Bait snob 2024

Munkin reply :

Anyone else becoming a bait snob? I find myself buying mostly expensive Japanese baits these days. Now I still carry the $5 baits but hardly use them because of the LC and Team Diawa baits.

Allen

Jake. reply :

I find myself guilty. All I use now are lucky crafts. I haven't tried a Megabass yet, but I see that happening in the near future. :-[

bpm2000 reply :

swimbaits...

Raul reply :

Quote
Anyone else becoming a bait snob?
Allen

Who ? :-?

me ?!? :-/

Nah !!!!

roadwarrior reply :

Ole' Bannana Breath is a sly one.

After He hooks you up, then he leads you towards new and mysterious ways. What you thought was an expensive $5.95 bait is now "cheap" compared to your $49 swimbait.

VERY expensive Lucky Craft now seem like a good "value".

Ain't it something? :

Bob Kavanaugh reply :

I have not been hooked. I have a very tight fishing budget now that I have a ring on my finger. That, and the fact that I don't make much to begin with. I very rarely fish hardbaits anyway.

-Bob, and always trying to keep the bait monkey at bay...

guest reply :

I love my high end Loomis GLX's St. Criox Legend Elites, Diawa TD-Z's and steez's, they are so light, sensative, and responsive (what a woman!!)

but when it comes to lures, I have to try everything, but if it don't catch bass it don't get bought again.

My best example of that would be the original Bill Lewis Ratltrap. Not an expensive lure at all. Even when I trade out the stock trebles for owners.

But they are prominently featured in my Tacklebox and often found on the end of a rod.

They just plain work.

My favorite lipped crankbait is a storm wiggle/mag wart. Also not pricey. But definitely my go to crank.

Topwater?..............Sammy is great, but my #1 is a spook jr.

there are other examples. Like bagley balsa cranks outfishing my custom balsa cranks

But then again, there are my Rick Clunn's which are killers, and my my mega bass pop-x and pop max. - dynomite.

So if it looks pretty or has the big buzz, i'll buy it

but to buy more it's gotta deliver.

bass109 reply :

Raul, i guess its never enough for that guy. 8-)

grimlin reply :

I've been looking at the megabass pop max myself...Can't come to bring myself to buy it just yet.

T-rig reply :

I can't fit these in any of my boxes ;D ;D.

Sam reply :

I like the Bandits. The 100 and 200 series do very well for me.

Most expensive bait I have is the RICO.

It outperforms the Pop-R and Spook for me.

I have some Sammy's, too.

But $49 for a bait?

I don't think so.

I may be crazy but I ain't stuipd.

fishing man reply :

GUILTY.

when ever i go out shopping for new lures with like a friend they will show me a cheap lure and i cant buy it, i can only buy the expensive (5-10$) lures like rapalas, strike king, etc.

Bassin_Fin@tic reply :

I dont see any reason that the "cheaper baits made by reputable companies cant catch fish just as well as a 25 dollar plus megabass.Not the dollar bin knock off specials though.its well documented that those really suck.Then again I guess the point of this thread is that once you start with the expensive ones thats all you want to buy. I guess it is nice to own nice stuff,but if you cant afford it or dont have sponsors buying it all then you you dont need it, and can still catch plenty of fish.

When I was younger I used to swear by my uglystick LMAO.Now I wont touch a rod unles its a st croix,loomis,or kistler.

Bassin_Fin@tic reply :

Just to add a point to my other post.

I cant stand the guys that somehow think they are sooo much better of a basser just because they have a box full of ultra expensive baits and use 500+ dollar rod/reel combos.I dont think they have an edge up on anyone else because of nicer equipment.It all about how you use it.

I have a friend who makes much much more than me and buys all the topp of the line stuff but has no clue whatsoever how to use any of it.He just like to have nice stuff I guess.It seems that he is doing all the bragging when it comes to catching,but i am the one putting us on the fish and telling him which bait he should be using.

roadwarrior reply :

Better equipment will not make a poor fisherman good,

but it will help a good fisherman become better.

8-)

T-rig reply :

Quote
Better equipment will not make a poor fisherman good,
but it will help a good fisherman become better.

8-)

So true!

Avalonjohn44 reply :

I buy a lot of expensive baits, but don't think I am a bait snob... My favorite and best producing crankbait is still a Bandit 100 pearl with chartreuse back, got them on promotion at wal-mart a couple of years ago for a buck apiece, bought them all... And I will buy Gambler Ace's or Tiki Sticks before Senkos because it makes me angry to pay $6+ for 10 soft plastics...

