RT,
Maybe i'm a moron but I was trying to find your old post on painting Kwickfish, using search and can not find it. I remember reading about it but would like to give it a try for some springers this year. Is this a good idea or is that more a fall Salmon thing? Also if I do not need to paint them what is a good stock color for the big C? Any way thanks.

NEN

N.E.N.,

During last year's springer season on the Columbia River the water was relatively low and clear, due to the drought like conditions. Kwikfish/Flatfish were really taking a lot of chinooks out there. In the clearer water, size K-13/14 work real well in most of the chrome based various stock patterns. My blue "RT's Injured Baitfish" pattern works great! This custom painted and taped variation has been deadly on springers and fall fish for me for many years; especially in clearish to medium colored water - with both Kwikfish and Wiggle Warts. When the water gets more colored then the chrome or white based Kwikfish with the chartreuse and green two-tone color accents, and baitfish filet wrapped, often work best.

To make these, start by getting all chrome or nearly all chrome Kwikfish and Testors brand spray enamel (from hobby stores) in the "Blue Saphire Metalic" color, #1639. The transparent blue or green colors work also, but you have to do 2 light coats with them. ... Then masking tape either the right or left side from front to back, on both the top and bottom. Then after rubbing off any hand oils present with rubbing alcohol, spray paint the unmasked half of the chrome, with one or two brisk spray sweeps from about 8" away. Do a few of them at a time (both Kwikfish and Warts). Carefully take the tape off after a couple minutes. Then I hang them on lampshade wires to dry/cure for a couple days; leaving the warm lightbulb on some during the day. ... Then put one lure tape fisheye on the underside of the forward bill, on the painted blue side. Also cut out a small 3/4" long arrow shaped chartreuse or flame red piece of lure tape and put it on the under side back by the tail end; arrow pointing forward. That's the killer color pattern. ...

Another tip: Since a lot of Kwikie hooked fish come unbuttoned due to teh stock hooks flapping around so much, try putting on a swivel beadchain (4 beads) hook extender and large treble with a floatant on it's shank (such as tapered foam or drilled out 'cheater' for neutral bouyancy on the larger Kwikfish's heavier treble). Attach them with split rings, the chain to the belly eyescrew; after removing the 2 stock hooks first of course. Same for the Warts, except no floatant is needed with their smaller hook. This unique rigup leaves an extended and stabilized hook straight back in the current right in the 'strike zone'. You should lose less fish with this rigup. Otherwise, replace the 2 stock treble hooks with one size larger Owner brand treble hooks.

When you tune these to dive straight, with good action, and put them in the right places, the 'nooks can't resist them! ... Have a good one out there this spring.

RT

Thanks RT, I will give it a try. Any chance you still got that picture laying around some where? I will let you know if I get a chance to use it this year and do any good with it. Thanks again,

NEN