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[Deleted member 8461]

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[tyeeking]

That's some nice looking stuff Storm Trooper. I enjoy tying walleye spinners to the point that I create them faster than I can use them. I also pour most of my own jig heads from large Ling/Halibut jig heads to smaller walleye jig heads.

I'm curious if anyone has ventured into using a 3D printer for making their own plugs? Seems like a world of possibilities there.

 

[ILHG]

Great looking stuff man. Love the traditional art work on the jigs.

 

[Rhys]

Stormtrooper, those are some awesome creations.

I started pouring, painting and tying jigs a couple of years ago as something to do when the wife was at work and the kids were a sleep at night. Its a fun little side gig. Lots of learning, a number of mistakes but the fish don't seem to mind if there is a paint drip on the jig nose or the pour is slightly off.

Rhys

 

[ChilliSpoons]

Stormtrooper, you clearly are an artist. It’s creative minds like yours that’ll produce the next must have “go-to” lure. And great idea starting this thread.

I started airbrushing spoons about 7 years ago after reading someone’s thread on a fishing forum. I messaged the original poster (BigFishMike) to learn a little more. And that’s where the addiction started. Mike was very supportive as we shared ideas, techniques and successes. We became great friends and still support each other’s hobbies. I owe a great deal to Mike and wouldn’t have stuck with this hobby as long as I have.

Of the years I've developed my own techniques and style. Some have been successes while others somewhat less. I like what Stormtrooper mentioned regarding failures as successes.

Friends and family were always pushing me to market my spoons but I was reluctant to sell until I could be confident in the durability of the finished product. Prototypes filled friends and families tackle boxes but no money was ever excepted. In a lot of cases the spoons were the equivalent of gas money to boat owners who were generously taking me out on the water.

Rattle can clear coats were what I started with to top coat my spoons. With no mixing or fancy equipment to apply it was a no brainer for ease of use. But after a few fish the lures were covered with scars and the paint was failing. While I love seeing scars as a victory on the effectiveness of my creations I couldn’t stand behind the quality of the finished product.

I now use top quality paints from start to finish and have had nothing but good responses on the durability of my finished. And the same with hooks, I only use Stainless Steel Mustad hooks.

Being confident in my product but still somewhat reluctant on the direction I wanted to go I started an Instagram account (ChilliSpoons2017) to see what kind of interest there would be. Well responses have been overwhelming with orders from all over BC, the Great Lakes, and through Washington, Oregon and especially California. In fact I’m currently so low on inventory I’ve postponed many orders until I can receive more blanks and build up stock.

Here’s a couple of looks, I’ll add to it more later.

Burban, one of the members on this forum has been into over 20 fish including a Ling on my BigBangTheory spoon and reports not a mark on it.

The SoupKitchen UV.
This is a unique look with a splash of blue on one side and green on the flip side. This spoon has been a top seller and very productive.



The HornyGirl UV spoon has produced well in fresh and in salt water.




NauticalDisaster Glow. Another hot seller and productive pattern.




The NauticalDisaster shown in the dark.

 

[tyeeking]

Beautiful work ChilliSpoons and Storm Trooper! I both respect and envy your creative talents. To be able to produce such beautiful and functional creations is a true gift.

 

[walleyes]

Some nice work gentlemen.

 

[ChilliSpoons]

For anyone interested in starting this hobby I have a little advice. Do it!!!

But don’t expect immediate results or to make any money. Do it because it’s fun and you want the satisfaction of catching or seeing your creations catching fish.

I don’t want to think about how much money I’ve put into this hobby but then again which hobbys are free? Quality components cost money as well as the equipment to put it all together. It really has to be something you enjoy to make it all worthwhile.

When I started working minimum wage was $1.65/hr and here I am 35 years later making pretty much the same hourly wage. Yes, I now sell spoons but it won’t be financing any purchases any time soon. I’m just happy if it covers my costs enough to continue and my customers send me pictures of their catches.

The next three pictures are all from California and all from different customers. I never knew how chunky those fish are around San Fran.



Here’s a pic from Burban with the BigBangTheory which has produced over 20 fish with no wear and tear on the paint.



Pictures and reports like these are what make it all worthwhile.

 

[ChilliSpoons]

True that. I have put my hobby into business numerous times over the years, but I keep turning it back into a hobby - it's more joyful and fulfilling. I really like the artful, creative side of making fun things to catch fish with. My path is where it goes, where it takes me is by my own discernment. I am Creator.

I was and still am reluctant on how far to pursue the business side of things. I don’t want to be stuck in my dungeon pumping out orders when I can be on the end of a rod with a hard charging fish on the other end. And seeing my buddies having success with my spoons is better than a random stranger if I were to sell through tackle shops.

