plug the brushguard from the powder paint.



Have a few Blowin Up Skirts that I had in the tackle bag.



Coated with Junebug and watermelon flake. Galaxy with disco red. Two tone Fail!

Will post a pic after I get them tied together

Great craw patterns...I prefer to fish realistic patterns whenever possible. It sounds like they are lift and drop style bait. Thinking a double treble on the front hook hanger and an EWG on the rear would be a good hook combo. Add a few inches of braid to the back hook hanger and you have a pretty dang realistic crawfish bait. They do have internal rattles? Good post Swalker9513

yes, they have rattles. I got a blank out, and there is a weight behind the front hook holder too.

Dang some of you guys got some serious talent!

I see one soft bait that I am going to need a custom color done in and one crankbait that is the best craw pattern I have ever seen! I will be in touch with a couple of yall and see if we can work something out.

Finally did some shad heads to go with the blades.

The new gill.

nice...

The orange craws were painted, and then the black was stippled on with a black sharpie.

Working up another version of Pumpkin seed Bream. Turns out its very visible in murky water.

Finally a finished spinnerbait.

I like it!

That looks bada$$!

that last one looks great

That is bad [censored] looking!

Thanks it works too

coachdog!

I've been playing around with the crackling solution. I may be about ready to give up on it. I can't seem to get it to crackle. I heard it was finicky, but it's worse than fluorocarbon line when it comes to finicky.

I agree the crackle medium is a pita to get consistent results out of. This is actually done with a scale mask so I can reproduce it every time. Did the same effect on a couple craws too.

I like it!

Like that random mesh on the back. That stuff is awesome on bream patterns.

Crappie, Bream & Gizzard Shad 2.5 square bills ... heading north

digging those crappie

Each Jig is Custom made one at a time to fit your application. Mimic the Crayfish along with the Crayfish Pure Extract in the Spring around heavy cover and you are in business. These jigs have all the right senses that the Big Bass are looking for. These are the 5 best and most common Texas Spring Craws caught in my traps over the last 30 days around the DFW area.
- 1 oz. with the 6.0 Mustad Hook
- 1/2 inch Dome colored Poly. Eyes with BB for the Sound Chamber.
- Skirts are Living Rubber.
- Skirts are Crayfish Scented in the pour then bathed in the Pure Extract for 12 hours.
- Skirts are hand tied with Copper Wire.
- The Trailers are hand pour and dosed in Craylic, (Craw/Garlic).

My wife picked the colors of the pink/yellow. I was going for strawberry sprite. My wife thought it looked like a strawberry mojito, so that is what it shall be called.

You sound like a smart man. They look Good!

So, I painted something a little more realistic using the pink color that my wife liked (from above photo). and cut a quick stencil out of a business card. I don't like using stencils but I do like that hard line you get with them.

Experimenting around with the endless variety of sunfish color patterns...here are a few.

The Best Baby Doll Chatters that I can produce.
- Heads have been cast by CAST IND.
- Hook is the Gama. 30 degree Wide Gap.
- Can come with or with out Weed Guard.
- Pray Fish Skirts are Minnow Scented.
- Cray Fish Skirts are Crayfish Scented.
- Skirts are hand Tied with Copper Wire.
- Each Blade Jig comes with a matching Trailer Scented in Craylic.

What mold is this and where can I get it? Thank you for any help!!

That mold is this and where can I get it? Thank you for any help!!!

7", handmade. Rattle can paint job, no idea how it swims yet. I find out this weekend I guess.

cool. Let us know how it works out.

These baits were just built for Boeing Driver to take to El Salto. There is absolutely no reason that the huge Bass staging, coming and going, on Lake Fork and other lakes like Falcon want strike these two baits.

