Kevin Van Dam Forums

The RE shad has been good to me this season. I only have one complaint. I’ve found that no matter what cover I’m fishing it through, the paint seems to have major issues, particularly with the chrome-type finishes. I’m lucky to get a couple hours of tournament fishing out of one lure. The problem starts by flaking on top of the head in front of the ring, followed by white area around nose, then large flaking of the chrome on the sides. Granted, most chrome lipless crankbaits do this to a degree, but these seem to do it very badly! I put in a note to Strike King.

They had a chroming issue and some of those are still out there. On SK forum there is a place there is a section showing what procedures are to getting it taken care of. The only problems i have had is with chrome. On most lipless baits i can only get 1 day out of a chrome if the fish are biting them. the worst seems to be chrome with paint combo, such as a lake fork color.

From what i have seen they have made good on all the bad chroming baits.

The process is a electro static process. IT looks cool but it does’nt last. Its not paint. You would be better served to paint it with a silver paint yourself. Lipless baits sink. They sink like bullets. In shallow water that’s just a disaster. If you were underwater & watch it hit debri. You be wondering why it does’nt fall off faster. Pro’s get there baits by the gross. But the working man pay’s for his baits. As baits chip away repaint them yourself with a silver paint. Put a clear coat to protect it yourself. No it not as shiny but it is a remedy for what is a poor process.

Most of my chrome baits have last a long time, I know its a pretty labor intensive process.  I have ran my baits into rocks and thru thick weeds but like I said been pretty fortunate.

has anyone else had a problem with strikeking #6 crankbaits. Ive broke 2 at the lip. I really like those crankbaits but im not going to buy another unless they try a different design or something.

Stevens - 15 September 2008 04:30 PM

has anyone else had a problem with strikeking #6 crankbaits. Ive broke 2 at the lip. I really like those crankbaits but im not going to buy another unless they try a different design or something.

I have had them break if I hit something when I’m casting (stump, rock, my windsheild...). But I havent had them break from pulling them through cover or dredging them along the bottom.

I haven’t had any problems so far with any of the series of crankbaits except when I cast one to far and it hit some riprap and punched a hole in the belly of lure so it took on water.  But no haven’t had any problems with the lip of the crankbaits.  Maybe they got damaged in your tacklebox?  Did you bounce them off something?  I take the the answer to last question is probably no.  Usually the bills are pretty rugged and can take a beating.

its not the actual bill, its the plastic right behind the bill and infront of the eyes. I did break one on a piling, and thought no big deal. but i broke one fighting a fish, coulda been my fault tho. but seems like that spot could be stronger

Top10,

You are correct. I talked to Strike King. They made good on these. According to them, they have in fact fixed the chroming issue. But I have yet to find any anywhere that aren’t old stock and still have the issue. Time will flush them out I suppose.

A light coat of clear across your chrome lipless cranks will help reduce the flaking and buy some time until the bad ones are sold out and the new ones are the only ones on the racks.  I cant stress this enough, a LIGHT COAT of clear on your bait, dont want to alter the normal action it has on the fall.

Great idea but what do you use for the clear coat some kind of spray on kyrlon type stuff?

i would try clear fingernail polish, i know i have used nail polish to add a color i wanted to a bait and it stayed on well

Top 10 has a good idea with the fingernail polish.  I use a clearcoat that you buy at the store in the paint section, it comes in a spray can which makes laying the clear easier for me.  I bought mine for 1.40 and its a big can.  I remove my hooks and split rings.  Then I take about 5 feet of old line and run it thru the upper split ring holder and tie both ends to something that will hold the lure suspended so I can paint it.  I keep the spray about a foot or so back away from the lure and work my way front to back evenly on both sides a couple times and then let it dry.  Assemble and start catching hawgs!!!  hope this helps.