How to Paint Fishing Lures: A Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners

Why Paint Your Own Fishing Lures? What You Need in a Fishing Lure Paint Kit Step-by-Step Instructions How to Paint Different Types of Lures

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2 July 2025

Painting your own fishing lures is more than just a creative outlet — it’s a tactical advantage for anglers of all skill levels. Whether you’re customizing color schemes to match local forage, repurposing old tackle, or designing your own signature bait style, painting fishing lure allows for complete control over presentation, performance, and personality.

This in-depth guide will walk you through everything you need to know — from choosing the best fishing lure paint and tools to painting techniques for plastic, metal, and handmade lures. Whether you’re airbrushing or hand-painting, this guide is your complete roadmap to painting fishing lures that catch fish and turn heads.

Why Paint Your Own Fishing Lures?

Custom painting fishing lures gives anglers several distinct benefits:

1. Tailored Performance

Match your lure’s color, contrast, and flash to your local fishing conditions. Tweak designs to stand out in muddy water, mimic specific baitfish in clear lakes, or blend into heavy vegetation.

2. Cost Efficiency

Save money by turning budget-friendly lure blanks into premium-quality baits. Repaint old or damaged lures instead of tossing them.

3. Creative Expression

Experiment with vibrant finishes, fade effects, glitter, metallic foils, and even glow-in-the-dark paints. Your tackle box becomes a canvas.

4. Pride and Satisfaction

There’s something uniquely satisfying about catching fish on a lure you designed and painted yourself.

What You Need in a Fishing Lure Paint Kit

To begin painting your own lures, you’ll need a kit of tools and materials. Here’s a breakdown of everything you’ll want on your workspace:

Basic Materials

Blank lures (plastic, wood, metal, or resin)
Fine-grit sandpaper (320–600 grit)
Files or hobby knife for detailing and smoothing
Isopropyl alcohol or degreaser
Primer (white, gray, or clear)
Fishing lure paint (see below)
Clear coat (epoxy resin, UV-cure, or automotive topcoat)
Paper towels, cotton swabs, toothpicks

Paint Types

Choose the best paint for your lure type and application method:

Airbrush Paints: Water-based acrylics like Createx, AutoAir, and Wicked Colors offer smooth blends and easy clean-up. Ideal for plastic and wooden lures.
Brush-On Paints: Model acrylics or enamels work well for detailed hand painting.
Powder Paint: Thermoplastic powder coats create chip-resistant finishes for metal lures like spoons and jigs.

Tools and Accessories

Airbrush and compressor (gravity-fed recommended)
Paintbrushes (round-tip and flat-tip in various sizes)
Stencils, masking tape, mesh netting for scale effects
Gloves, respirator mask, and ventilation
UV light (for UV resin curing)
Lure turner (for even clear coat drying)
Heat gun or toaster oven (for powder painting)

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Prep the Lure Surface

Proper prep work ensures a smooth, durable paint finish.

Lightly sand the lure with fine-grit sandpaper to remove gloss or residue
Clean thoroughly using isopropyl alcohol or warm soapy water
Dry completely before priming
Apply an even coat of primer (airbrush, spray, or brush-on) and allow it to dry

Pro Tip: Use white primer for vibrant colors or metallic overlays. Gray primer helps tone down overly bright colors for a natural look.

Step 2: Choose and Apply the Base Coat

The base coat sets the foundation for your lure’s overall tone.

Use white or pearl for high-contrast color pops
Use a dark base (like black or olive) for muted, natural presentations
Metallic or glitter base coats can add internal flash under transparent layers

Apply in thin, even coats with your airbrush or brush, allowing each layer to dry before continuing.

Step 3: Add Color Layers and Detail Effects

This is where your creativity shines. Layer your colors gradually, starting with lighter tones and building toward darker ones.

Techniques:

Fade and Gradient Effects: Use your airbrush to blend colors smoothly from head to tail or top to belly.
Stencils and Masking: Create scale patterns, gill plates, lateral lines, and stripes using stencils or mesh netting.
Dry Brushing: Lightly drag a nearly dry brush across textured areas for highlights.
Dotting and Splattering: Use a toothpick, paint pin, or old toothbrush to create fine details like dots or gill speckles.

Step 4: Painting Without an Airbrush

If you don’t own an airbrush, you can still get impressive results with simple tools:

Use soft-tipped brushes for detail work and striping
Dab paint with sponges for mottled or natural patterns
Use Q-tips, toothpicks, or pins for eyes, dots, or fine detailing
Layer paint with dry brushing to simulate shading and wear

Brush painting fishing lures may take more time and patience but allows for more hands-on control and personalization.

Step 5: Powder Painting Metal Lures

Ideal for spoons, spinnerbaits, and jigs, powder paint creates an extremely durable finish.

How to Powder Coat:

Preheat the lure to 350°F using a heat gun or toaster oven
Dip or sprinkle the powder paint onto the hot surface
Shake off excess powder and allow to cool slightly
Cure the lure in a toaster oven for 15–20 minutes to harden the coating

Tips:

Work in a well-ventilated area
Use silicone baking mats or foil to avoid sticking
Multiple colors can be layered by reheating and repeating the process

How to Paint Different Types of Lures

Plastic Fishing Lures

When painting plastic fishing lures, it's best to use acrylic or water-based airbrush paints, as they provide excellent coverage and flexibility. Before painting, lightly sand the surface to help the paint adhere more effectively. It's important to avoid oil-based paints, which often fail to bond well with plastic and may peel or flake over time.

Metal Fishing Lures

For metal fishing lures, begin by removing any rust, old paint, or oxidation using steel wool or an acid-based cleaner. Once the surface is clean and smooth, apply enamel spray paint or powder paint for a finish that can withstand wear and impact. To protect against corrosion and ensure the paint holds up under repeated use, always finish with a thorough clear coat seal.

Wood or Homemade Lures

If you're working with wooden or resin-based homemade lures, start by applying a high-quality wood sealer before priming. This helps create a smooth, sealed surface and prevents paint from soaking into the wood. Use slow-drying paints to allow time for blending and detailing, especially when adding shading or texture. Finally, reinforce any hardware such as screw eyes or line ties with epoxy to ensure durability before moving on to your topcoat or final finish.

How to Make Bone Paint Fishing Lures

“Bone paint” is a classic and highly effective lure pattern that mimics the subtle, translucent appearance of baitfish often found in clear or shallow water. To create this pattern, begin with a white or light yellow base coat to give the lure a soft, natural undertone. Once dry, use scale stencils to lightly apply cream or tan along the sides, building up a realistic texture. Next, add depth by shading the back of the lure with a darker tone such as olive, gray, or brown. To enhance the illusion of translucency, apply a pearl white or transparent shimmer layer over the entire body. Finally, complete the look by adding details like gill markings, realistic eyes, and a protective clear coat to seal and preserve your work.

By taking the time to learn and refine your fishing lure painting skills, you not only elevate your tackle but also gain a deeper understanding of fish behavior, water conditions, and presentation strategies. Whether you’re painting lures for your own use, for gifts, or even for sale, the process is as valuable as the end result. With each layer of paint and every detail you add, you’re building confidence, creativity, and craftsmanship into every cast. So dive in, experiment boldly, and let your painted lures speak for themselves—on the water, where it matters most.