But I love Megabass baits - can't get enough of them. Unfortunately I can only rationalize one per paycheck on ebay...

I also love Bagley cranks, and they are easier to get at 6-10 bucks apiece...

I have some Lucky Craft lures, but they don't 'do it' for me for some reason, I have not found them to be as great as some have.

Shadcranker reply :

I buy the Sammy's and Cavitron Buzzbaits (around $6 vs. $3-4 for others), but that's about it. With the LC topwaters, you should keep them forever, b/c they're almost impossible to lose.

I just can't see throwing a $20 crankbait 15ft deep, banging off stumps on 10lb line. My Norman DD14 and DD22's work just fine for me.

As far as other cranks go, a $5 shad rap, a $3 Rattle Trap, and a $4 Bandit 200 and 300 series works just fine for me.

I may buy some higher end topwater stuff, but that's about it.

In the interest of full disclosure, I did buy some high end plastic swimbaits (only around 10) to try in 08, but I haven't sold out on them yet. Got soem 3:16 shads and California Swimbabe Baby E's. They look great, but we'll see.

bocabasser reply :

guilty as charged. i am so frugal, that the other day i was throwing a LC slender pointer (best hard jerkbait on the market IMO) and it got hung up on something under water. without hesitation, i shed my shirt and flipflops, and dove off the boat to get it. it sure is spooky under stained water. retrieved it, retied and continued fishing.

Olebiker reply :

In the bicycling world we call the guys who own expensive bikes but can't keep up on the rides "poseurs." It's French for poser.

Reminds me of the guy back in Knoxville with the Allison bass boat and the 225 Mariner. He was always bragging about how fast it would run but I don't think I ever saw him weigh a fish at a tournament. He was a poseur.

To me, anything over $5 is an expensive bait. I will admit to buying a few SPRO lures at $7-8, but that is as high as I have gone so far.

smallfry reply :

I've got my share of expensive baits, but I have to admit that a $2.99 crankbait figured into a money finish in 5 of the 7 tournaments I fished this year. That included every keeper fish and 3 culls in what wound up being a limit averaging 3.7 lbs/fish on a lake I'd never seen before blast off.

guest reply :

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I've been looking at the megabass pop max myself...Can't come to bring myself to buy it just yet.

I understand.

Buying a lure that will end up costing 30 bucks is a big step.

But consider this...........................It's a topwater so it's always visible, and It floats.

So even if it breaks off you can retrieve it.

I had one snap off on a cast when I was night fishing. I heard it splash down, so I had a general idea where it landed.

Then I sat still and got a good reading on the wind direction.

Next morning I went into the cove I lost it in and took another read on the wind.

It was blowing in the same direction.

I took a heading on the wind and motored slowly accross the cove.

I found the lure about 10 feet from where I calculated it should be.

Pretty cool eh?

The moral to the story is that a well made hard bait should last a lifetime. Yes it can get lost in the jaw of the bass, but often they will shake them loose within a minute or two and it will float to the surface not too far away.

I have what I call my "legacy collection" these are all expensive Japanese hardbaits, that I will pass down to my grandchildren.

Now, with that in mind..............Just how expensive is $30.00

grimlin reply :

Thanks avid,I think i'll be on my way to pick one up soon. ;D

Tokyo Tony reply :

I think you guys are being a little tough on the rich guys who get all the expensive stuff (I'm definitely not one of those, for the record). If you have the money, by all means go buy all the most expensive equipment if it makes you happy, even if you're a lousy angler. However, if you're a lousy angler with all the toys, once you start bragging and running your mouth, you lose your right not to be made fun of 8-)

Personally, I'm not a bait snob, but am slowly gravitating towards the more expensive baits. I just like how they look, and the quality difference is definitely noticeable in the action and durability.

guest reply :

Quote
Better equipment will not make a poor fisherman good,
but it will help a good fisherman become better.

8-)

yep exactly right.

My tackle and gear runs the gamut. I have cheap, expensive, and everything in between. I like it that way!

Raul, I don't know how you can leave those nice baits in the packages...first thing I do when I get a new toy is take it out and play with it. The best ones will often ride in the passenger seat of my truck for a couple days so I can ogle them on the way to and from work and think about where and how I'm going to use them. Yes I have a little problem

roadwarrior reply :

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Personally, I'm not a bait snob, but am slowly gravitating towards the more expensive baits.

