Painting on baits

Question for you guys that customize baits and such. Since my son was born, each Christmas I buy him a bait that I had good success with in the last year or was the ‘it’ bait that year and has a small tackle box I put them in with the idea being by his 18 Christmas he would have a storybook if you will of fishing lures I picked out for him growing up. He just turned 3 so we have a ways to go, but I wanted to see what you guys to who customize baits to keep the paint lasting on them. I’m not looking to redo any scheme on the lures, I just want to add the year I got each lure on, but want to do it in a way it will last also. For example last year I got him a tail dancer because I had really good luck using them on a trip up north, so on a bait like that I’d like to just paint the year on the underbelly, this year is a ul ripping rap, so basically the same idea.

Thanks for any advice, not sure when exactly I will get on this task but will take any advice.

For those who are curious, so far the list goes as such:
Max rap
Scatter rap shad
Tail dancer
(This year) ul rippin rap

Thinking as he gets bigger I’ll probably start moving more into baits he caught fish with me, so the list will start filling up with slip bobbers and more kid friendly lures for a few years.

SWEEET IDEA!!!! That’s such a cool gift idea, as far as the what paint to use I have no idea.

I use a fine tip paint pen for signing custom fishing rods and duck decoys I carve. The paint holds up well but it does get an over coat of clear finish. I’m not sure if that would make a difference for you in your situation. I purchased the paint pen at a craft store.

Huntindave wrote:

but it does get an over coat of clear finish.

X2 –

That’s a really cool idea.

A couple ideas.
Label maker or decal # with a coat(s) of lacquer over the top.
Sharpie with a coat(s) of lacquer.

Sharpie will run under at least some clear coats. I vote paint pen with optional clear coat. Do a test bait first and let it dry before you do your kid’s bait.

I paint my jigs with my wife’s nail polish and a coat of Hard-As-Nails clear coat over it.

If you want to get real fancy you can add glow powder to it while the nail polish is wet – then seal with Hard-As-Nails.

My wife doesn’t visit this site so I am safe.
-Boogs

Thanks for the ideas, I’ll have to do some test runs on some of mine mentioned to see what works out the best.

Would you clear coat the whole thing, or just in the area I pit the year on?