The Custom Bait Paint Thread... 2024

The_Natural reply :

How about a thread that shows and references custom painted baits and what was used to create them? I know when I bought my airbrush, I tried to do a search to find all the threads that had custom painted baits. Well.....here is a thread that shows the what and how. Custom painters...don't just show us your pics....we may want to try and replicate your bait. List your procedure and colors to help us out.

Green apple baits....

Paint the entire bait in a bone color (createx opaque white + several drops of transparent medium brown + a few drops of transparent yellow). This doesn't have to be exact...bone is easy to make. Just mix some white with a little brown and yellow, and Voila! You have bone. f

Once the whole bait is painted in bone, rinse your brush and load up a little bit of Createx lime green pearl. Spray the lime green at an angle starting at the top and fading down half way. Rinse your brush and load up some Createx medium brown. Stand the bait on end and start at the tail and spray the medium brown directly on center moving up and down to coat the back. Don't initiate too much paint flow...this will cause a screw-up.

Big M and you other guys....When you paint and post a bait(s).....list the paint and technique used to help out everyone. I'm hoping to create a huge reference thread of baits.

skillet reply :

Still in the "thinking about re-painting" mode but good idea...

skillet

whittler reply :

One of my favorite techniques is light on dark, kind of a pain to do but I like the final results. All the paints will be waterbased and the one color that requires a really good paint is the white, highly reccomend Wildlife Colors/Smith paint touch-up white. This paint job also requires two sizes of mesh be used.

1. Starting with a sealed and primed bait shoot coat of white over the entire bait, heat set, plus I also like to dry at least 2hrs. before going on.

2. Paint over the back and 3/4 of the way down the sides with Opaque black. Heat set.

3. Using the larger scaled mesh wrap the bait and shoot with a coat of touch-up white. This paint has more pigment than standard white and will cover the black with one coat.

4. Remove the mesh and spray from the belly up to clean up any areas of black overspray, plus I like a pure white belly on most lures, makes the bending of colors easier. Heat set.

5. Here You can start with whatever colors you like but on this bait it was shot with a very light coat of transparent green. Heat set.

6. Now strech the finer scale mesh over the bait and spray with transparent yellow, building the color up slowly. Remove the mesh. Heat set

7. Using a transparent light blue, very slowly spray the upper half of the bait, the blue blended with the yellow will start giving you your second green value, This coat can be blended up untill you are satisfied with the final color. Heat set

8. At this point I will usually spray a little darker color across the back, blending it with the lower colors, also if you want a little darker color behind the eyes now is the time. Heat set.

9. The gills are shot through a stencil along with the fins. On the fins I shoot a very light yellow background then just darken the edges with orange. The throat is sprayed with Flo. orange. Heat set. The rays on the fins are done with a pencil. The black dot and the eyes are done with pencil erasers.

10. Sign and date and your ready for your top coat.

Marc David reply :

Good idea, maybe RW or one of the other mods can make this a sticky. It's been a while since I've painted, I'll post up one my older patterns later on.

.dsaavedra. reply :

theres somethin pretty similar to this going on here: http://www.tackleunderground.com/forum/hard-baits/2603-hard-bait-cookbook.html

The_Natural reply :

That bluegill looks stellar Idlov2fish.....I'm working my way up to the more difficult patterns.

My wife was giving me a hard time yesterday; I had an airbrush in my hand...a blowdryer on my lap...and baits taped up all over the place. Greatness.....

The_Natural reply :

I'll add that I am using UPol Clear #1 to clearcoat my baits. I struggled for a while as to whether to build a drying wheel and use epoxy, or just use aerosol clear. My H&T baits answered that question. They are 5 years old, and the epoxy is yellowing pretty bad. I thought regular clearcoat was too thin, but the Upol sprays on very thick...thicker than any aerosol I have used. I'm also giving each bait two coats. True clearcoat is significantly more clear than epoxy or glue, and really makes your paint 'pop'. However, durability is in question I guess and I can only answer that after using them for a while.

Thad reply :

Watermelon Craw

This pattern is a great seller and very easy to do.

1) Base coat white.

2) Spray bottom half with some kind of pearl orange.