I really haven’t marketed my spoons other than displaying them on my Instagram page. It really has taken off and now I feel a little pressure to paint to fulfill orders. My strategy over the winter will be quite different then last winter before the demand took off.

 

[ChilliSpoons]

A while back I got my hands on a bunch of retired Tomic and Silver Horde plugs. Some sanding and a primer base coat I had a blank canvas to play with. It was fun to paint something other than a spoon.

 

[Capilano]

A while back I got my hands on a bunch of retired Tomic and Silver Horde plugs. Some sanding and a primer base coat I had a blank canvas to play with. It was fun to paint something other than a spoon.

Your painting and attention to detail is outstanding. With the plugs and spoons, do you spray a couple of coats of clear over top of the base paint to perhaps, add just a bit more protection?

 

[ChilliSpoons]

Ain't no lead lure...
Cool, mixed alloy squid body slow drop drift jig.

Not Lead?? Is that lure plastic?

 

[ChilliSpoons]

Your painting and attention to detail is outstanding. With the plugs and spoons, do you spray a couple of coats of clear over top of the base paint to perhaps, add just a bit more protection?

A 2-Part clear is sprayed over both the spoons and the plugs to finish. It’s the same products that cover all the cars on the road today. Without a clear coat the paint would probably just wear off by being dragged through the water.

 

[Capilano]

A 2-Part clear is sprayed over both the spoons and the plugs to finish. It’s the same products that cover all the cars on the road today. Without a clear coat the paint would probably just wear off by being dragged through the water.

Thanks. That's what I thought - hence the question. I was never an auto painter, but helped prep many for paint etc and know the clear coat process. Nice that you take this extra step as many commercial spoons do not have a clear applied.

Ever thought dabbling with powder coating? There is a guy on a FB fishing group that makes a few spoons and jigs and uses powder coating to seemingly good effect.

 

[Capilano]

Most commercial spoons will never be purchased if the metal is clear coated. They rely on dissimilar metals in order to create a chemical reaction via electrolysis.

Take a look at many commercially available, painted spoons at tackle shops. Plenty of them do not have a clear coat - others may have a very thin clear, at best.

 

[Capilano]

I am in the commercial industry. They are not desirable if they have paint or coatings. Most blades that are painted have been done so for the sport market, not commercial. I am not arguing if they make them, or if they work or not. Commercial fisherman don't want the most popular commercial spoons if they are painted or coated. We sell hundreds of dozens each year at work.

No paint on these. Clendon Stewart.

Ok. I think we are bit entangled in semantical circles here. In my parlance for this discussion, commerical = retail /sport industry. In your parlance, commercial = commies. Now I understand what you are referring to.

 

[ChilliSpoons]

It's a mixed bag of metals...Babbitt, tin, zink.

I guess through trial and error you get to learn the different tendencies of the various metals. Other than the toxicity of lead is there a reason you didn’t just use lead?

 

[ChilliSpoons]

Thanks. That's what I thought - hence the question. I was never an auto painter, but helped prep many for paint etc and know the clear coat process. Nice that you take this extra step as many commercial spoons do not have a clear applied.

Ever thought dabbling with powder coating? There is a guy on a FB fishing group that makes a few spoons and jigs and uses powder coating to seemingly good effect.

I’ve powder coated on quite a few spoons. It’s a messy and wasteful process but results in a durable finish.

I do use powder coating when dipping my Steelhead and Coho jigs.

 

[halimark]

Not Lead?? Is that lure plastic?

Must say your lures look amazing, every bit as professional as any I see in the stores, good job. I bought some lures in Japan that are made of "plastic" and look exactly like yours above "ain't no lead". They sink different and lots slower, not what I am used to. Japan has some very good ideas, prices are normally higher but fisherman want the newest, best of everything each year, I guess like us buying the newest greatest flasher colors each year, some of their stores take back lures as credit. They sell these "used" lures at a very reduced price. I drove to 6-7 stores and got every butterfly jig they had. I was laughed at, 150 jigs for $150US some 12 oz butterfly. Must say hali and ling love them. Please keep posting your lures, a thread I like looking at. That green, speckled back glow tomic looks like the first one I would use.

HM

 

[Rhys]

You guys that do the airbrush painting are really talented. It is really cool to see what can be done. I started heating and dipping the powder paint but quickly moved on to using a fluid bed which greatly improved the quality. I have never really been "artsy" but I love being able to take some feathers and make a product that I can catch fish with. I don't sell many but its a good way to cover some costs as others have said and give to friends and trade for things I might need.

Rhys