Fish With Mason – Painting His First Fishing Lure

At Fish With Jim Outfitters and 131 Custom Lures, fishing and lure painting have become more than just a business — they have become a family tradition. Today was a special day as Mason, the son of Captain Jim Chamberlin, painted his very first fishing lure.

Like most things worth learning, it did not happen perfectly on the first try. Mason spent time learning how to control the paintbrush, figuring out how the paint flowed across the lure, and getting comfortable with the process. After several attempts and a little patience, everything started coming together. By the end of the day, Mason had painted a beautiful lure that he could truly be proud of.

The story behind it all actually started back in 2025 when Captain Jim first got into painting custom fishing lures. What started as a hobby quickly grew into a passion and eventually became part of what makes 131 Custom Lures unique. Throughout the process, Mason always showed interest in the lure painting side of the business. Watching colors come together and seeing plain lure blanks transformed into fish-catching baits sparked his curiosity from the very beginning.

One day, Mason finally asked if he could paint a lure himself.

Using an old salmon plug that had previously been messed up during the painting process, Captain Jim instructed Mason to strip the old paint from the lure to give him a fresh start to work with. With a little guidance and encouragement, Mason picked up the paintbrush and got to work creating his first custom lure.

Moments like these are what make fishing and lure building special. It is not always about the biggest fish or the fanciest equipment. Sometimes it is about passing down knowledge, learning new skills, and spending time together doing something you love.

Who knows — this may just be the beginning of the next generation of custom lure painters at 131 Custom Lures.

From fishing trips on Torch Lake to painting lures in the workshop, the passion for fishing continues to grow one cast, one fish, and now one painted lure at a time.