Plastic or wood crankbaits?

johnnie crain outdoors · Sun Apr 20, 2003 3:03 am

Okay guys, which do you prefer in crankbaits, plastic or wood and why please? I have a definate prefernce which I'll disclose later. Johnnie Crain, Iowa

BASSGUIDEPA · Post by **BASSGUIDEPA** » Sun Apr 20, 2003 11:13 pm

Johnnie,

When I am crankin', I prefer to use the plastic kind. I like the plastic baits due to the wide variety of styles. The two major reasons are: 1) contain rattles and 2)do not get water logged (like the wooden versions).

JT_BAGWELL · Post by **JT_BAGWELL** » Mon Apr 21, 2003 4:35 am

Johnnie,

I use plastic crankbaits. (Because I get them free LOL)

Seriously though, I have always preferred plastic crankbaits. Part of it being because of the rattles. I am not honestly sure of the exact reasons though. It is just a personal preference I guess.

JT Bagwell

Dennis Bligh Jr · Post by **Dennis Bligh Jr** » Mon Apr 21, 2003 3:24 pm

Jonnie,
I prefer Plastics because they come with rattles, I beleive they are more durable, and they are easier to sand off and paint. Good topic!

johnnie crain outdoors · Wed Apr 23, 2003 3:52 am

Thanks guys,
Am I the only guy that still uses wooden crankbaits. The ones I use are made from red cedar. I believe they will run deeper than plastic, plastic baits have an air bubble in them for floatation. As for the noise, you can't imagine how much noise a wood crank makes just from the hooks string the bait and the cover and the cranks I use have a lot of vibration which equate to noise. I do like to use plastic baits too especially in dingy water, I think the rattle may even draw fish out of heavy cover where they can attack the bait better. Believe me, after crankin' for forty years, I wouldn't leave home without both, but I still prefer wood. Thanks again. Johnnie

mofish · Post by **mofish** » Wed Apr 23, 2003 2:14 pm

Excellent Question Jonnie!!
I like the wood baits too. I Think I know which ones you are talking about. The Poes cedar Baits are some great baits if you can find the orginals before all the problems that they had. I agree that the wooden baits make alot of racket. To help them I have drilled out a hole in it and make a homemade glass rattle that I put in it. The vibration and rattle make alot of noise banging into the docks and laydowns. I am also going to start making some cranks out of cedar and well as balsa while I'm recovering. I just got all the tools to get started. I also recieved some cranks that are made of hard wood from a guy in N.C. that are some of the best looking baits that I have seen in a while. They will cast a country mile.

Mark you mentioned the bait getting water logged, This was a problem with some wooden baits but I have found a solution to that too. (well I didnt find I was told about it)

Rapla's and some of the other wooden baits were easily chipped or the paint cracked on them. If you will take you some Devcon 2 ton epoxy (slow drying type) and coat the bait in it and let it dry. I will assure you it will not crack or get water logged. That is some of the hardest stuff I have seen.

Dennis you can also use the Devcon on the plastic baits that you repaint. This will also add a little extra weight to your bait. One of the hand carved that I made actully starts to sink a little when I pause it. Then when I start to reel again it jumps back up and starts wobbling again funny thing is it sinks tail down just like a minnow that is dying. So far all I caught is small fish on it but it is catching fish!!!

I know I've seen some of you on the Tackle Making web site there is alot of info on making your own baits. Jeremiah I know I saw you asking some questions on there did you find your answers?

Sorry Im rambling again. I just get excited fishing a bait that I made.

Conley

johnnie crain outdoors · Thu Apr 24, 2003 11:19 pm

Thanks guys, Plastic wins. Conley and I will just have the suffer the consequinces of catching lots of bass on old wooden lures. Conley if you need a field tester for your baits, you know where I live. Been fun as usual. Oh yes, I do use Poe's and Risto Raps. Johnnie

JT_BAGWELL · Post by **JT_BAGWELL** » Fri Apr 25, 2003 4:02 am

Conley,

You are right that Tackle making site is interesting. Yes I did find the answers I was looking for on there.

Have a great one.

JT Bagwell

MMT · Post by **MMT** » Mon Apr 28, 2003 4:06 pm

I fish Fat free shads and Mudbugs a ton. These are both plastic. I really do like the wooden baits though. Bagley's Honey bee is a fave of mine.

johnnie crain outdoors · Tue Apr 29, 2003 2:05 am

Craig, thanks for the reply, I too fish Mudbugs, I have a couple of old models, before they rattled that I use sparsely, don't want to lose them. They catch a lot of fish. It amazes me that most anglers catch fiosh on Mudbugs, but you seldom see them listed by the winners in tournaments.