BABY DOLL DIRTY BLADE:
- This is a 1 oz. slow rolling spinnerbait that I have designed for the deep water staging areas.
- I caught 150 bass on this bait on Lake Oviachic Mexico; so I know they like it when the other spinners just wouldn't get the job done.
- Blades are Diamond blades which will give a different vibration. Painted Rust with heavy glitter.
- The head has the 5mm 3D eye in Chart.
- The skirts are Living Rubber Minnow Scented: Chart. - Purple/Blue Stripe - Brown/Gold Stripe - Chart./Black stripe.
- It carreis the 5.0 Mustad Hook.
- It is armed with My new twin tail trailer in thin Silicone.



BABY DOLL MAGNUM CHATTER:
- The blade is laminate with Silver Diamond Dust on one side and Green Diamond Dust on the other.
- The Line Tie is Twisted Wire; no more Snap Failures.
- The head is the same 1 oz. Head as the Spinner Bait and Twisted Wire tied, eliminating the Split Ring concept.
- The Skirt is Wide Strand Living Rubber Minnow Scented. It is NEW to the market with Glitter.
- The Trailer is Trout in color and complements the skirt very well. It has the Wide Wag Tail and is Minnow Scented.

Those swimbaits are awesome Mark, nice work!!

Thank you.

1.5's and 2.5's

That looks great!

Very nice! Like those redbreast looking square bills

Two of the most important criteria for Spinnerbait selection is Water Clearity and Weather Conditions.

These are my 5 choices for those conditions:
- My best Tournament winning Spinnerbait is the one I have the most confidence in for everyday use. It is always tied on.
- My selection for Clear Water includes one for Sunny Days and one for Cloudy days.
- My selection for Stained Water includes one for Sunny Days and one for Cloudy days.

Tournament Bait:



Clear Water: Sunny Day then Cloudy Day



Stained Water: Sunny Day then Cloudy Day

I got a new IPhone and now I can't post pictures anymore for some reason but finally remembered I had a thing called a work computer so HA I'm back!

Changed the colors just a bit and its paid off. Black Crappie pattern on a rattle bait fooled this one. Several different lure types in this pattern have been producing well this month.

Threadfin pattern on this wLure blank has been deadly .....they're choking it.

This has got to be the worlds longest running post .


Gill over foil... this is really good!

Yes, Mr. Jackson, this is very nice.

Playing with a kiwi color

I like it.

Those are awesome! Here is a little jerk bait from yesterday.

nice!

Got a new mold and been messing around with it. I call it the Chupacabra. Here is a bullfrog and a tomato craw pattern. Both are laminates.

I'd fish with those.

First time painting crappies. Ok second....... the first attempt they looked like bass but these seemed to have turned out nice.

First/Second attempt looks good, you have the colors zeroed in.

Somebody�s got skills!

Very nice work.

Lookin good Matt! May have to bring a couple of those crappie baits to the first meeting so I can check them out up close and personal!

What kind of paint are you using on those swimsuits if you don't mind me asking? If you do, just tell me to shut my pie hole. I know some things are a secret. By the way even I'd eat those things. Very nice work.

I don�t mind at all. I use Lureworks SB Coat, and they get 3D eyes as well.

Nice box of Sardine's Matt. What size are those. I think my Walleye's might go for them.

Made some magnum rainbow trout and bluegill flukes

Winter weather giving extra time to focus on the homemade lures I love to make and catch fish on... Hope ya'll like them!

I�m intrigued, please explain. Is that a dremil blade?

Flexible Blade Arm Spinnerbait

Yep, cut a slot in the lure and epoxied it in

Looks good Rocket I finally had a chance to paint up a few hard baits as personal stock was getting low.

Nice job on that last top water. That is as close to Chrome Scales as I have seen produced on here. I have some old vintage crank baits that I would like to have a couple of patters done with this Scale Pattern on the sides.

Is it possible to put Eyes on a crank bait that does not have an eye socket without loosing them?

Please send me a PM if you like.
Thanks,
Donald

I thought some 1.5�s in a crappie patter would be good. Maybe I�ll get to try them next week.

