$4 Lucky Craft and Megabass? 2024
brantley5 reply :
I was on youtube and came across a video by KeepingItReelFishing. In the video he tells a story about how he came across a lure that he thought was custom but then finds out that it is a company that buys unpainted Lucky Craft LC squarebills and paints them themselves. Well, I got to looking at their site and came to find out that they have the Megabass Pop Max, Megabass Vision 110, *** Lunker Frog, and Megabass Cyclone along with the Lucky Craft LC. They're pretty much buying unpainted molds, painting them, and selling them for a lot less. I'll put the link to the video below and it would be cool if you watch it and tell me what you think about it.
Video:
GoCougs14 reply :
Eager to hear some personal reviews on these. If they fish decent for that price thatd be awesome.
brown12687 reply :
Seems too good to be true, but its worth a shot since they're only a couple bucks.
iabass8 reply :
These cranks have been around for a while. I think I asked about these baits a couple years ago out of curiosity as the LC 1.5 is one of my go-to squarebills and got more in depth answers. If anybody can find the topic, hats off to you. These aren't actually "Lucky Craft /Megabass blanks". They are just knockoff molds you can buy from various outlets. Internals, quality control, tuning, hardware, etc set the LC apart from these. Are they worth 4? Probably. They sure look pretty. Are they going to perform like a LC? No.
camman reply :
Yup you can buy knockoff blanks pretty cheap. I had a buddy who bought a bunch of LC 1.5 knockoffs on his trip to China for less than $1 a bait. Some swam good others did not. He had the better ones painted and still uses them years later
deaknh03 reply :
They are not real. They are a cheap knockoff..you can buy the unpainted lures for a buck or so and paint them yourself. Personally I will pass.
smalljaw67 reply :
The molds for the blanks are made from the real bait, that part is true, the difference is in the details. The first thing is the grade or type of plastic used, it may not seem like a big deal but it is, a lot of these companies design the plastic to have certain properties that will make the bait behave a certain way. A good example is the new Bagley plastic model Rattling Kill'R B, it is a plastic bait but it is more buoyant that regular plastic baits, they designed it to have a faster float to mimic balsa. Another example is the Mann's Loud Mouth crank, it is made from a really hard polycarbonate with steel bearings, that thin walled, hard plastic makes a loud racket with steel bearings bouncing off of it. What you get with the cheap blanks is a bait that will work but it won't have the exact characteristics of the original but in some cases the knock offs can be good too. In most cases the knock offs are made almost, if not, 100% identical to the original but the difference is as I said before, the plastic and ballast weights and rattles are not the same and that often is what makes a bait. There is one knock off that has a following in my area, is is an Adams Custom Lures 1.5 square bill, it is a knock off of the Strike King KVD 1.5, the guy buys the blanks and paints them but a lot of hardcore tournament anglers here love them and the guy charges more than a regular KVD 1.5 but he uses good hooks and the paint jobs mimic local forage. What makes it good is the design works so even though it was made with a generic plastic formulation, the bill angle and ballast weight is the same so the bait swims and deflects well and the fact the guy uses really good hooks makes it a winner, so don't be too quick to discount these baits, but don't be fooled into thinking they are the same either.
thebillsman reply :
KO's.
primetime reply :
I see a guy who sells lures that are custom painted but be careful calling them knockoffs, even though they could very well be.... I believe they are factory seconds/blemishes since the same OEM's make baits for many companies so internals are hard to measure, same with line tie angles, hook hangers inserted properly etc..
I have recently noticed one OEM who makes baits for High End Companies selling blanks now for popular models at prices that are very low. they have a small MOQ of only 200 and they also do LH frogs, so I think I know the guy you are referring too..
You can import Expensive lures, but they are usually just as expensive, or come in crazy colors, different hooks, and I have always suspected that they are simply factory seconds. Every company has a ton of blemished baits, and anyone who is really good at crankbait fishing, or jerkbaits will tell you that if bearings or internals are off, sound is different, or the line tie is off by a few degrees, hook hangers maybe not perfect etc...then the lure is not going to work as well as it was intended....
