In the past, we’ve detailed out our preparations for trout season. As it is getting later in the year, we start looking ahead.
That time is now upon us so, as usual, I got out the tackle box devoted to trout lures with the idea of taking inventory to see what I needed for the season.
If you’re anything like us, you would rather cast with a lure all day and get skunked, as opposed to employing the old bait and wait method.
There Is No Spoon (Paint, Anyway)
We use a lot of spoons when we’re out for trout. One of our favorites, based on weight and action, is the Lipripper. Unfortunately, the components tend to be sub-par on them which require changing out shortly after you begin to use them.
Furthermore, the finish is one that uses a mylar tape instead of an actual paint. I have had this tape ripped clean off the lure by the first fish that hit it. While this doesn’t affect the action, it’s irritating as well as being rendered less effective without a pattern.
In the past, I would simply resign myself to the fact that there was no real good way to handle this other than go get new ones and hope for the best.
However, this year, as I was going through the old trout box, I had my 11 year old daughter at my side. When I started grumbling over the spoons she perked right up and asked if she could paint them for me.
I didn’t have to think very hard about that one. At most, it took about two seconds for me to agree.
All I had to do was remove the old adhesive for her, give her an example of what I was looking for and let her do the rest.
I have seen her do some pretty amazing things to her nails so I figured there was no downside.
Picasso At Work
Sure enough, she went straight to work. It took no longer than 10 minutes for her to resurrect my old spoons by applying her nail talent to my lures.
I am now the proud owner of several custom painted trout lures that I have no doubt will be more effective, thanks to her, than they were originally,
The reason we wrote this article is simply to remind everyone that there are some practical ways to be more economical when it comes to fishing.
Any lure can be re-painted or customized. You may be, like me, artistically challenged but there is probably someone within your immediate sphere that, like my daughter, is more than capable of reclaiming what you may have thought of as a lost cause.
Give it a try sometime and see what these aspiring artists can do. I know that I can’t wait to catch my first fish on her little work of art. Who knows, she goes with me occasionally so she may beat me to it!
See ya’ on the water …