Just started last week, Nothing fancy

Bobcat, looks good buddy! Welcome to the addiction. I have yet to master lines like you have in the first one, and would love to hear how you achieved it. 2nd are you using KBS for a clear coat? That�s what I use and when I have them hanging I usually wait a couple of minutes after dipping then use a 1� foam paintbrush from Amazon to swipe along side the back hook hanger to remove the excess. The. I will run a toothpick through the eye to remove the rest. Usually I only have to do this once once then leave them to completely dry. If you let the clear build up it will bubble and be a pain in the rear. Again welcome to the painting section and stick with it. Any and all are here to help so don�t be scared to ask.


I was board yesterday so grabbed a couple of top waters and tried more of a translucent shad pattern.

Do put this color on a 1.5 square bill no rattles? Great looking color.

Matt, these square bills have a side line that is pretty easy to follow if I don't have the coffee shakes. If I want distinct hard lines like the one in the picture I just used painters tape. I dip these into KBS Diamond. I've been watching a few YouTube videos and someone added a straightened paper clip to the back eye to help drain. I found this after I had already dipped and dried these so I'm excited to try the new ideas.

Catch "Jekyll424" on YouTube and go to her Uploads, she has really well explained tutorials. I want to try the "acid wash" pattern

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFOT1LemPXc

I will have to try the tape. I have always been scared it would pull the paint off. I have free handed, and made stencils out of business cards etc. I�ve never been happy with the result. I actually learned how to paint from YouTube. There are several painters that post videos that go step by step that have taught me a lot, Jekyll included. Please post pictures of the acid wash as I have wanted to try but haven�t ever bought the masking material. As for the transparent shad that was just a thought the other night but will definitely do some other baits in that pattern. I�ve done similar in a bluegill pattern painted directly on a clear blank that was pretty cool. Welcome again and excited to see new work.

Just a simple shad. I used a pearl violet paint for a base that is made for soft plastic, so we will see if it survives the clear coat.

Dang Matt. You got skills!

Thanks! It�s been a while, and I should have been painting this spring but I didn�t. I guess I�ll have to just tough it out in the heat.

Finally getting to sit down and do a few more.

Looking good bobcat!

I was bored again and came up with this. I only did 2, but may have to paint some more. Or I may even bring the green further down or all the way. Who know that�s part of the fun.

So it�s been a work in progress from drawings to cutting molds. Here is the first prototype mold, and we will make a couple of minor adjustments but turned out looking great! Let me know your thoughts as we have 2 sizes a 4� and a 3.25�.

I'd be glad to field test some of those!

So would I!!! Good looking bait right there.

Your Transformer Craw looks great. Send them my way; Feb. and March in Mexico will tell the tail with lots of pictures and videos.

[quote=Matt Jackson]So it’s been a work in progress from drawings to cutting molds. Here is the first prototype mold, and we will make a couple of minor adjustments but turned out looking great! Let me know your thoughts as we have 2 sizes a 4” and a 3.25”.

Wow those look really cool!! Bet they have some great action with all the segments.

Crankbaits are looking great Matt! And you're getting closer on that copper green shad...

That thing is nasty!!!! Made me want to fish it, next time make a couple of cast because I was like wait I want to see that again.

Did you use two eye hooks for the joints? I’ve strongly considered getting into making wood baits. Have you seen marlin baits on YouTube? He makes amazing baits by hand. Every video I watch I think that I can do that. The action of your bait was very impressive and may have pushed me over the edge.

Yes, used two stainless eye screws from Home Depot for each joint, one for the line tie, and larger ones for hook hangers
They are easy to open and close with good pliers in each hand. To open, place smaller plier nose in hook eye and hold the screw with the larger pliers. Pry open with the smaller pliers
To close, just the larger pliers to pinch the eye closed again.
I considered using screw eyes from Barlows and also stainless .062 stainless steel safety/aviation wire; but neither option felt robust enough in my hands for these lures. I’ve watched all of Marling’s videos; wish I had his tools and skills
Did everything with a Dremmel, cheap coping saw, power drill, Rustoleum spray cans

It’s addicting; will be making some more

Under appreciated lure. Great looking paint job

Thank you!