I once found a deal on blemished lures that were a top brand, and picked up a bunch of them only to find out that every time a fish larger than 3lbs grabbed the lure, you would soon get slack in your line, and pull in a really nice oval split ring....The company never claimed they were x brand, they just say China brand and we all want to hope they are Megabass etc. but how could you tell a Strike Pro Thunder pop from other top lures or a Megabass walking lure that Canis X vs. the Owner Tango dancer which is probably what you are getting, since you still get what you pay for. Lures that are discontinues always flood the after market. Factories never throw away seconds or defects, and they never risk losing their contracts with major companies.....When you buy a Megabass lure you are paying for quality control and the fact that it is perfect out of the box....
I don't know if the person selling them is dishonest, and I would never throw out that accusation since he may have a connection to get the legit blanks from some broker etc...But I know for a fact that the lures that are actually Megabass, will cost you maybe $12 instead of $14 to import and that is with a high MOQ in one size, one color, and blanks are a new thing recently overseas I am noticing. Blemishes would be spotted before painting, so that is my opinion.....Then dump them cheap since they won't pass inspection, the person buying them probably doesn't know or care.
You can buy blanks on Barlows that look identical to a Sammy etc...I don't think most people would know the difference, especially if custom painted really nice...Just be careful, you don't want a lure failing when you have the fish of a lifetime by saving a few bucks. LC cranks at Bass Pro are now $5.99, so that maybe explains the blanks selling for cheap, but why not just by them from LC and get the sure thing? Many lures for Matzuo look like expensive lures, a good example is the Bully wa frog..take a look at your matzuo popping frogs next to a bully wa 65...They look to be the same lure....Obviously the same mold, but the plastic is different, obviously the poppin mouth etc..
BPS kermit frog comes from same place as spro Frogs...But you will notice a few differences in the 2 if you fish them, the Spro just moves differently and has subtle differences, not saying they are better, but they are just the same mold, not the same bait...
Lure Prices are coming down anyway, which is a good thing, so I would rather support LC for selling us an $ Gunfish 117....Just my opinion, but dealing direct overseas is a tricky game, and deals are never as good as they seem unless buying Bobber stops, hooks, and terminal tackle, soft baits imo....
primetime reply :
Get Latest Price
Team9nine reply :
I had a friend (now deceased) who was a custom crankbait maker, and he would send me pictures and stories of these MegaBass and Lucky Crafty knock-offs. He had a huge belt sander and took great joy in shearing these high dollar baits in half to see what made them tick, then do the same for their knock-offs. Here is a sample of a couple of his comments/conversations we had over this exact subject:
"Luck is about all you have going for you on most of the knock-off baits I have seen. After cutting apart a whole lot of knock-off baits, it is rare to find even one that is made right. Mismatched halves, enough internal casting flashing to alter the rattle weights, weights and rattles that do not return to the same position from cast to cast, leakage and weight balls that do not stay in their track (weight transfer type baits). On one bait I found plastic shavings (drill bit) used for rattles. If you want to find out why a bait won't work, look inside.
If a picture is worth a thousand words...well, you know the rest. Here is a Megabass Griffon Knock off."
- Pic 1 (Top) - It looks like the real thing from the outside.
- Pic 2 (Middle) - The weight in the front is contained in the front section, but the weight in the center should move back and forth in a channel, but it will not stay in the channel which allows imbalance between casts.
- Pic 3 (Bottom) - The ball in this pic is to the rear, as it would be on the cast, but the ball is so small that it makes little difference, plus it can fall out of the track and go off to the side or to the bottom. Try to tune this puppy.
"A word of caution when buying KO baits, especially anything with a weight transfer system. Make sure you put hooks on the baits and run them in the water before painting. On the Megabass bait pictured the weight transfer ball rolls easily while its in your hand, but after a few casts the ball falls out of the groove and puts the bait off balance. Without paint you can see it and can sometimes get the ball back in place by holding it upside down and banging it in the palm of your hand. Once its painted, you can't see it. Of the five I had, I also had 3 that leaked water, but hopefully your topcoat will correct that."
"Guys, forget all about the look and finish of the Lucky Craft (LC), the real difference is on the inside. I have cross sectioned a lot of baits and I can tell you that the knock-offs don't measure up internally. Sorry, I could not find the Lucky Craft crankbait, but I did find an LC pointer for comparison (left). The second picture (right) is a knock-off (KO) deep diver, pretty much the standard of most knock-off baits."
"The LC will have a wall thickness that is smooth and even, very little variance in thickness from end to end, about .006" max. The weights are molded into place and there are no rattles.