Okay... :

jwo1124 reply :

I am not trying to shoot anyone down, but we all have heard the saying: A lot of lures are meant to catch fisherman, not fish. I would love to see a scientific study done on how a $20, highly designed lure does up against a $5 lure. To me the thing that is going to get a fish to hit a lure is action and profile, and lesser: color shade. I don't think a fish is going to sit there and examine every little detail of the lures manufacturing and then decide if he wants to strike the lure. I bet if you threw out a cork with a hook and put some scent on it you;d catch a fish. No one needs these expensive baits, it's all an ego trip.

I bet a fish can;t even tell the difference between a Lucky Craft and a Rapala underwater, especially in any windy or stained water conditions. Its all marketing, and they are fishing for fisherman. Let's just hope they catch and release! ;D

To each his own though. I perosnally feel Rapala's are a high end lure. They are high quality, have great action for a hardbait, and they catch fish.

Avalonjohn44 reply :

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without hesitation, i shed my shirt and flipflops, and dove off the boat to get it. it sure is spooky under stained water. retrieved it, retied and continued fishing.

LOL, I took a swim recently in the potomac to retrieve my Rick Clunn 1.5... It was cool outside, but the water is still warm. Stripped down to my undies so I'd have some dry clothes when I made it back to shore...

Raul reply :

I 'm far from being "rich".

luckyinkentucky reply :

I say buy what you can afford. If you don't have a big budget then stay with the better low end brands. I'm guilty of buying up expensive baits, and have finally found a dealer that will sell me Lucky Craft for $11 a piece as opposed to the regular $14.99. 8-)

I have found something out lately in the 'Bait World' that some might find interesting. I won't name any names, but some domestic bait companies offer the same product as Japanese bait companies in a different package. You might not get the exact same body design or paint, but they are close enough for fish. For instance I can buy a Japanese Brand 'X' lure for $22 that has been "tuned" already, or I can buy American Brand "Y" for $7 with a little different paint scheme, and spend 60 seconds tuning the bait myself.

I have and will continue to buy more expensive baits, but only because I like to see what makes them "float". If I can find a bait that will replace the more expensive baits out there I will use it. An example would be the BPS XPS Pro series Hardbaits versus some of the Imakatsu crank baits. All some of these baits have that puts them apart is a little holographic tape over an easy 2 minute airbrush job.

Like I said, I will continue to buy some of the more expensive lures, but there are alternatives out there. Like stated earlier .... more expensive gear won't catch you fish. You have to match it with technique, weather conditions, and habitat.

roadwarrior reply :

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No one needs these expensive baits, it's all an ego trip...Its all marketing...

And maybe design, engineering, craftmanship and components... :

8-)

Davis reply :

I have a couple high priced lures. But in the end I go back to my plastics and have far better luck "usually" than my more expensive hard lures.

All this tackle isn't needed and I'm guilty of wanting to scoop everything up that I can.

If I went back to my roots as a kid and just had a small tackle box with one or two packs of plastics and a couple of rapalas than I would be doing just as well as I am now. In the places that I fish anyway.

I would agree with the marketing statement that was made. Sure some lures have better components and artwork....but in the end is the fish really going to be inspecting it? Usually not.

grimlin reply :

I just want to try it... ;D

And somebody asked how a LC compaired to a rapala,i can tell you right now...a LC will wiggle better in the water with you doing absolutely nothing,Rapala's don't.Some people might think that it makes all the difference in some conditions.

jwo1124 reply :

:-X I guess when you put it that way. Still, $15 a lure is freakin expensive. But, I guess when you are taking fishing serious, it takes a serious commitment. I guess sometimes that comes in the form of spending long hours fishing, long hours researching, and buying the best gear you can. Are Lucky Crafts twice as a good a lure as a Rapala? They cost twice as much, therefor I think they should catch me twice as many fish. Fair is fair.

Raul reply :

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But, I guess when you are taking fishing serious, it takes a serious commitment.

Yup .... very seriously

Quote
I guess sometimes that comes in the form of spending long hours fishing, long hours researching, and buying the best gear you can

and casting that 60+ dollars hard swimbait all day long and come out empty handed.

Quote
Are Lucky Crafts twice as a good a lure as a Rapala? They cost twice as much, therefor I think they should catch me twice as many fish.

