What's the next step

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_zaahid

Member
Hey All,

I have finally made my first lure, I tested the action in the pool and i think it swims pretty well, check it out for yourself.

https://youtu.be/_Cr0CzS7ZkI

Some specs of the lure currently:
Length: 130mm
Weight: 23g

I want to get onto painting the lure and so on, but I wanted to ask whether straight to paint is the correct way, or should I first put a coat of epoxy on the lure before I start painting ?

Your advice would be highly appreciated _seal1__seal1_
 
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Limpopoking

Sealiner
You didn't mention what the lure body is made from.

For now, I'll assume you've used wood. I normally soak my lures in a sanding sealer:lacquer thinners 50:50 mix for as long as possible (at least a few days) and then let it dry for as long as possible for all the thinners to evaporate. Put it in a sunny spot and turn it over from time to time.

Then sand down, paint with a base coat, then paint detail and only then coat with epoxy (I use tarbender).
 
Z

_zaahid

Member
Apologies, yes, the lure is made from Balsa wood, decided to start with a softer wood to allow for easier carving.
 
L

Limpopoking

Sealiner
Okay, with balsa, heat up the lure in a very low heat oven or something similar, and while still hot, dip it in the sanding sealer mix mentioned above. That will help draw the mixture deep into the surface. Then allow to dry for a few days.

Best results I've had with base coat have been with automotive 2k.
 
Z

_zaahid

Member
do you have any comments on the action of the lure ?


It's meant to be a sinking lure, and when I tested with the hooks and split rings, it does exactly that, so apart from the not sinking in the video, is there anything you think I should look at from a lure action point of view ?
 
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Limpopoking

Sealiner
I have to admit to not being an expert on stick baits... All the lures I've built have been poppers and chisel nose or needle nose plugs. I've steered away from stick baits because I don't really know much about the dynamics of them. But it looked like it was doing the job. I'm sure that others out there could give advice tho.
 
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Dr halibut hoffman

Moderator
Most paint jobs are there to catch the fishermen, not the fish..and your best performing bait will inevitably end up being the one that has has all the paint bitten off it or chipped off it on the rocks, but still the fish somehow cannot resist it.

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

Will Fish Eat a Block of Wood? Marling baits decided to test the theory...LOL
 
Z

_zaahid

Member
That raises an interesting question actually, What role does color play on a lure?

I've heard that the red assist hooks are used to make it seem like the fish is bleeding, i've heard that color can attract fish when the water is discoloured or when the sun is not out.

I definitely don't have enough of an understanding of how a fish percieves things, all i know is that when i throw that chokka bait, i make it look as neat as possible
 
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Dr halibut hoffman

Moderator
An ugly non painted lure thrown in front of a fish will catch 100% more than a fancy painted one thrown randomly in a spot that is not fishy..that's the first basic rule of lures, throw it in front a fish, the rest is secondary..paint jobs are tertiary.

Make sure your tackle, and you, can handle what you are targeting, make sure your hooks are sharp..LOL must watch marling baits' "first trip fishing in the sea, on a charter" They get hammered and loose fish after fish, those sea fish are no bass hahahha..

When they fish are in front of you and chowing, and you have dinner in the bag already, you whip out the fancy ones and painted ones and non painted ones and see what the fish prefer colourwise, or if it is rather action or cadence that makes a difference..when the fish are not chowing, you use the lure that catches you fish..that you trust as it has fed you many times before.. different coloured assist hooks,I doubt makes any difference..I've had fish barely 50cm long swallow my plugs with 7/0 trebles on, I doubt they looked at the hooks before committing LOL.
 
L

Limpopoking

Sealiner
All colour disappears when you get really deep, but red is the first to go at about 6m, so red assists on jigs is utterly pointless.

I think the only thing that you can rely on is action and the retrieve you impart to the lure to generate that action. Every time I've fished the same area, it's been a different colour that has produced. Purple one year on Lazarus, and then everyone runs out of that colour, so the next trip, everyone takes a stupid amount of purple, but by then, it's green that is attracting fish. Nowdays, I take the full spread and experiment to see what the current fish fad is.

That being said, I still spend a lot of time painting my poppers because I can. ;)
 
Z

_zaahid

Member
that's my thoughts, I have heard that there are certain colors that work well at certain times, and yes, the action of a lure definitely plays a role, but i do think there is some sort of role that color plays.

For my first few lures however i will be sticking with the silver color to try and achieve some sort of light reflecting capability
 
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