The PERFECT blueguill

[jgip087]

Eric, (and others lol)

  If you liked the old Girons you need to see the new ones. They took some Japanese technology and laid photos onto the lures, hands down sickest looking baits I have seen out of a box. Here is a link to a photo, click on the RT colors. link removed

The photos do not even do these things justice you need to see one if you know stores that carry them, Frank's is bringing a couple in I think.

[Buckeye]

What kind of sink rate do the TT baits have?  Any idea?

Thanks!
Eric

[Cheetam]

What kind of sink rate do the TT baits have?  Any idea?

Thanks!
Eric

They have two versions, a wake/slow sink, and a slow/fast sink.  They come with weights that you can add or remove based on how you want the bait to sink.  Remove the pin connecting the head to the second section and add and remove weights as necessary.

[TCook]

Cheetam your definatly getting good with these custom paint schemes. I wish you had that bluegill pattern back when I was looking for some custom painted Rick Clunn's. When I get some extra $$ I will have to have you paint me up a few baits.

T

[Cheetam]

Cheetam your definatly getting good with these custom paint schemes. I wish you had that bluegill pattern back when I was looking for some custom painted Rick Clunn's. When I get some extra $$ I will have to have you paint me up a few baits.

T

Thanks T.  I was working on an earlier version of this scheme when you were looking to have those RCs done.  It's taken me a few tries to get it to where it is now, but so far, I'm pretty happy with it.

[thedude]

all it needs is some drake's mix and hush-puppies.
nice one jeff.

[Cheetam]

all it needs is some drake's mix and hush-puppies.
nice one jeff.

mmmmmmm.....hush puppies......

Thanks Justin.

[Wolf_fisherman]

Couple ?'s for yah cheetam. Thinking about starting to make some of my own custom painted baits. But dont know where to start and I have 2 new 8ft benches that r screaming to have paint marks on them. Suggestions on airbrush guns, paints and etcs would be great. Second ? if i can get my hands on some of the Rapala Supershad blanks or colors that dont produce can you paint some of those bluegills up for me? I have caught some big smallies and largemouths with those baits but Rapala doesn't have many colors to choose from and my muskie guy charges a arm and a leg to paint em. Thanks Wolf.

[Cheetam]

Couple ?'s for yah cheetam. Thinking about starting to make some of my own custom painted baits. But dont know where to start and I have 2 new 8ft benches that r screaming to have paint marks on them. Suggestions on airbrush guns, paints and etcs would be great. Second ? if i can get my hands on some of the Rapala Supershad blanks or colors that dont produce can you paint some of those bluegills up for me? I have caught some big smallies and largemouths with those baits but Rapala doesn't have many colors to choose from and my muskie guy charges a arm and a leg to paint em. Thanks Wolf.

Wolf- Once you start painting baits, it gets REAL expensive  .  You will need a few things to get started (which you may have laying around already). 

First, you will need is a compressor.  I use a 4 gallon pancake style Craftsman that I have had for years, but, if you look around, you can find a good compressor for under $100.  Get one with the biggest tank you can so it won't kick on every 5 minutes. 

I have three airbrushes I am using right now, but the brush I am using more than any other is a PS 1000 from buyairbrushes.com.  There was a deal a while back where if you used the coupon code "bigfish1", you would receive a 35% discount on that brush, or on the PS 900.  Most guys who took the deal bought the PS 900, which cost under $40 out the door (if I had to do it over again, I'd choose that one - in fact, I may pick one up). 

As for paints, I use mostly Createx airbrush paints (they're acrylic paints).  I like the acrylics because they aren't toxic and they wash up easily with water. 

For a top coat (clear coat), most guys use either epoxy (like Devcon 2 ton - or others, there are a few out there), or Dick Nite's Lure Coat, which is what I use.  Pros and cons for both, but I prefer the DNs for a few different reasons, among them are it is chip and UV-resistant, it doesn't yellow over time (like most epoxies), and it cures quickly and evenly (which means you won't have to build a turning wheel for all of your baits as they cure like epoxies). 

Among other things you will end up needing, tape for taping off the lips and making stencils, netting for scales, an exacto knife or two, windex or airbrush cleaner for cleaning out your brush (get some paper towels too, and maybe some Q-tips..they help), hemostats for holding baits and/or clamping down your netting....remember how I said it gets expensive...   Don't forget, you're going to want to buy 3d eyes, and some unpainted blanks, and some new hooks and split rings and....ah you get the picture.  As for painting up you baits, send me a PM and maybe we can work something out.

[bassassasin88]

Before you get started check out Tackleunderground.com. Tons of info, and everyone is happy to help with any questions.

[bassassasin88]

did you use a paint brush to put the red under the gills?

[Cheetam]

did you use a paint brush to put the red under the gills?

Yeah.  I typically don't use brushes (except for brushing on my clearcoat), but there really wasn't any other way to get that detail.  I guess I could have used a Micron pen, which is what I have used to outline gills on other baits, but it is so thin it would have taken forever.