Let's say...just for the sake of conversation, of course...that you spent your morning at work carving a Zara Spook-alike out of scrap wood that you found in a Taiwanese shipping container and that you planned to drop it off tonight with your dad who, as it so happens, is a good painter and has all sorts of oil-based paints and he was going to paint it for you...

What colors/pattern would you have him paint it?

You know...hypothetically speaking, of course.

Tough to beat baitfish colors.

White or off-white belly, a little silver along the side, and black or grey back.

Although my favorite spook color has always been the Black Shore Minnow:




I don't know why but big fish seem to just love the black with white skeleton pattern...

I didn't actually get to see or talk to my dad, so I just dropped it off and gave him carte blanche. He is a fisherman and a painter, so, we will see what happens. I also carved a Pop-r type bait and left that with him. If/when he finishes them I will make sure to post pics.

I have got a mound of cedar sitting on the side of my house I hope to do something with. Cut down a big chunk of my neighbors tree. I have an 8 foot long, 16 inch diameter log I'm thinking of turning into a giant totem lure.

That black and white pattern was my favorite on the lakes in Virginia. Always had the best of luck on that color. Supposedly fish see in black and white so as long as the colors have contrast, I imagine they'll hit it.

The village came down on my dad and he has been mired in painting his house lately, so I don't know what/if any progress he has made with it, but because we have been really slow at work (please for the love of god somebody buy some fasteners) and I was anxious to try painting my own, I carved a Pop-r and painted it myself with a "firetiger" type pattern. The results surprised me, as my art skills don't generally extend far beyond "stick figures."
Need to clearcoat//waterproof it and harvest some hardware off one of my crankbaits I don't use and this guy will be ready to go.

Looking good!

One thing I would suggest is to find a way to "through wire" your hooks and/or eyelets for hooks.

If you just plan on screwing in eyelets, those things won't last long in battle with a decent fish, the screws will either pull out or the wood will give way.

I have a Uni Mat mini lathe in my garage that I should put to use... just need more time.

Special Ed wrote:I have a Uni Mat mini lathe in my garage that I should put to use... just need more time.

We need to talk about that. I have a lot of cedar.

Ken G wrote:

Special Ed wrote:I have a Uni Mat mini lathe in my garage that I should put to use... just need more time.

We need to talk about that. I have a lot of cedar.

It just needs a belt. Cedar makes some really good stickbaits and topwaters. I bet I could make some really cool wood inlay pieces for rod builds as well.

Special Ed wrote:It just needs a belt. Cedar makes some really good stickbaits and topwaters. I bet I could make some really cool wood inlay pieces for rod builds as well.

You could make whole handles with what I have. The pile isn't going anywhere. I'll get you some.