Hopefully the shad go shallow soon!

WHOA MOMMA!

That is a very nice looking crankbait.
If you made that, you did a great job.
Pm me if you sell these.

CCTX,

Nice movement for the single jointed wake baits.
Have you had them out at the lake yet?

Yes, caught a LMB in the first 30 min throwing it
and a Blue Heron attacked it with a vengeance yesterday (had to quickly reel to avoid it being taken away)

Nice, I am not surprised about the bass.
The heron is pretty funny.
That action of jointed plus soft plastic tail is too much to resist.
Great job.

Thanks
Will be playing around with lip angles, wood type, and heaviness of the screw eyes

Everybody's work looks awesome!!!
Here are some wood baits I have gotten done in the past few months

Those look great! Nice work!

Just Finished a few...

Very nice! I love seeing the hand made baits built by you guys. Between you and CCTX I’m going to have to try my hand at this.

Its challenging/Frustrating but can be very rewarding

Quick update I’ve been clearing stuff out of my garage to make room for a band saw, belt sander, and drill press. I’m going to give it a go this winter and see what I can come up with. It may be a couple of weeks before I have anything to show, but have pulled the trigger on some wood working equipment. I don’t see me making swimbaits yet, but more of some flat sided crankbaits. I’m excited and stay tuned.

Food for thought for anyone outfitting a new shop or replacing or upgrading a belt sander or grinder, check out the Reeder 2x72 Sander Grinder. Reeder Products is based in Carrollton,Texas near the Addison airport. Family owned, father and son business. You can buy a DIY kit from them or go all out and start with their Ultimate Reeder Grinder.

Blue Moon

I still have to get wood sealer and more sanding but couldn’t wait. Made several blanks last night, and am looking forward to seeing the finished product. More to come.

I still have to get wood sealer and more sanding but couldn’t wait. Made several blanks last night, and am looking forward to seeing the finished product. More to come.

Looking good

Made some smaller wakes out of a wood dowel
Also spray can painted some Lucky Craft lures I found in a bargain bin at Ollie’s

www.jigs4bass.com Been working on Spinnerbaits:

So two days of working and 1 finished product. I took it to the pond before painting and this thing hunts, weight balanced well, and makes the rod tip thump. I can see many more coming.

Here’s what will be next.

Very nice. Fish don't see many flat sided, silent, wood crankbaits these days.

Those Crankbaits look killer!

I hope they like Shad!

A couple of bright gills.

Those look killer

A new pattern I thought up. Again 100% hand made.

Really nice!

This is the one I I was trying to do the other night. Sanded after my mess up and repainted.

Looks perfect

Well I think I should have started with the purple and blue, but this is what I ended up with. Not my favorite, but sure it will work.

Been making jigs and spinnerbaits for a few years.. after seeing all of the great paint jobs on here I stopped on my way home from the lake and picked up an iwata air brush kit from hobby lobby and a little paint today.

look just like bluegill, nice job

Those ones look a lot like a rainbow trout as well! Great job!

So we had our tackle show this weekend at Fun N Sun and had my good friend Arturo Murga in our booth. I made up four blanks for him to paint during the show that turned out great. He is a very talented artist with many talents. Since I made the bodies it still fits in the “what have you been working on” category. Thank you to all that came by and supported, enjoy.

Wow, incredibly talented.

These are 2 baits that remain to be completed... I wanted to improve on my "FOIL SKILLS" so here there are...
The 5 PC is a Wake bait and the other one is going to be a small glide bait...

Trying to decide if i want to spend hours doing scales or just paint as is...Wha

t ya'll think?

I will have to get into foiling my own lures. That seems like something you need patience for, and I’m not sure I’ve got them. I do have some silver and gold leaf but have yet to use them.

I’m drawing up some blanks now that should be ready for paint in a few days.

