Mackeral Pattern

[The Dad Fisherman]

I'm working on a couple of plugs that I want to have a Mackerel Stripe pattern on them. How do you guys accomplish this? do you guys free hand it or make a stencil? Mask them w/ tape? Just looking for some pointers....thanx

[Pete F.]

I use a sharpie

[H'Islander]

All of the above - some brush paint them, I've seen stencils in tin foil, plastic sheet, paper, etc...to make a symmetric stencil just fold the masking media in half and cut out stripes like we used to cut out snowflake patterns as kids...

However, I just use my airbrush , I get the air where I want it (low & slow) and then get the paint flowing. I then just zip it across the back fairly close to the plug a couple of times, move down & repeat...I make them random in width & length by adjusting the distance from the brush tip and rolling the plug slightly as it passes under the paint. The only thing that this method does not do is "branch off" line patterns, but then, I don't think the bass know the diff......

[Striperknight]

I used a paintbrush.

[thefishingfreak]

i use a small long haired brush. i make my own.
take about 20 bucktail hairs and arrange them neatly and tape them to a stick. works good
cat hair works too raccon hair is best

[Young Salt]

i'm going to try using a long, thin saddle hackle feather........

freak - how do you get the racoon to stay still long enough to shave it?

[thefishingfreak]

never underestimate the value of fresh road kill

[CrankyFish]

mack brush 00

Mack Brush


FF has the right idea on making his own also....but mack is a nice brush...they have many sizes...

[thefishingfreak]

thats whear i get my coon hair. mack 00. i can get 15 smaller detail brushes out of it.

any auto-body supply house will have tons of 'em
heck maybe even auto zone?

[CrankyFish]

nah i have tried auto places, nutin will at least around here anyway...i had to order my brushes from airbrushdepot...but if you do some research you might be able to find them on other sites...auto body shops might have them also...none around here did

[thefishingfreak]

go in any body shop and ask 'em "whear do you buy your supplys"
thats the place to shop

[adson]

I like stencils for the patterns.

it takes more time for the first plug but any more than one is a lot faster with a stencil.

I use aluminum foil and 3m transparent tape.

wrap the plug with the foil and make folds to conform to the shape. then add tape to the areas of the foil that you want to make cuts. the tape helps hold the foil to shape around the spots where you had to make folds and also makes the foil stronger for use on multiple plugs.

cut out the pattern with an xacto knife or with a pair of fly tying scissors.

if you make a mistake just tape over it and cut again.

if you are using black patterns you can touch up the lines with a micron pen.