On the knock-off bait, the wall thickness varies by as much as .045". You can see in the picture the interior is very uneven. The small bar-like features in the rear are the weight transfer system. The ball in this bait will not stay in the channel, making the weight transfer system usless. The ball at the front is used for the belly weight and the rattle. Tuning one of these things is next to impossible. Some of the KO baits that use weld spatter or drill shavings for rattles, well, you can imagine it never is in the same place from cast to cast. So if you ever wonder why it runs left on one cast and right on the next, there is your answer.
With all the decent cranks out there at a reasonable price, Bomber, Norman or Bandit to name a few, why mess with a KO? You can put a dog in a tux and teach it to dance, but it's still a dog."
-T9
a1712 reply :
I fish the KDS 110's. Great Jerkbait at a awesome price. Brian.
collards reply :
I bought a few different ones yesterday. I will try for myself to see how they work. Thanks brantley
Silas reply :
I'm trying a couple too. On sale now for $2.99!
I'm not really concerned if the act and run different from originals. Maybe their difference is that little one that triggers a bite.
brantley5 reply :
On 2/19/2016 at 10:34 PM, collards said:I bought a few different ones yesterday. I will try for myself to see how they work. Thanks brantley
On 2/19/2016 at 11:08 PM, Silas said:I'm trying a couple too. On sale now for $2.99!
I'm not really concerned if the act and run different from originals. Maybe their difference is that little one that triggers a bite.
How did they work out?
Silas reply :
How did they work out? Well, unlike you poor guys in the northern US, our water remains liquid so I went down to the pier and put on a brand new KDS 1.5. First 5 casts I was thinking, nice bait runs true, rattles, floats up when stopped.
On the 6th cast I paused it and it wouldn't rise, thought it was hung up. But it wasn't.
On the rest of the retrieve, it acted sluggish and felt heavy. Next cast, let it sit. It sank quickly. Brought it close and pulled it to top. Watched it sink. Examined it and it looked ok but would not float or run well.
I also bought a 2.0 and a Vision lookalike. Will try those tomorrow.
But at this moment I'll sell the 3 (2 unused) for $7.00 shipped! Any takers? I'll mail them in the morning. I'm one and done.
I use bothe LC RC 1.5 and Megabass Visions. Have fished maybe 10 of each and had NO issues with ANY of them.
Perhaps I just got one bad one.
roadwarrior reply :
But not surprised are you?
deaknh03 reply :
On 2/27/2016 at 6:24 AM, Silas said:How did they work out? Well, unlike you poor guys in the northern US, our water remains liquid so I went down to the pier and put on a brand new KDS 1.5. First 5 casts I was thinking, nice bait runs true, rattles, floats up when stopped.
On the 6th cast I paused it and it wouldn't rise, thought it was hung up. But it wasn't.
On the rest of the retrieve, it acted sluggish and felt heavy. Next cast, let it sit. It sank quickly. Brought it close and pulled it to top. Watched it sink. Examined it and it looked ok but would not float or run well.
I also bought a 2.0 and a Vision lookalike. Will try those tomorrow.
But at this moment I'll sell the 3 (2 unused) for $7.00 shipped! Any takers? I'll mail them in the morning. I'm one and done.
I use bothe LC RC 1.5 and Megabass Visions. Have fished maybe 10 of each and had NO issues with ANY of them.
Perhaps I just got one bad one.
Silas my friend..you know better..running top tier rods and reels with cheapo tackle?
Silas reply :
Deak, you are right! Once you drive Porsches , you can't go back to a Dawoo!
Since I consider you my friend, I'll make a special deal just for you! I'll send you the 3 if you send me ONE Bandit crankbait.
Water still hard where you are?
Master Bait'r reply :
On 2/27/2016 at 6:24 AM, Silas said:
Perhaps I just got one bad one.
Pro Tip: They're KO's. They're all bad ones. The good one is the fluke!
soflabasser reply :
Like others have said those lures are most likely cheap knock-offs of poor quality.Many people buy them in bulk online for $1-2 each (or less),paint them,and try to sell them to anyone that will fall for it. I would stay away from these inferior knock-offs and avoid buying any "custom painted" megabass lures.
deaknh03 reply :
On 2/28/2016 at 12:26 AM, Silas said:Deak, you are right! Once you drive Porsches , you can't go back to a Dawoo!