3) Mix together pearl greens and browns till you get a watermelon color and spray top half of bait.

4) Use a stencil or mask off and paint with black.

5) Splatter back with black.

Like the green apple Natural. Fished them yet?

Marc David reply :

Quote
I'll add that I am using UPol Clear #1 to clearcoat my baits. I struggled for a while as to whether to build a drying wheel and use epoxy, or just use aerosol clear. My H&T baits answered that question. They are 5 years old, and the epoxy is yellowing pretty bad. I thought regular clearcoat was too thin, but the Upol sprays on very thick...thicker than any aerosol I have used. I'm also giving each bait two coats. True clearcoat is significantly more clear than epoxy or glue, and really makes your paint 'pop'. However, durability is in question I guess and I can only answer that after using them for a while.

Let us know how that UPol performs with durability. I haven't built a wheel and the aerosols I have tried have all been terrible after the baits had been fished some.

Marc David reply :

I don't have much painting experience, but here's one that's real simple that I posted up a while back:

Threadfin Shad

1. Base White

2. Paint the whole bait with Createx Pearl White

3. Paint the top half with AutoAir Pearl Copper

4. Paint the top quarter AutoAir Pearl Turquoise

5. Spray Createx Opaque Black down the back of the bait

6. Place a shad spot on both sides of the bait (I used a Q-tip on this one)

cadman reply :

First I have to say you guys paint some beautiful baits, and secondly it's nice to see that you list all your colors and step by step info on how you paint them. Outstanding information. I am slowly getting into air brushing and have been practicing my painting technique. I have a long way to go.

The Natural.........very nice choice of colors.

idlov2fish............very unique and different. I like the mesh inside the mesh.

Thad...................that is really awsome.

M & M.................another nice color combination I like.

I'm going to guess that everyone listed above buys their cranks unpainted except idlove2fish correct?

Where do you guys buy blank crankbaits?

Lastly would any of you guys have a problem if I PM'ed you for more info on your crankbaits? PM me back if it's OK, I just don't want to bother anyone, or ask for any of your trade secrets.

Thanks for all the detailed information.

Marc David reply :

Cadman, you can buy them from many places. Mine is a knock off that I ordered from predatorbassbaits. Their cheap and great to practice on.

If you have any questions, feel free to send me a pm.

whittler reply :

Have to admit I really admire the work of the painters on this site and glad they can share their fantastic work.

cadman, pm anytime if there are any secrets to this bait making thing, I sure don't have any.

.dsaavedra. reply :

Quote
Cadman, you can buy them from many places. Mine is a knock off that I ordered from predatorbassbaits. Their cheap and great to practice on.
If you have any questions, feel free to send me a pm.

hey how do you like the screw in belly weight on that RC knock off?

Marc David reply :

It's a neat feature for the bait. I think that was the only one I painted. Only thing was when I clear coated it, the rubber ring around the bottom hook had a reaction with the clear coat and it turned a bright yellow.

.dsaavedra. reply :

Quote
It's a neat feature for the bait. I think that was the only one I painted. Only thing was when I clear coated it, the rubber ring around the bottom hook had a reaction with the clear coat and it turned a bright yellow.

how do they swim?

BIG M reply :

I paint very few patterns that I consider difficult, because I'm not a good artist. I don't see colors very well in my mind's eye, so I shoot them on the bait and then decide if it looks good. here is a very simple school bus yellow/black, flo orange belly.

1. Base coat Wildlife colors (super hide white)

2. Base coat yellow Golden paints (Dairylid Yellow)

3. Scales Wildlife colors (payne's grey)

4. back stripe Wildlife colors (detail black)

5. belly C-tex (flo orange)

Marc David reply :

Quote

Quote
It's a neat feature for the bait. I think that was the only one I painted. Only thing was when I clear coated it, the rubber ring around the bottom hook had a reaction with the clear coat and it turned a bright yellow.

how do they swim?

Not sure... just used it to paint on. Knock offs don't have a good reputation for swimming well. Get a couple to paint once your airbrush arrives. They look good, and feel heavy enough to cast a mile.

I was wondering when you would chime in Big M.

