Custom Michigan Crankbait contest

[bnt55]

I am looking forward to my annual fishing trip up to Traverse City with my Dad and Uncle, we will be staying on Green lake and fishing some of the local lakes around the area. This past year I have started airbrushing crankbaits and I thought it would be pretty cool to come up with a dynamite "Michigan" color scheme that will drive the smallies crazy! Does that color exist? who knows, but half the fun is creating a fishing lure. So here's the deal, I need suggestions from you Michiginians for colors/patterns that will turn the average crankbait into smallmouth candy. I will pick one or more ideas to paint up, then use the lures on my fishing trip, if it's a success I will paint up some more and mail them to you as thanks. You can post your ideas on this thread or PM me to keep the color combo a *secret* . I only fish Michigan waters 4 days a year so you will have an exclusive HOT bait to rake in tons of tourny bucks or throw in your tackle box to never see the light of day again, your choice. So get your creative fisherman juices flowing, enter the mind of a smallmouth and let the ideas BEGIN!!!

Crankbait blanks I have on hand:

Square bill 1.5,2.5
Wiggle Wart
Bandit 200
Spro Little John MD
Medium divers 2.5
Megabass Vision 110

I've attached some samples of cranks I have painted

[21XDC]

You do nice work.

[MichPhoenix77]

Very nice! The Bluegill / Brim pattern would be killer on any clear water lake up here where Gills are prevalent.
Awesome work

[bnt55]

Well I guess the lack of posts in this thread leads me to believe there is no such thing as a magic bait color, or at least none that anyone wants to share. So with this turn of events I have decided, no wait....you guys have "forced" me to use the ugliest bait of all time in your pristine Michigan waters......The dreaded PURPLE NURPPLE, it's the only bait ever painted to actually cause fish anorexia.

[21XDC]

I'm not a big believer in special colors...

[Hollada]

Special colors - perch, chartreuse perch, yellow perch, gold perch, GP pro perch, elegy bone, pearl, disco shad, helsinki shad

[MichPhoenix77]

Our lakes are mostly clear so stay with the natural colors.

[dlaport1]

PM sent

[bob o]

don just bought them all

[CATCHEM]

Special colors - perch, chartreuse perch, yellow perch, gold perch, GP pro perch, elegy bone, pearl, disco shad, helsinki shad

This



Now, add some orange to the throat/belly and you have made a bait to piss off smallies. Looking forward to getting the bait from ya after you kick their asses with a Orange throated bait you made. Lol. Call it Agent Orange. Make the body bone white and you will be on cloud nine!!! Thank me when you get back!!!

Nick N

[dlaport1]

don just bought them all

Very funny Bob... but seriously are they for sale

I still have to buy a crap load of hooks for the ones I got from Mike at your place 2 years ago... lol

[21XDC]

[bnt55]

Thanks Don for the recommendation, I will paint up a couple and let you give me the thumbs up or down on the finished product. Appreciate the tips guys

[dartag1829]

Fancy Colors catch fishermen. It's a reaction bite. Shad or Craw colors seem to work well for me. Just keep casting..

[bob o]

[bob o]

i got nothing

[bnt55]

That commercial made me laugh every time, funny thing is, I think this is how the public views bass fisherman....old guys in rubber fishing pants.

[rhsvipre]

Bone Blue Pearl (Ghost Blue Pearl) - With red gills and red/orange fading underbelly.

[bnt55]

Well I've got about 3 weeks until I head up to Michigan and it's looking like sunscreen will the most important thing in my tackle box. I was hoping for water in the 50's but sadly it looks like I will be fishing a late summer pattern and not a fall bite. I've been painting up some natural patterns on jerk baits and cranks using some of the tips on this thread but with the higher water temps I'll probably be throwing a senko or something plastic....go figure. I'm still working up some patterns and will put them up here and you guys can yea or nay them as to their "fishiness"

Here are a few I've painted so far...more to come.

[stratosmich]

They are all beautiful, and the water should cool before you get here, 90 today and 59 next Friday.