Texan- do you have a mesh type scale pattern that you could paint thru?

i'd hit that!

Another one that started as a block of bass wood with a hand tied back treble hook. It’s ready for the Shad spawn.

What are the dimension of that crankbait if I may ask? Did you include a rattle or silent? Thanks.

Smokey Joe! nice....

Fresh off the drying wheel.

Very nice work!

Golden Shad with the wrong shade of yellow, Neon Shad, Frog Fish and Texas Shad

New 6" open pour swimbait mold......

those look good!

All looks great! I painted this one over the weekend for Easter.

Excellent Matt. Is there a sealer that is not shinny that will protect the paint. I like a flat color bait with Hologram Glitter on the back and ribs.

Yes you can use a matte spray topcoat out of a rattle can to give it the flat matte look. You would spray it over the glossy clear coat to obtain that look.

New shape old pattern. I need to work on my detail carving, but will get there.

Bulbous big eyed beauty will be her name.

Up next for shaping and lots of sanding.

Great looking lures. What wood do you like to use. I have been using balsa with a thru wire which is, as you know, a bit of a pain. I assume you are using screw eyes for attachments/line attachment?

I make these out of bass wood, and do use 3/4” screw eyes that are epoxied in. My baits range from 1.5-3” and I haven’t had an issue with hardware. Bass wood is the only wood I’ve worked with and like it so far for everything I’ve made. You can get a lot of baits out of one board.

Just Paint

Well done!

I did a couple of crappies in the new shape I’ve been working on over the weekend.

I finally got around foiling a bait. First time for me to “silver leaf” a bait. I like the imperfections of the foil. This is also handmade from bass wood.

Roboworm MM III colored craws and creature baits

Looks like it would work well

Making a mold from the elusive Berkley MaxScent Flat worm.

Dang nice mold!

Thanks, I made two so I can pour a dozen at a time.

Resin Glide bait

Balancing the lure took some work, but satisfied with how it moves



Paint jobs from Rustoleum rattle spray cans and a brush

Very cool!!! I took at stab a a big jointed glide bait for the first time.

Very nice!

Also did a crappie, rainbow trout, and a gizzard shad
The crappie was tricky with Rustoleum rattle cans
Will dust off my compressor and airbrush at some point

A little late night Budweiser induced painting just waiting for clear coat.

Latest version of this color scheme here> Shad

Excellent work!
What are the dimensions/length/width/height/etc?

A lot of talent on here!! I hope to be 1/2 as good you folks. Here is my stab at painting blanks.

^^^
Those are sweet!

Thank you! I had a buddy drop off some small wake baits, and wanted a new blue gill pattern.

Tell your friend they won't get bit and that you had to dispose of them by sending them to me

I have a bunch of Rapala DT series lures still in the box. Been holding off on repainting them. Here's the first attempt at a repaint of a DT-16.
Crappie pattern on DT-16

@ Matt Jackson
Very nice subtle color scheme on those small wake baits. Have you ever fished one of that style, how do they perform? I'm guessing they're unpainted blanks from one of the online vendors. There are so many places to buy unpainted blanks it helps to know which ones are good quality. I get most 110 replica blanks from this guy...110 style blanks
Not advertising for anyone, just saying the 110's sold at that site are usually good quality.

@ CCTX
It's a replica of the Evergreen ES Flat Glide. They're available unpainted online. It's usually fitted with #4 oval line tie, #3 stainless steel split rings and two #1 treble hooks.

Width: 3/4" (guessing)
Height: 2 1/2" (guessing)
Length: 5 3/4"
Weight: 2 ounces

They actually fish very well and have a nice action. Been using them for a while now.

Looks awesome. Thank you!
Caught one on my DIY bluegill this am

First attempt!? This is more like art. Great job!

Thanks. I 've never tried to do a repaint on a Rapala DT-16. It worked pretty well. Here's a DT-10

handmade

First [censored] at mixing a bone color.

Made a few more

My you have been busy! I need to get back in the wood shop and get to work!