Everyone's patterns look great by the way.

geckert reply :

Personally got 10 of those knock offs and out of 10 a total of 0 ran straight even a little bit. Personally think they just took a deep diver and lopped the bill off its almost horrible. just my 2 cents and the argon knock off split sr baits are just as bad >

And not to hijack this thread Nice work fellers and I really appreciate the fact that theres a how to do it section WOOOT pics to come soon.

Stringjam reply :

I'm really new at this whole thing, but here's my little contribution, anyway.

All paints are House of Kolor urethane.

1. Solid black basecoat

2. Lemon Yellow (spray underbelly - also used for eye-shadow)

3. Black Sparkle Pearl (spray entire bait, fading into belly yellow)

4. Cover bait with scale mesh and bar stencil (I used a big hair comb)

5. Orion Silver Metallic (sprayed for bars and back).

ToledoEF reply :

we need to sticky this thread! I will add something, when I have something worth adding lol!

.dsaavedra. reply :

yeah making this a sticky would be awesome!

.dsaavedra. reply :

here are some of my recent paintjobs that might be worth adding:

-solid black base coat

-re-coat everything in metallic silver

-spray milk chocolate over the shoulders, fading into sides

-iridescent violet all over belly and sides

-camouflage shot through a comb for stripes (i used tape on top one)

-camouflage shot down back and around face

-lemon yellow around chest

-detail black for the gills

-solid white undercoat

-spray metallic brass down the back and sides, almost covering the entire sides

-spray camouflage through mesh covering the back about half the sides

-spray belly in pearl sparkle white

- spray detail back down the back, for the lateral stripe and gills

.dsaavedra. reply :

-solid white basecoat

-ultramarine blue over the back shoulders and halfway down the side

-detail black down the back

-detail black shad spot

-mask off stripe and spray metallic brass

-pearl sparkle white down belly

bnwcrankin reply :

BD BLUEGILL....

1) Krylon for plastic's white base

2) Pearl white on belly and sides

3) Pearl purple on upper sides and back

4) Stencil vertical stripes with Thinned pearl black (folk art)

5) Mesh on belly & up gill's a little- Flor. Orange mixed with a rust orange scales

6) Trans. Dark Brown mixed with Pearl Chartreuse on back. 4drops char. 1 drop dark brown.

7) wrap entire bait with mesh and spray pearl white scales on sides and trans. brown scales on the gills.

8) Stencil gill spot's with painter's tape and spray w/ opaque black

9) Trans. light blue along bottom of gills

10) Flick some blue randomly around bait w/airbrush

11) Freehand with fine brush red gill's

12) opaque black around eye sockets...

Sure I left something out but you can figure out the rest...lol...

ToledoEF reply :

Quote

BD BLUEGILL....

1) Krylon for plastic's white base

2) Pearl white on belly and sides

3) Pearl purple on upper sides and back

4) Stencil vertical stripes with Thinned pearl black (folk art)

5) Mesh on belly & up gill's a little- Flor. Orange mixed with a rust orange scales

6) Trans. Dark Brown mixed with Pearl Chartreuse on back. 4drops char. 1 drop dark brown.

7) wrap entire bait with mesh and spray pearl white scales on sides and trans. brown scales on the gills.

8) Stencil gill spot's with painter's tape and spray w/ opaque black

9) Trans. light blue along bottom of gills

10) Flick some blue randomly around bait w/airbrush

11) Freehand with fine brush red gill's

12) opaque black around eye sockets...

Sure I left something out but you can figure out the rest...lol...

Cool lookin bait, I will have to try this one out!

Fishwhittler reply :

Here's mine...

1. Black basecoat

2. Yellow scales on sides

3. Gold belly

4. Spray back black

5. Black dot on side

Eyes are 1/4" dot foil tape stuck on 1/2" circle of yellow prism tape which is then cut in half.

ToledoEF reply :

Here is how you make baby poop splatter back shads!

Mix transparent dark brown and opaque yellow to get your "mustard/baby poop" color

I just used a simple white primer then coated with baby poop! After that splatter the back with black and lime pearl!

bnwcrankin reply :

Quote
Here is how you make baby poop splatter back shads!

Crazy name man!! lol ;D

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