I hate it when that happens.

I found a lure in the rip-rap at Grenada Lake one time, and never knew the name, but it was a bass killer. It was a minnow bait kinda like the long rebel minnow, about 6 inches long with 3 trebles. The thing would only swim about 4-6 inches under the surface, with a wide wiggling motion. I killed them with that thing, but lost it, and haven't found another since.

Anyway, I feel you pain. Ever thought about getting an airbrush?