I cheated. Made a master from oven hardened clay and made a silicone negative mold.
Just have to pour resin mixed with micro bubbles. Then add weight, hook hangers/screw eyes, line tie, and hinges. Then spray paint and coat.

thats awesome!

This is what you walk into the next day when you were excited about a new pattern you painted. A dried up air brush..... I was about to do up some more but guess I’ll be doing a deep cleaning.

New sexy shad pattern and just a black back.

I like that citrus green chartreuse.

It's really hard to get the stripes right. Always seem too dark, too thin, too wide, too something.

"All we can do is our best. Sometimes the best that we can do is to start over."

Just a few more, huh? Wish I could get that many bites in a day out on the lake. Great selection!

Those stripes look perfect to me

V2.2

Nice thread!

V2.2


Tail fins

Thinking jerkbaits

I throw swimbaits 80% of the time because they're a moving bait that allows a fish little time to decide whether or not to bite. It's because it's a moving bait that detail isn't imperative to it's success, keep in mind you're not painting the bait for you. The best thought process I've ever heard is "I'm trying to fool a finned creature with a brain the size of walnut that needs to eat".

Magnum lipless with DIY rattle chamber

Paint jobs pending




Now painted


On the pause, it turns and suspends

That'll get 'em. I like it.

Matt... there is a color offered by decoart.. I think called "buttermilk". Its a pretty good color for "bone".

Made some heavier ones for trolling/strolling/deep jigging/deeper cranking

CCTX
If you want to try out an air brush system. I have 1 I have never used. Lots of paint as well. You are welcome to borrow it and see if you like it.

Thanks for the kind offer.
I have one, but for now, I’m enjoying testing what I can do/can’t do with rattle cans.

Numerous studies show that bass see as vast range of colors. They also can see fine detail like a hook or fishing line. This is a great reason to use line that turns invisible in the water or very thin line, which would be harder to see. Of course on FAST moving lures line size, color and detail doesn’t make much difference because it is moving so fast. However, when using lures that move at a moderate or slow rate (which is just about everything available) it makes sense to me to use the most realistic looking lures and baits I can find in order to fool the bass into striking it. I would think that a lure or bait that looks completely out of place or unnatural would be rejected immediately. Every year more and more lure manufactures are coming out with real life imitations of fish and other animals like crawfish that look so real it is becoming hard to tell the real from the fake unless one of them moves. This has to improve bass fishing. If we can barely tell the difference, then a bass has no chance at all. All we have to do is FIND the bass and present the lure in a realistic manner. Just sayin'

Bream patterns are always a challenge...possibilities are limitless.

Atomic Bream

Umm... how about spinnerbaits, skirted jig & trailer, tubes, silver Rat L Traps, chartreuse plastic worms or the large hooks hanging down from near stationary surface plugs.
Line diameter and type matters IMO but only if it adversely affects lure action. Fish of any species that attack lures aren't fooled into striking anything. They do or they don't. Realistic moving and looking lures are not realistic to fish - only to anglers that think lures fool fish too dumb to know what not to attack.

According to Keith Jones, Knowing Bass, fish easily see moving object details and feel lures moving in water at night before seeing and then striking them (lateral line). Lure size, action, profile, fish location and retrieve out way color schemes though color can enhance a lure's appearance.

Again, just one angler's opinion that has caught fish on most any type of lure ever made and in many unnatural colors that match nothing that ever lived.

Bought some cheap blanks for fun.
My final process is to brush on a thin layer of clear silicone caulk (holds scent well and softens the lure to feel more fleshy)

more fleshy than 6 hooks?

If you use red hooks, they taste like blood.

Those look great! I'm really digging that craw, I tried a few this past week. Are you still playing with the rattle can?

Yes, still using rattle cans and a mix of the sharpie paint pens and regular sharpies.
The craw is:
Rustoleum marigold yellow on bottom/belly
Then Rustoleum orange slightly higher up
Then Rustoleum poppy red slightly higher up
Then Rustoeum red on top/on the back

Black sharpie for the segmented lines.