Not quite ...... you may catch fish that otherwise you would not have. I know it, most of my lures are Rapala and when they don 't wanna bite it 's time to take out those expensive baits to do the job.

roadwarrior reply :

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Are Lucky Crafts twice as a good a lure as a Rapala? They cost twice as much, therefor I think they should catch me twice as many fish. Fair is fair.

They might not catch twice as many when "the bite is on," but they might fool the one you're really looking for.

The real "magic" that Lucky Craft has is in consistant performance. The balancing designed into the lures, especially Pointers, results in fewer fouled hooks on the cast, greater distance and dependable action. The Pointer actually vibrates when it appears motionless.

BTW, I fish the Rapala X-Rap and Husky Jerk. They are great lures for aggressive fish, but for a more subtle presentation, the Pointer rules.

Davis reply :

Quote

Quote
Are Lucky Crafts twice as a good a lure as a Rapala? They cost twice as much, therefor I think they should catch me twice as many fish. Fair is fair.

They might not catch twice as many when "the bite is on," but they might fool the one you're really looking for.

The real "magic" that Lucky Craft has is in consistant performance. The balancing designed into the lures, especially Pointers, results in fewer fouled hooks on the cast, greater distance and dependable action. The Pointer actually vibrates when it appears motionless.

The pointer is a beautiful bait. My 78 in sunfish just came in and I'm anxious to use it tomorrow. Pretty no doubt.....will see if it will grab those big boys that have been feeding on the gills next to the dam outlet.

smallfry reply :

If you consider what makes up a bait, there is no reason a 5 or 6 dollar bait can't perform as well as a bait 2-4 times the cost. Probably won't look as good, but functionally they could be equal. That doesn't mean that there are many that do, just that it is possible. As I said before, I've got my share of expensive lures and my share of "cheap" lures.

I also believe most people don't have the time to objectively compare the baits to really know which is best. I know many people who swear a lure is "the best" of its kind, only to find out its the only one of its kind they usually throw. Self fulfilling prophecy. I know I usually don't have time to experiment properly, but a few times I have been able too.

A buddy and I fished an expensive and an "average" priced hard jerkbait side by side one spring (actual lure names have been removed to protect the thin skinned ) because we wanted to see how they compared. Each of us fished the opposite lure, and we'd set a timer. When the timer went off we'd switch baits. We kept track of the number of hits and fish caught. We did this for several outings, which happened to cover both some "hot" bites and some "slow" days. In the end, we found a slight advantage for the "average" priced bait, but it was not statistically significant (although most importantly it was proven that I have greater fish catching ability than my buddy ;D). Of course, there may be other situations and variables that may cause one bait to outperform the other, but those were our findings. In that particular case, I've stopped buying the more expensive lure. Other similar tests with other lures have gone the other way.

tyrius. reply :

Not yet, I'm still just now getting into crankbait fishing and have been having excellent results with the Rapala DT's. Over the winter, I'm planning on filling out my crankbait selection (colors, depths, profiles, etc). Then next year I'll see what types of crankbaits I like. After that I may try some of the more expensive baits in the types that work for me. What would work even better is convincing my brother in law that those baits are the bomb and he'll buy a bunch and I'll just fish his! ;D

I grew up a soft plastics fisherman. People say that these are cheap, but if the bite is on you can run through more money in plastics than you would if you were using a harbait/wirebait. I've got an old J-7 jointed minnow that has probably caught me 100's of fish. The paint is all scratched up and the black back isn't so black anymore. From a dollar standpoint that lure has kicked ***, but I've also got hardbaits that have caught nothin.

Tokyo Tony reply :

One thing no one has mentioned is confidence. Personally, I have more confidence with a bait that cost 20 bucks as opposed to a 5 dollar lure. There may not be a valid reason for the increased confidence, but it's confidence nonetheless. On tough days I'll tie on the expensive boys and really believe that I have a better shot at some decent fish. I believe this to be true, but I can't say, and I don't think anyone can say, that it actually is true. What is definitely true is that you will catch more and bigger fish if you're confident than if you are not confident, and if you are more confident with a certain lure, then you will tend to catch more and bigger fish with that lure. So more expensive, higher quality lures may, if not directly, at least indirectly catch you better fish.

If fishing more expensive lures doesn't make you more confident, then you may not catch more fish with them. However, I do believe that the higher end lures actually do perform better on average, especially on difficult days (which, come to think of it, is probably why these lures give me confidence...). Plus, I hate tuning lures on the water, so this is yet another advantage.

