painting baby bluegills need some honest input

Ok, not looking for an ego boost I just need some honest input on the colors. I’ve been wanting baby bluegills for pitching in the weed holes on post spawn walleyes for a long time. Finally found the blanks, so making my own. Occasionally when pulling in a mass of weeds, I’ll find baby gills that are about 1″ or so. Dome are pretty dark and what I would call full color. Other times, I get ones that are really pale in color.

So, I finally think I have a pair that are getting close to looking real. Haven’t done all the fine finishing with fins, eyes…just focusing on the body and tones.

Anything need to change before finishing? shot with and without flash – tilting these they change colors

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different angle

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Randy, what I can say is they look darn good.

Very good paint scheme!

Look great! I’m very impressed.

Yep I think you nailed both colors.

Maybe a little less orange in the breast and a little more yellow. Could be the lighting. Either way they look great on my end and I don’t think the fish will complain.

I’m sure I’m more critical of my work than fish will ever be…ecspecially the first dam pike that will bite one off

Thanks all for the input. And a shout out to Tom for a few suggestions that helped

Secretly I want a couple of those for bass fishing (shhhh) dont tell any one

Very nice! Are you gluing in an eye? If so, I think we would all like to see the finished product (then try to buy a couple off you…).

I think they look great!

shady5 wrote:

Very nice! Are you gluing in an eye? If so, I think we would all like to see the finished product (then try to buy a couple off you…).

Ya, I have eyes for them. Just getting the details done….

I don’t make them to sell. Other great guys here that contribute to IDO that make baits, and I don’t want to step on those guys. Appreciate that though, I take it as a compliment.

Nice painting Randy just got into it myself recently working on rapalas now then switching to cranks soon. What brand of paint you use and clear? createx and kbs clear, but I haven’t dipped any yet this week I’ll be dipping.

Almost all Createx. I have spoons, blades, and jigs I’ve been using a lot of the auto paints on. Also trying different clears. The createx clear is not that great. Body shop guy is setting me up with some catalyst clears they use for the deep gloss on the candy colors they do. Can’t wait to try those. Will also need a rotary dryer for that

All I can say is those look hawt!

Those look pretty darned nice Randy but things will change a lot when the clear coat is applied so I’d add the eyes and put the finish coat on to see how one looks at the point you’re at.

Ryan Wilson suggested less orange spread out at the gill or throat patch and more yellow….I’d remedy by putting a thin yellow from the tail base to the lower jaw right up the belly ridge, then add a small orange shot at the lower jaw. I’d also think about thinning out some transparent black and darkening up the very front of the head, around the eye pockets and right down the backbone ridge to the tail base. I’d keep this black coat quite thin, just enough to shadow what’s already there.

Eye color will determine how well the bait’s colors pop. Myself I’d do an eye that completely filled the eye pocket and make it red 3d or some 3 color combination of red 3d. If the eyes are elongated pupil keep the slit running front to back.

Honestly those pictured look nice. If you really wanted to buzz them up a little more I think some gold hi lite powder used in soft plastic making mixed in with the clear coat would really make the finished product jump in sunlight. If you want to try some of the gold hi lite powder send me a note and I’ll get some to you.

They look dam good and I am sure what you have right now would fool any fish but you asked for it. For a pumpkinseed I would add a little light blue on the jaw line and back half of the bottom tail. On the top the green looks great in the front but you could add a darker green/brown color to the back spine top. I can’t wait to see the final product.

Those look great Randy. How do you attach the eyes when you get to that point?

Most 3d eyes are stick-on but people also rely on super glue or epoxy. I always add the eyes then seal coat the entire bait so the eyes get sealed up too.

I don’t see a lot of the darker ones but WOW that pale one looks identical to a baby sunny. Great work!

I think they look great. They’d be useful under the ice, too.

It seems like most baby ‘gills look more similar to the paler version. They rarely seem to have any orange or sunflower gold on their bellies at all.

Next I want to see the pumpkinseed version.

Well done!

little less orange, as was mentioned earlier, with a little shot of blue on the gill plate. Looks great otherwise. Clear coat will make things really come out. Overall, very nice paint job.

Here ya go Randy. I just got four packages of un-finished bodies in the mail today. These are the smallest two and will fit right in line with my hunt for crappie-sized micro-cranks. The smallest seen here is 7/10″ in length. The other right at an inch. The quarter put size in perspective.

Those look great! I am impressed. If you don’t already, you should consider selling them!

Where did you find those? I’ve been looking for some smaller cranks to paint.

Thanks

water doc wrote:

Where did you find those? I’ve been looking for some smaller cranks to paint.

Thanks

Ebay. Search un-finished fishing lure bodies They’re from China and can take some time to get here. I ordered these on March 7 and they arrived today, the 21st. Ebay offers a tracking link so you can sort of stay with then enroute.
I’ve never had an issue anywhere in ordering the bodies from asia. I’ll note here….make sure you go thru 15 maybe 29 pages on ebay. Sometimes you’ll find the same exact bait back further from the front pages only cheaper.

Wish I had time to finish them. Work gets in the way

You did a great job on them Randy.I think you and Tom should get together on a business venture.

I got some color on the little guys yesterday and they’re on the drying rack now for a few days.

I found out that “patterns” were a tough order to fill on these tiny cranks so I settled on color schemes instead. I’ve held out a couple of each of the bait styles to try one pattern but it may be a pipe dream what with the tiny platform to work with.

Tom, I agree to pattern them on micro sized cranks are a challenge. Some of my daughter’s hair clips, exacto knife, and thin plastic has been my go to so far.

Found some stencilbeets at Wal-Mart for $2.97 compared to $14.00+ online