5bites

Yea then pre mades are probably more cost effective. It's still fun though. Frustrating too at times like anything else.

Switched to a tempest and don't need this one. $200 shipped. If it's a local deal we could negotiate.

Trophy you need to get into making your own. It's pretty simple and handy to have when you have a lure that they don't make stencils for.

I actually considered throwing in a fourth battery to be dedicated to running accessories. It's probably a good idea but I hat the added weight and expense.

If you ever give stick drawing lessons sign me up.

I am very aware. Maybe call stealth? I'm betting they know a thing or two about all this. Just a hunch.

If I remember correctly the stealth chargers charger while the big motor is running just like a car basically.

What method do you all prefer when you have to grab onto the hook hangers to dry? I've used my current setup with alligator clips but finish got on the clips. If I get a smaller bite with the clips then I'm afraid the lure will somehow fall off or move around.

Hey there's an idea lol. Lowes apparently sells a rotisserie setup for $35ish some use. I'm using my rod dryer and a very ghetto setup with a broken rod, tape, old brushes, and alligator clips. It'll change eventually. Soon I hope actually. It's pretty hideous.

Fish don't forget he can use the 40% coupon.

The wickeds generally spray better straight out of the bottle from what I've seen. Buy some reducer to thin your paint. This is especially true for opaque createx. That stuff comes out of the bottle like jelly sometimes. Again you can thin with water but I'm not liking what im seeing doing that. Like trophy mentioned windex is a good airbrush cleaner. I use it too. My eclipse came with a sample of an iwata brand cleaner and it works even better. Spend more now and fight less later. I'm sure you know this but since these paints are water based you can paint a lure and if it doesn't turn out you just wash the paint off and start over.

Great example pics bluebasser

Just a suggestion to all but I recommend never trailering with your graphs mounted. I always pull mine unless we are staying very near the ramp. I'm always concerned about theft if we stop, rocks, road crap and grime especially if it's rainy or drizzly. Just my paranoia and what I do. I also never trailer with my rods on the deck for the same reasons.

Have you tried tinting clear instead?

Good night!

dtrs5kprs my boys ended up with one of the Ned packages you donated. I am very impressed with them little heads and will be buying some for myself. The fishing we did Sunday wasn't very conducive to kids throwing Ned's so they didn't get the workout they soon will. I just wanted to say thank you for the donations. I also wanted to say thank you to Bill Babler for thinking of giving them to the youngest ones in attendance. The whole thing was a neat deal. I have a feeling next year will be even better. I hope I can contribute better myself next year.

Remember the water coming by eagle rock isn't typical upper end lake water. It's bottom of beaver lake water. This makes table rock fish a wee bit different. What I mean is you may find that sometimes the water isn't warmer or dirtier but the opposite. In fact Sunday I went east for that exact reason and found the dirty water I was looking for after seeing the creeks clearing up west of eagle rock. This is something to keep in mind during the spawn too. The rule of thumb is fish spawn earlier on the upper end of a lake because of the dirtier and warmer water. That's not necessarily the case at table rock.

For sure. My answer to that is as few as possible lol. Hopefully just two. I've bee very fortunate to have some good mentors get me started and answer endless questions. It helps make better decisions even if my experience level isn't that high. As far as dollar value I've told my wife several times I should have had Matt Davis of Otterods just build me a few customs in the beginning and been done with it. At the same time when I pick up a factory rod and think "now why the heck did they do that?" then I remember why it's nice to have the freedom to build one exactly how I want. Keep in mind I fish with factory built rods though mostly. I'm a sucker for trying new things. Having a warranty is nice too. The lure painting thing I blame on my kids. I'm not sure how that works out really but I'm going with it.

Maybe even put recipes below the pics if the painter was inclined.

Absolutely! I like that. It's like a cross between the two. I kinda wish there was a sticky somewhere that lure tinkerers and rod builders could put up pics so that they can all be viewed in one spot.

One thing I'd like to add, and it comes more from the rod building I've done rather than the short time I've been painting. If you have a method that works for you and it differs from others ways of doing things there's nothing wrong with that if the results are good. Different types of finish is a perfect example. Some people for whatever reason do not get along with brand "A" finish but love brand "B" and has never had a problem. The next guy hates brand "B". It just varies person to person so it pays to experiment to a point with different brands but don't dismiss one brand as bad. It just isn't for you. Like was mentioned above tackleunderground.com is a great resource for information. Bassboatcentral.com has some too. Some.

That sounds great to me. When I mentioned Baxter I meant for a fall tournament specifically. I think a late fall deer season tournament would be great.

I am just getting started into airbrushung myself. So far I've learned like I always do, don't go cheap. It's not worth the fight and frustration. I bought an iwata neo to start with. That lasted a little over a month until I got fed up and bought an iwata eclipse like I should have to begin with. There are better guns I'm sure but it's got a solid reputation. I got it at hobby lobby for around $120 with the 40% coupon you can find online at any time. I started out with my garage 2 gallon compressor and again it just added frustration trying to regulate air pressure accurately and consistently. So I bought a harbor freight air brush compressor. Yes I know it's not exactly top of the line but others have had success and so far I like it. Hobby lobby carries createx and wicked (made by createx) airbrush paint. Some colors need thinning and some don't. It's part of the learning curve and I'm waaaaaaaaay toward the beginning of it. You can thin with water. Don't. I'm learning this lesson now. Buy actual reducer. Don't be cheap like me. My eclipse came with com art paint samples. It makes createx seem like you're spraying mud! That com art comes out very smooth. I wanted to throw rocks at my box of createx after trying it lol. I haven't bought any yet. I was told by a long time painter that spaz stix paint is great and paints about as smooth as lacquer. So I'll be experimenting with it sometime. You can get bait blanks at several places. One with a good reputation that I've ordered from is predatorbaits.com. The wart blank he sells works. It worked this weekend actually. Don't clear your baits with rod guide finish (flex coat, threadmaster, etc) because it simply doesn't hold up. Lots use devcon 2-ton but I havet yet. I have at the recommendations of a long time painter used bar top epoxy. It's clear, it's hard, and durable. The pot life is good too. So that's what I'm playing with. Take all I've said knowing that I'm still just getting my feet wet. My opinions may change as time goes on.

I have a 1.5" ram up front and a 2.25" at the wheel both holding humminbird 999's. The 1.5" is sufficient but you do have to tighten it up more and it may move more also depending on how it's mounted. Mine won't move but I'd need to get a pic to explain why. Basically it's braced against my trolling motor pedal tray. I will get pics if you want them. The 1.5" runs around $55 http://m.basspro.com/RAM-Mounts-Universal-Ball-&-Socket-Electronics-Mount-for-Medium-Size-Units-Rectangular-Mounting-Plate-RAM111U/product/98611/ The 2.25" is solid as can be. If your graph will be in the open with nothing to brace the ram mount arm like my front graph is then the big 2.25" May be the way to go but you have to pay more at around $110. http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Ram-Mount_D-111U-C_Marine_Electronics_Mount/descpage-RMD111.html Here is another option that looks very solid and a compromise on price between the two. http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Dek-It_Electronics_Mounts/descpage-DEKIT.html