Don't think that the caulk will alter the action?

Been doing it for years, no significant change in action.
Probably doesn’t do anything (just like using red hooks), but it’s become habit and increases my confidence.

I should be painting more soon, I just ordered some more blanks. If I wasn’t lazy I would make some....

Very nice.

Ok, I finally got a craw that I like. I just need more practice with the shell lines.




And an experiment that is kind of growing on me.

I like both of those Matt! Better paint up a few!

That's a really good "Molted Craw" look with the foil bursting through the red/orange line!

Something like this...

These were the first, but just clear coated. I’m sure the fish don’t care about the imperfections.

Those are bad to the bone. Beautiful.

Sorry I got some new blanks and well I throw a lot of shad colors.

Really like that blue/turquoise iridescence.

I really like this blank!

Looks like the high quality hook hangers and lip are oriented perfectly.
Appears to be very similar to the Megabass S crank sq bill.

These are very nice blanks, and is the first time for me to order from sugartit custom lures. I do believe this is the S crank knock off. His baits are a tad bit more pricy than others, but the quality shows it's self. The 1.5 square bill that is labeled "very high quality" sure are. The seams are seamless, along with the body and bill plastic being very clear. I have yet to fish any, but have to think they would preform well as compared to others. Now I only wished I had ordered more, anyways excited to paint some more.

The Fun N Sun show 2 or 3 years ago Alton Jones asked me to paint a chartreuse and purple jerk bait. The memories just hit me, and I had a new purple so I painted this.

That's a work of art right there.

OK, I am just getting started in painting my own baits. Getting ready to retire in Sept and figured I better find something to do for fun on cold rainy days. These are the first baits that I have ever painted. Be brutally honest, what did I do right, wrong, need to learn, whatever. I am having a blast at 66 yrs old. Finally doing some colors in certain baits that I have always wanted but no-one offered. Even learning to add micro glitter into the epoxy before going on the drying wheel. Had no idea that this hobby was going to grow into a house payment The first pic is just where a took an ugly glide bait and added a JigSkinz to it. Painted the underbelly bone, added the sunset orange under the front and gold and chartreuse micro glitter to the epoxy finish. The rest I sanded, and painted from scratch.

Welcome to the addiction. I live in Rockwall if you ever need anything.

Working on some military themed one off swimbaits

Thanks Matt

Workin on perfecting my A-rigs. 100% hand-made, Owner Hyperwire barrel swivels, Owner Hyperwire split rings...been playing with keeping the main bait wire at .040 and the 4 other wires .035 diameter
to make them more of a flex A-rig.

Man those look nice! I wish I threw them more. Let me know if you want to work a trade for a few crankbaits.

I was wanting something bright and different and had a couple new fluorescent paints I haven’t used yet, so here it is.

Also a couple of color changes in my gill but look almost the same.

Those look great Matt. I would like to know how well that bright colored one produces. I read that black and blue fade the fastest in the water column but the mid range colors of yellow through the beginning of blue are still visible. With the yellows and oranges being the most visible. So I would like to know how they work out.

Hey Matt I'd work out a trade if you'd like...If so PM me and let me know what you're thinking. I mainly fish super clear lakes so I stick with more of the Gill, Craw or Shad colored type of crank baits. I've been making 5 wire/ 4 blade A-rigs and can make them any length you want. Since you don't throw them a lot normally if your main wire is like 8 inches the next 2 wires with swimbaits are 1 inch shorter then the smallest 2 wires with dummy baits are an inch to 2 inch's smaller in length. Where I live we can only have 3 hooks per bait so that's why the 2 dummy baits with the center springs on them. But again, I can make them any way you would want them. I do have more blades on order now though, I've actually been trading and selling quite a few and went through 100 blades in like 2 weeks.

Made a small batch of these little 3.25" swimbaits today.

Lookin good. Please let us know results in "pond".

