My Joker Crankbait Tuesday 09-15-09

IB’s Joker Bait Tuesday 09-15-09

One of my all-time childhood favorite superheroes is Batman, and so I thought I’d make a crankbait with Batman colors. However, I realized that Batman’s colors were a bit dull. I figured his archenemy’s colors (green hair, purple attire, red lips and black eyes, etc.) might make for an interesting choice.

I had a little assistance from the Bush and Obama jokers.

I have no fish catching expectations with this one, but you never know. Don’t know when I’ll get the chance to fish with it.

Painting Techniques:
What techniques?? I still don’t have the skills yet. Both an airbrush and hand brushes were used. The airbrush was used for the green and the purple areas. The eyes and lips were done by hand brush. The crankbait was intentionally painted roughly but unfortunately, the camera didn’t capture those details.

Other:
The bait was carved and shaped from balsa and it has a through wire inside. The top coat is Dev Con 2-Ton epoxy.

This crankbait was enjoyable to make.


JOKER BAIT UPDATE – Wednesday 09-16-09:

A Series of Unfortunate and Fortunate Events

I was fortunate to have the opportunity to give it a test run today after work this evening, much sooner than I initially thought.

It was unfortunate that it started to rain hard as I approached the lake.

It was fortunate for me that it didn’t matter if it were 15 degrees F outside because nothing was going to stop me from testing it out.

It was unfortunate for me that my haste and excitement made me to neglect setting the cast control knob. It stays super loose whenever the reel is not in use, as does the drag. Thruuwupppp!!!! Yep, it was an overrun. I blamed it on the wind.

Through the grace of God, I was fortunate to quickly undo the bird’s nest. I made the first "real" cast and the lil’ joker was wiggling beautifully. Yes!!! Another one works correctly!

With about 20’ of retrieve space left, I paused it to Observe its rate of rise. It rose like a Rapala DT. If Dr. Dre saw it rise, he would have said, “Ahh yeah!”

However, I was unfortunate once again. A bass rose up. It committed to a strike. But what did I do? D’oh!

Did I follow the my own advice, to let the fish take the crankbait and impale itself on the treble as I normally do? No… Of course not; with the adrenaline and excitement coursing through my being, I pulled back as one would for a single hook lure hook set. Double D’oh!

I turned the bass’ full commitment into a nip. I felt and saw its lip just nip one of the tines as my action yanked the joker bait away.

I was absolutely disgusted with myself. Victory was within my grasp and I let it slip away.

Fortunately, there will be other opportunities and the joker bait is something the bass will want again.

Unfortunately, this time the joke’s on me, and the bass is laughing all the way to the bank.

-ib

PS - I am pleasantly surprised that a bass found something appealing in such a strange and unusual color scheme. Fortunately, I am not going to complain. Perhaps Iron Man or Wolverine color schemes next? lol!