Since I consider you my friend, I'll make a special deal just for you! I'll send you the 3 if you send me ONE Bandit crankbait.
Water still hard where you are?
Theres a lot of open water from our mild winter, just not around the edges!
On 2/28/2016 at 12:26 AM, Silas said:Deak, you are right! Once you drive Porsches , you can't go back to a Dawoo!
Since I consider you my friend, I'll make a special deal just for you! I'll send you the 3 if you send me ONE Bandit crankbait.
Water still hard where you are?
I will make you a deal..give them away in the flea market and I will give away a bandit.
Silas reply :
Since I don't want to go thru the trouble of explaining why I'm giving something away, I'll just offer them here. 2 of the 3 I haven't tried. They might be good. I just don't need to find out.
So if you are reading this thread, first "I'll take them" here will get them.
Then at least I can walk away feeling "generous!" LOL!
MarkH024 reply :
I have 3 of the KDS popmax replicas. They do not perform as good as a real one and hardly get thrown. They're not horrible lures but for whatever reason they dont pop and chug as good as the real deal. The molds are slightly different if you compare side by side
deaknh03 reply :
On 2/28/2016 at 12:49 AM, Silas said:Since I don't want to go thru the trouble of explaining why I'm giving something away, I'll just offer them here. 2 of the 3 I haven't tried. They might be good. I just don't need to find out.
So if you are reading this thread, first "I'll take them" here will get them.
Then at least I can walk away feeling "generous!" LOL!
and not to hijack the thread, but first person under 20 that says "I will take it" gets a random bandit.
Silas reply :
I see my generous nature has already been rewarded by the mailman this morning. By receiving a Majorcraft Zoner 55 from Maguro Pro shop in Europe. Fantastic looking crank! I should have ordered 3!
also 5 assorted Bagley Killer Bs that are from an eBay dealer.
So far the day is looking good!
primetime reply :
It will always be my contention that the blanks sold overseas that are under a buck then repainted and sold for a higher amount..Sometimes over $20 on Ebay, are either fakes, but I still think many are blemished baits that did not make it past the first line of Quality Control. Obviously they would realize at the factory that the bearings are stuck, maybe the walls are to thin, the taper is a bit off, etc. all of this would be picked up before the painting, and also before placing the hook hangers etc...That is why I believe some had one sink, others have had good ones, and some like myself, have had an issue of the line tie pulling out...
When an OEM who makes thousands of these lures finds a batch that is damaged, they take the entire batch and throw them in a spot and then who knows where they end up....I just get annoyed when people online claim to have custom repainted Megabass lures for $20 etc..If you don't have a Megabass Box, they are not legit, or if stamped Megabass on the lure...If I was painting legit Vision 110's, I would save every box and never paint over the markings...
You can buy quality blanks in bulk, however even overseas, unless you buy 1000, you are still paying the same price as Barlows and other US sellers offer with quality lures...
Many of these guys are simply using WL Lure....which I believe is now based in the states but they sell lures that are inexpensive, and are honest people in the sense they never claim to have a certain brand. Any company would be crazy to say "Megabass" in the description unless they are not Megabass as they have no contract to lose....
Kevin22 reply :
On 2/28/2016 at 12:49 AM, Silas said:Since I don't want to go thru the trouble of explaining why I'm giving something away, I'll just offer them here. 2 of the 3 I haven't tried. They might be good. I just don't need to find out.
So if you are reading this thread, first "I'll take them" here will get them.
Then at least I can walk away feeling "generous!" LOL!
If still available, ill take them and toss along a specific shoreline that is riddled with pike right now. We shall see how fast they sink full of holes! Then i will cut them open with the dremel and post what is inside them for others to see.
Silas reply :
Kevin 22, Congratulations on winning the 3 lure prize!
PM me your address and I'll get them out to you.
Just let me know how they work out for you.
Cody21w reply :
I made an order from them about 3 months ago. I bought revolution (lucky craft) evolution (not sure) and pop max clone. Paint jobs are killer. I've tried both cranks and they all run true. Haven't had one chip, break a bill, run crooked... imo best crank ever for the money. Today I caught about 10 dinks on the lucky craft clone in the sunfish color. Last week caught this 5lb 9 oz on it.
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