Urethane usually some water based, I shoot my clears so no epoxies would be too thick. I disassemble and paint each component unless there's a pattern then I only loosely assemble as necessary to get the pattern then clear individually and reassemble after cured. You do this so it ensures a person can clean the reel later
This was painted for a gentleman who was a steel worker for 40 years and wanted me to paint a steel plated lure. It was given to him for his last Christmas on this earth. - Mike Russell
search for Autoair metallics.... they make a few different size flakes and if I recall the medium is the brightest. best wat to spray is back your needle out a smidge
IMO, certain times of the year you have to grab their attention with different. But most times it's match the hatch - whatever is natural forage with a touch of flair.