Back to a hand carved bass wood bait.

That will get hammered!

id get hammered if i owned those! great job

I got a new paint color and tried something I don’t do very often.

Wow, you do some great work.

It's a paint by number kit...

Lmao...I need to buy that kit but I'm sure i'll still paint outside the lines.

Well David knows me, but I promise I never ate the bubblegum off of the school bus windows.

David, I’m kinda shock you haven’t tried your hand painting some baits. You should, and it’s really nit that hard. It really kinda is like painting by number. I could help you out if you ever wanted to try.

Russell and his girlfriend have been bitten with the itch of carving baits. These just got dipped in their second coat of polyurethane, then will be ready for bills and hook hangers. Looks like I will be busy.

I have thought about it, buddy. I just haven't gotten around to scratching the itch yet. I haven't even resumed pouring plastics since the move... Need to get a space carved out of my garage to get it going again, but have too much junk I still need to get rid of!

Hopefully I'll have my boat back in time for Cedar Creek, though it is looking highly unlikely at this point! I may have to take a trip out to Flint to empty out my tackle and get some more rods though, In case I find a back seat!

I did try the carving thing once when I was a kid, but never completed it... Are y'all using Balsa, or Basswood?

Basswood, I did buy a block of Balsa and it is extremely light and soft. I haven't completed a Balsa bait yet.

I have a little Murga Art in the house needing clear. I don’t like this part!!!!!!

Love those!

It’s about blue gill time.

Very meaty and tasty looking—those will be swallowed whole.

I'll take those!!!

Built 3 seasonal Crayfish Chatter baits in 1/2 oz. and 3 quarter oz. Spinnerbaits for the creeks this week. My customer was very pleased with them and hope they serve him well.

Baby Doll Chatters: Spring - Summer - Fall





Baby Doll Creek Single Spins:
- The Shad Run with Sliver Indiana Blade - Cloudy Day Shad with Gold Indiana - Stained Creeks with Colo. Blade

Very nice!!

Made some resin single joint wake baits

Those wake baits have some sick action to them. I could just imagine watching that thing come over some grass.

This is one of those that sometimes less is more. Just a little black was used, I like it

Beautiful !

With summer time coming up, here’s a spook I did last week.

I got to spend some time with Arturo Murga sharing painting this bait. I was needing some new inspiration and we came up with this. It just needs some clear.

Wow, very nice




Countdown lipped swimbait
Runs about 4ft

Been painting some big baits. It’s hard to go back to the smaller ones. I guess it’s just something new.

WOW!!! Nice Baits!

Thanks David.

Amazing talents ALL! My thing is only soft plastic and I have a ton of hard plastics I don't use but might if I could do what all of you do.
Congrats.

You learn as you go. Trust me!!

Good morning TFF'ers I am new to the Fishing Forum ! Been on the Hunting Forum for years. Got into bait making a while back and it is more fun than reloading so here is my first post!!

WOW TBB! Those are sweeeet!

Thanks man they are a lot of fun to make !

Great looking swim baits! Decided to do a simple chrome and black.

Do you chrome your own and if so, how do you do it?

I did not, they came this way. I'm pretty sure I bought these from www.sugartitcustomlures.com, and he has a lot of blanks that seem to be of good quality. I have thought about getting a roll of aluminum tape for like A/C duct which is what a lot of people do. I've tried gold and silver leafing. I do not have the patients for that at all. It did look cool when finished but only did one. It just seems easier to buy them chromed when you can find them.

With that being said, I think he has someone that chromes the baits for him.

Something different for a shad pattern.

I want some!

Sorry Greg these are no longer in production.

I was going for a fluorescent orange line on this bait but the black turned it a little brown. Anyways was trying something different. They may get their chance at a fish this weekend.

Modified some cheap crankbaits to a purple bluessence color pattern

Superb workmanship! Congrats.

TBB Crappie 7.1" S-Swing


TBB Green Shifty Shad 7.1" S-Swing