High end crankbaits.......

Hooked Solid · Post by **Hooked Solid** » Mon Feb 24, 2003 11:39 pm

Enjoy reading these boards but don't post very often.Appreciate the effort everyone puts forth,Thanks.
This may be kind of a poll,as well as something I'm just curious about;What percentage of hard baits you own would you consider high end,say over $10,or custom?Do you throw these baits more often than others,or choose them first for some reason?What type of angler are you,Recreation,TX,Guide?
I was having this discussion with someone and wanted some other input on the subject,Thanks again...>...HS

Don House · Post by **Don House** » Tue Feb 25, 2003 1:00 am

H.S, neat question, lets see on the first question, About 20% of my crank baits and my stick baits are the custom type. And yes I do find myself throwing these baits more and catching more fish on them. These have special colors/patterns with no change to the factory bait it self.

It's a color or pattern design that will get high dollars out of my pocket... Lucky Craft is a really good bait, just the design of the bait is very good and will catch fish then add color and the pattern to the bait it is deadly.. But these baits cost 15.00 per bait I have a full box of these and will buy more this year for the spring. Talking about high price there is a guy that lives here Missouri on Table rock that is very good at this, so good he gets 45.00 plus per bait just to paint it your favorite color/pattern.. Tournament fishermen line up to buy them, even better if there is a new pattern/color that everyone is catching fish on, you just about can't get them...

And last but not least, I'm a tournament fisherman and love to chase little green friends around the lake and hope to get paid for it. And soon to be paid to take people fishing on Table Rock Lake and still fish tournaments alittle. Hopes that helps alittle, I want to see what some of the other Pro staff members say to this one...

Good Fishing

EAT SLEEP FISH

Hooked Solid · Post by **Hooked Solid** » Tue Feb 25, 2003 2:43 am

Thanks for the reply Don.You got to be talking about Timmy Hughes,Personal friend of mine.7 yrs ago I asked my wife to marry me on the back of Tim's boat on Table Rock Lake,Love that place...>...HS

JT_BAGWELL · Post by **JT_BAGWELL** » Tue Feb 25, 2003 3:13 am

H.S.

I would have to estimate that about 60%-80% of my hardbaits are what some would deem "high end".

The ability to take a bait straight out of the factory packaging and being able to catch bass on it is awesome. There is no need to fine tune anything. The hooks are high quality, as well as the split rings and paint job.

The brand that I personally use is Lucky Craft. You can check their baits out at www.luckycraft.com

To answer the second part of your question, I am a Tournament Angler. Last season I think I competed in about 18 events. This season that number will likely be over 20.

Best of Luck to you and great question.

Jeremiah T. Bagwell
Lucky Craft ProStaff

MMT · Post by **MMT** » Tue Feb 25, 2003 4:22 pm

Paulie, I was never a big crankbait guy. These days, whatever I throw is either Lucky Craft or Custom with only a few exceptions....mudbugs, Rat L Traps, Honey Bee's and Spit N Images. Besides the Traps and the SNI's, the others can be quite difficult to get. Many baits I throw do get custom paint jobs and all get top of the line hardware.

Eric · Post by **Eric** » Tue Feb 25, 2003 4:59 pm

As a tournament angler who fishes 30 - 40 events a year, some on small heavily fished man made lakes and reservours any advantage I can gain over the competition is a plus.

I have been fishing Lucky Craft for about 5 - 6 years now and honestly beleive they will catch more fish, although these high end baits fill a a special niche.
Relying on Lucky Craft Pointer Minnows and different topwater lures in clear water has been very good for me. The high end finishes on these baits do make a difference when faced with clear water, cold water or heavily pressured bass. They also excel in post cold front conditions.

However, as much as I love these baits, I really dont see that they make a difference in stained water. During high stained water I stick with Smithwick Rouges or Rapala Husky Jerks. The solid, or chromed colors of these baits are definetly a plus under low visability conditions.

I replace all my factory hooks with Gamakatsu treble hooks, and sometimes will add some paint or dipping dye to get a different hue or finish on some baits. As you know certain lakes demand custom finishes, and I have a few key color patterns for different bodies of water, sometimes for a short period of time on certain bodies of water.

In my opinion it boils down to choosing the right color schemes for the conditions. When hanging a suspending bait in front of bass in cold clear water, natural high end finishes, or custom painted baits excel.
When faced with aggressive bass or water color where the bass will not have the time to study a bait, bright, visible patterns are the rule.

Tight Lines, and keep them hooks sharp.
( And out of a basses mouth with all those treble hooks )

Roger Spaulding · Post by **Roger Spaulding** » Tue Feb 25, 2003 5:13 pm

H.S. - Good Post - I just recently had the high end bug bite me. It started out as trying to get a different crank from everyone else for that little edge in tournaments. Now, I've been trying to convert all my cranks/jerks over to the high end. I just have more confidence in them, and confidence is a major player in catching tournament bass. I have spent countless hours on the internet and on the phone looking for that special crank that no one else has (at least around my area). Has it paid off in tournaments? Sometimes yes, sometimes no. It can be alittle frustrating to get spanked in a tournament by a $1.59 crankbait from your local WalMart, but more times than not it's the other way around.

I would say right now that 30% of my baits are high end right now. But that will change to more like 60-70% here in the near future. Like J.B. talked about, I mainly use Lucky Craft items, but I have crankbaits from other places that are only locally made. I recently found a person in N.J. that is now custom painting some of my cranks for me, and have kicked around the idea of trying it myself. It's just the ability of having that perfect lure that I like. And it's just plain fun looking and finding that color/bait that you know in your heart will catch fish and nobody else has.

Roger Spaulding
ProStaff Indiana

johnnie crain outdoors · Wed Feb 26, 2003 5:07 am

Good job Pro Staff!!
You guys always come through on the good questions. I guess it's times like these that I feel as if I live in a cave. I still work 99 % out- of -the box crankbaits. They're not bargain basement, but good quality baits that I compete with. Storm, Rapala and Poe's make up most of my arsenal.
I feel the angler is the best bait in the boat, with knowledge the key to success. I do love new and improved baits though. Those Lucky Craft Baits must be something special for so many to list them. Haven't tried them yet. Looking forward to it. I do know you can't buy success, but going "El Cheapo" will guarantee failure. We do love our toys. Good post, great job. Johnnie Crain