Did I say before I'm not a bait snob?

Edit: I'm not a full-fledged bait snob yet, but will probably get to that point soon, especially with the huge rack of LC's at the new Cabela's 15 mins from my house.

JCrzy4Bass reply :

I'll take my Rapalas, Heddons and Manns anyday. They work just fine. All these high priced lures may be better crafted, but why spend 15 bucks more when you can still figure out the lower priced lures and catch fish? To me the bait monkey is already bad enough as it is. Maybe when I'm rolling in bucks like you big timers I'll change my strategy. But I can't afford to have a tackle box consisting of the average priced lure being somewhere between 10-15 dollars. I like my stuff just fine. I catch fish on a consistent basis and they are still some of the more reputable names in the bussiness (GYCB, Rapala, Mann's, Mepp's, etc).

bass109 reply :

your right Munkin, when you get a taste of the best, its hard to go back. Just like food, it can hurt your wallet though :'( Sometimes you forget that the least expensive lures also catch fish. rago swimbait for $300.00's, i would never buy a lure for $300.00+ unless its made out of gold or diamonds.

Jimzee reply :

Am I a tackle snob? I would say that better than half of the baits I use classify as snob baits. (above the $10.00 mark)

Do I think I'm better than most because I use them? No way, not even the slightest. People who know me know that I am very humble.

Why use snob baits? I like nice stuff. That's all folks. 8-)

Stringjam reply :

Quote
No one needs these expensive baits, it's all an ego trip.

I'm pretty sure I've never bought an expensive crankbait to boost my ego - but it's alright if you want to generalize.

JMHO....

Fishing is an art.

Luremaking is an art.

Reel making is an art.

Rodmaking....

Boat building.....

etc.etc.etc.

Some people would like to elevate one art form over the another, or dismiss one, or devalue any form of the sport that doesn't interest them.

So you don't think that expensive crankbait is worth $20? Well, for you, it isn't.......but I know that behind that crankbait is an artisan who has likely spent years developing his skills, thousands of hours testing, and takes his passion for design seriously (visit tackleunderground.com some time). I appreciate the art - - and I don't mind supporting it. It's just another part of fishing that I get a kick out of.

You do not NEED to have expensive gear. Here's a news flash - NEED HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. You don't even NEED to fish - - but the sport, and the gear involved (for many) are all just part of the enjoyment of the activity.

There's no need to put down somebody because they like high-end equipment, or vice versa. I'm glad there are enough people who are interested in the high-end market to keep it going.......because even though I may not be able to afford, or even want it - I'm glad that artists are given an opportunity to push the level of design and precision forward.

slomoe reply :

Im not a bait snob, Im a bait noob. ;D

Ghetto_Basser reply :

All you snobs can send your "low end " baits my way. I will gladly accept

Lightninrod reply :

Quote

Quote
No one needs these expensive baits, it's all an ego trip.

I'm pretty sure I've never bought an expensive crankbait to boost my ego - but it's alright if you want to generalize.

JMHO....

Fishing is an art.

Luremaking is an art.

Reel making is an art.

Rodmaking....

Boat building.....

etc.etc.etc.

Some people would like to elevate one art form over the another, or dismiss one, or devalue any form of the sport that doesn't interest them.

So you don't think that expensive crankbait is worth $20? Well, for you, it isn't.......but I know that behind that crankbait is an artisan who has likely spent years developing his skills, thousands of hours testing, and takes his passion for design seriously (visit tackleunderground.com some time). I appreciate the art - - and I don't mind supporting it. It's just another part of fishing that I get a kick out of.

You do not NEED to have expensive gear. Here's a news flash - NEED HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. You don't even NEED to fish - - but the sport, and the gear involved (for many) are all just part of the enjoyment of the activity.

There's no need to put down somebody because they like high-end equipment, or vice versa. I'm glad there are enough people who are interested in the high-end market to keep it going.......because even though I may not be able to afford, or even want it - I'm glad that artists are given an opportunity to push the level of design and precision forward.

Excellent!

Dan

Micro reply :

I fish what works. I have a hard time trying new stuff when I know something works well in a given area. If it's expensive or cheap, doesn't much matter. If it's cheap and it works, it's got a place in my tackle box. If it's expensive and sucks, it doesn't. Any lure that works consistently is worth far more than its cost, whether it's $5 or $25.

