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I want to get started in painting my own lures. I can't wait to get started and I know there is so much information I need to know first. I am hoping there is a professional out there that remembers what it was like when they first started out. I am asking for any advice, and any advice what so ever is going to be welcomed and greatly appreciated. Items I have: Air Brush: Iwata Eclipse HP-CS and a cheap airbrush set from harbor fright. The Harbor fright set came with an air compressor and everything i need (hopefully). Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Q) Does anyone recommend a different air compressor? If so, what kind and why (other than the fact that it's harbor fright and will probably take a poop the day after the warranty) Paint: I got a bunch of the Createx colors and a lot of the Wicked colors. Pearls, transparent, opaque in some, and some detail paints. Any suggestions in this area is greatly appreciated! Q) Where is the cheapest place to get paint, especially the ones I will use the most like white for base paint and black cover. What brand, place, price, and website or store name would be amazing. Lures: The lures that I do have are not blanks. They are lures that I had purchased from Cabelas and most of them are still in the boxes. I want to paint mostly Rapala stuff because that's what I have the most of. I want to paint Rippin' Raps, Husky Jerks, Jigging Shad Raps, Shad Raps, and maybe some DT stuff later. I also want to paint Storm baits like the Smash Shads and the thundersticks (deep and original). I really want to start painting Smithwick Rouges as well. but don't have any of those. Q) For stock (original ligit lures) lures that are painted, what is your step by step to painting them? Do you sand them then apply base coat, or do you just apply base right over the painted lure? Q) What tape do you use to tape off your bills and why? Price and place/website, thank you. Q) What kind of clear coat do you use? Do you just apoxy it with a brush? How do you finish your lures? Q) Do you make your own Stencils? If not, where do you get them? If so, How? This is the big Q) Where do I go to get GOOD blanks? I of course want the real deal but will settle for the next best thing as long as they swim and look identical to the lures mentioned above. Please and thank you.

Hi all, I've been reading a ton on this forum and found so much helpful information, thank you all. I've made a few cranks based on others designs (Paul Adams Phox Minnow and one other), and they turned out great. I've designed my first simple shad style bait and it swims with a very "tight" action. It's made from basswood and weighted with lead split shot sinkers (size 7 in front of hook hanger and 3/0 behind). I want to give my next iteration more "roll" and a "wider" swimming action. I've attached a picture and the current design drawing. Can anyone give me their intuition on how to do this? I think that a wider lip should help give it a wider swim, also I could maybe make the body wider as well. I'm only guessing though as I have very little experience. thanks, Harrison

I was looking for a bobby garland baby shad mold or something very similar. I was wondering were you could get one or if a company would make one? I make my own molds but I'm thinking I want to start injecting. I know how much pouring these things are so it's mainly just a hobby so you don't have to tell me it's expensive. I know!