[RiverMan]

I didn't build any of these but I am definitely a fan of the "banana lure". These are all kwikfish in the 15 and 16 size that I use for chinook. Kwikfish are a wonderful lure, very stable in heavy current and yet they will still wobble when the tide has barely turned. The lure that is white with spots is killer!

I love the lures you are making diemai, particularly those without a lexan bill. You are definitely patient but I am sure the slow process is what you enjoy the most.

Jed V.

[diemai]

@ RiverMan

Really enjoyed to view your collection , what an array of colors ! ! !

You are so right to say , that I enjoy seeing the lures slowly evolve under my hands very much !

But I must admit , that I don't take such an effort in painting them !

At this stage I want them to be finished fast , because most likely I already have new ideas on my mind about what to try next and I can't always easily wait for long to put my ideas into shape .

I know, it's kinda weird , but that's how it this !

Greetz , Dieter

[diemai]

It's been quite a while , since I've posted here last , but that doesn't mean , that I'm not procceding with my "Banana" lures as well !

Only the paint failure of my swimbait kept me busy for some time , also the lure shown here(in pink) I had to clean off again , since that new yellow spray paint evolved crackles on it , too .

Like my swimbait in my other thread I also decided on brush-painting it with modelmaking enamels .

Off course such a finish can never make up with the airbrush beauties shown here on TU , but I am OK with it(local fish obviously too) , I'd rather prefer designing , constructing and carving lures rather them painting them .

Kinda sad , but true !

For some other lures , that I am presently working on(also one "Banana" and the "SuperBug" knock-off) I am planning on a metal flake finish .

Never did it on wooden baits before , only on spoons , but I am sure , that it would work out on those as well , though it is also quite time consuming .
It requires several gloss coats to sprinkle on the glitter particles until achieving proper coverage , after some more coats to achieve a reasonably smooth surface .

Some other "Banana's" are almost finished so far(check second pic) , only want to apply some glitter jelly as well and after topcoat them !

Greetz , Dieter

[diemai]

Hi , folks

Here are some pics showing how I put on the first layer of the metal flake finish , that I mentioned in my previous post here .

Before this I have primed the lures as usual and sprayed on a silver base color , so it seems , that already with the first process a good coverage has been achieved , but I am sure , that I might have to apply a second layer .

When the epoxy coat , on which I sprinkled the metal flakes , has dried after one day , I'd shake off all loose glitter particles , so some gaps might still show up , and I'd have to repeat .

After I'd put on some more coats of epoxy to render the surface more smooth , so that I can spray on some contrasting colors on the belly .

I might as well put on metal flakes again , also in different colors .
I guess , I'm gonna do this on the backs of the lures , and only spray the bellies !

To sprinkle on the flakes , I put a slightly kinked clean piece of paper underneath to gather all particles falling aside , the kink acts like a kind of funnel to pour the flakes back into their container .

Greetz , Dieter

[diemai]

Hi , folks

Whilst I am still working on the metal flake finish of two of my new "banana" lures , I have just today completed the other four baits .

They are rattle canned and brush painted(with modelmaking enamels) , but I haven't yet field-tested them .
Nevertheless they all worked fine during my bathtube tests for weighting them , still unpainted .
Only the one in pink with a blue head runs a little too moderate for my taste , I guess , this is because its body cross section is partly rather flat , so it is unable to "roll" as much as the other baits !

Anyway , I am still going to wait a few days more to cast them for first , I just want the topcoats to cure a bit more .

Greetz , Dieter

[diemai]

Allright , here are the other two lures !
I know , that I can never match the premium class A paintjobs to be seen here on TU , but I really enjoy making these lures , and sometimes I also catch fish on them , luckily !

Greetz , Dieter

[diemai]

Hi , folks

Finally my last two "Banana's" are now done with their "metal flake finish" !

Haven't applied this on wooden lures before , only on casting spoons .

I have found , that it adds quite a bit of weight to the lures , since apart from the metal glitter particles it requires some more top gloss coats as on "normally" painted lures . But not as much to render them to be sinking !

Had to paint on the eyes of the lures , since decal eyes wouldn't hold onto the rough glitter surface very well .
Sometimes they do , but also the eyes locations on these lures are quite curved , it requires a rather plane surface for them to stick at all !

Next time I should cut eye sockets and leave them bare of glitter flakes , so I won't have that problem again !

Quite time-consuming to do and not very detailed , but in fact something different to offer to the fish !

Greetz , Dieter

[diemai]

Well , here is the second "Banana" , it did not turn out quite as good as the previously shown "SuperBug" version , also the layer of metal flakes got a bit thicker , since I messed things up at first and had to redo it !

Also the sprayed-on "fishbone" pattern turned out to be a little too low on the flanks , but the fish won't bother , I guess !

Greetz , Dieter

[diemai]

Fished that "SuperBug" version yesterday for the first time . Works great , dives deep , not even tow eye-tuning was neccessary .

The lure can be cast pretty far , then it would fly out on its back with the large bill acting as a sort of "wing" or rudder .
But also sometimes it would start to tumble , thus not go that far .

I guess , if using a casting reel(I was geared with a spinning reel),
the casting performance would still improve .

There will be more of these lures coming winter , also smaller versions , that's for sure !

Haven't caught on it that day , fish were reluctant as usual these days over here , only a small zander(walleye)of about 20" took a palm-sized homemade spoon !

Thanks to TU and especially LaPala !
Greetz , diemai

[LaPala]

Not worthy Diemai, I believe I only contributed one post to this discussion. It's your own effort in experimenting and sharing the results that is worthy. We need more lure makers getting their hands dirty instead of wanting to get quick answers.