I have boxes of Rapalas - DTs, Glass Shads, Tail Dancers, X-Raps, Husky Jerks, Minnows, Sinking Minnows, etc. I buy them because they are consistently good. Not only do they produce fish, they have great actions, are well built and hold up season after season. I especially like the newer Rapalas with the transluscent bodies (various models). The reflective elements are inside the lure, not painted on the surface. Even after many, many pickerel they keep on keepin' on. No matter how many scratches, they still reflect like they were new.

I have several LCs, mainly DDs. I think they are more refined than the Rapalas. But in my experience not as durable. The finishes don't seem anywhere near as durable as the Rapalas. Great actions, beautiful lures. But I don't catch any more fish on them than Rapalas, and they don't hold up as well. So I don't buy many of them.

I have tons of Bombers of almost every style. Another moderately priced bait that consistently produces fish.

Like Avid said, Rat L Traps are a mainstay in my tackle box. Rapala knock-offs, too, which are just as good. I've recently tried XCalibur Xr75s which run about $10 - great actions and very loud, but no fish yet. Still working on it.

I may be the only bass fisherman that likes Mepps Spinners. I have a kajillion of them because they produce bass and everything else along with them.

I recently purchased 5 Strike King King Shads in various colors - $20 each. These are my most expensive lures. They've been getting excellent reviews. Can't wait to try them.

One bait I have a few of that seems to catch fish when nothing else seems to be working are Creme pre-rigged worms with the little silver spinner blade. They are cheap, sold at Walmart, and may have been the first artificial bait I ever tried. I like to cast them into water that has algea-muck just below the surface. They have no action to speak of, the spinner rarely works, but they catch fish all out of proportion to their cost and quality.

Buy what you want. But no matter what, buy what works. Buying anthing else is a waste, unless you just like carrying dead weight in your tackle bags.

cart7t reply :

I remember when the first Japanese style baits started getting branded by and sold in this country by some of the major manufacturers. They were priced at around $7 - 10 bucks for a crankbait. About twice the price, maybe a little more, of of the top end name brands. I purchased a few. They never caught anymore fish than the regular priced ones. I purchased some Luckycraft pointers as well. Side by side they lose in fish catching comparisons as many times as they win.

I just sold a few Mega Baits. Yep, they were real purty. Great paint finish on them. Nice hooks. Nice craftsmanship. I can just imagine my reaction the first time I banged one of those suckers on the rocks or a dock. Or got it hung up.

I don't have an issue with anyone who wants to lob a $20 crankbait and bang it off the rocks all day. If they've got the guts to do it, more power to them. If they think that $20 bait will catch more fish than a $5 bait, well, more power to them again. I've yet to ever see with first hand knowledge that that was the case but it's the guys that believe it that keep that end of the market going.

BTW

Here's a question. If you're fishing in your $55,000 Ranger bassboat and hang that $25 bait up on the rocks real shallow with waves breaking in, do you take the chance of banging up the bottom of your boat getting the bait back or do you break off and re-tie another $25 crankbait on?

roadwarrior reply :

Quote

Quote

Quote
No one needs these expensive baits, it's all an ego trip.

I'm pretty sure I've never bought an expensive crankbait to boost my ego - but it's alright if you want to generalize.

JMHO....

Fishing is an art.

Luremaking is an art.

Reel making is an art.

Rodmaking....

Boat building.....

etc.etc.etc.

Some people would like to elevate one art form over the another, or dismiss one, or devalue any form of the sport that doesn't interest them.

So you don't think that expensive crankbait is worth $20? Well, for you, it isn't.......but I know that behind that crankbait is an artisan who has likely spent years developing his skills, thousands of hours testing, and takes his passion for design seriously (visit tackleunderground.com some time). I appreciate the art - - and I don't mind supporting it. It's just another part of fishing that I get a kick out of.

You do not NEED to have expensive gear. Here's a news flash - NEED HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. You don't even NEED to fish - - but the sport, and the gear involved (for many) are all just part of the enjoyment of the activity.

There's no need to put down somebody because they like high-end equipment, or vice versa. I'm glad there are enough people who are interested in the high-end market to keep it going.......because even though I may not be able to afford, or even want it - I'm glad that artists are given an opportunity to push the level of design and precision forward.

Excellent!

Dan

8-)

Jimzee reply :

Quote

Quote

Quote

Quote
No one needs these expensive baits, it's all an ego trip.

I'm pretty sure I've never bought an expensive crankbait to boost my ego - but it's alright if you want to generalize.

JMHO....

Fishing is an art.

Luremaking is an art.

Reel making is an art.

Rodmaking....

Boat building.....

etc.etc.etc.

Some people would like to elevate one art form over the another, or dismiss one, or devalue any form of the sport that doesn't interest them.

So you don't think that expensive crankbait is worth $20? Well, for you, it isn't.......but I know that behind that crankbait is an artisan who has likely spent years developing his skills, thousands of hours testing, and takes his passion for design seriously (visit tackleunderground.com some time). I appreciate the art - - and I don't mind supporting it. It's just another part of fishing that I get a kick out of.

You do not NEED to have expensive gear. Here's a news flash - NEED HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. You don't even NEED to fish - - but the sport, and the gear involved (for many) are all just part of the enjoyment of the activity.

There's no need to put down somebody because they like high-end equipment, or vice versa. I'm glad there are enough people who are interested in the high-end market to keep it going.......because even though I may not be able to afford, or even want it - I'm glad that artists are given an opportunity to push the level of design and precision forward.

Excellent!

Dan

+1

8-)

guest reply :

Stringjam speaks with much wisdom.

I would also like to add that in my 30 or so years of bass fishing, it has been my observation that the guys who DON'T buy expensive stuff are much more hostile to the guys who do than the other way around.

Low_Budget_Hooker reply :

Non-conformist here. and I ain't hostile, I get a kick out of it

I have bought expensive lures but as art for my home (the clubhouse) Tirig, you could make a pretty cool lampshade

Alpster reply :

Stringjam pretty much nailed it. For a lot of us, fishing is more than just fishing. The whole fishing environment is a satisfying experience. The fellowship of a fishing buddy, planning, preparing, shopping, tuning and getting everything ready for "THE TRIP". A new personal best, a boat load of dinks or skunked, there will be a great story to tell and an important lesson learned, no matter what. If a nice fish on a fancy lure is your story, I want to hear about it. If you catch one with a bare hook on a cane pole, I'm still listening. Bait snob or not, it's all about the experience and the story. JMHO

Ronnie

T-rig reply :

Quote
Non-conformist here. and I ain't hostile, I get a kick out of it
I have bought expensive lures but as art for my home (the clubhouse) Tirig, you could make a pretty cool lampshade

Make a lampshade? No way, cranks like these have "eat me" written all over them. ;D ;D

How can you not like cranks like that.

I'm far from beeing rich, but I just prefer high end lures and they are soooo sexy!!!! ;D ;D

Micro reply :

Quote
Stringjam speaks with much wisdom.
I would also like to add that in my 30 or so years of bass fishing, it has been my observation that the guys who DON'T buy expensive stuff are much more hostile to the guys who do than the other way around.

Hostility flows uphill, condesendence flows down hill. Neither one are pretty.

Big_Bass_Rock reply :

I don't buy expensive lures, but don't have any problem with those that do. If you can afford to spend 20 bucks on a crankbait then go ahead, its your money.

I don't have a large amount of tackle compared to most of you guys, but I'm sure I would be in the hundreds of dollars range if I added it all up. I only have about 15 or 20 crankbaits/poppers type hard lures, and they're all under 5 or 6 dollars each.

I've been guilty of buying the cheap spinners too (5 pack for 5 bucks) instead of the name brand Mepps or others for 3 - 4 dollars each. Both catch fish for me.

Also another reason I buy cheap lures is I take my younger brother fishing, or other little kids, or girls, and they snag and lose lures left and right. So I tie on the cheap lures for them and if I have something a little more expensive I keep it hidden .

I don't mind if they lose 10 crappie jigs, I paid 1.25 for all 10, and they're one of the easiest lures to catch fish on in my experience. But when someone loses a $5 crankbait I just bought, I get a bit ticked off.

When I make more money I'm sure i'll probably buy more expensive gear, cuz thats just how it goes I guess.

Munkin reply :

Man 6 pages Like others have said my baits I carry range from $.99 dollar bin to $35. I will use any bait that works but in the last couple of years with companies outsourcing overseas the quality have gone down. Bandit use to be my favorite crank and whil I still use them the new ones suck. Yes I would rather pay $15 for a bait that runs correct than 3 $5 lure that cannot be tuned. Since my time on the water is valuable I do not want to spend all day trying to tune baits. Price does not equate fish catching ability? I have some Megabass Visions that do not catch anything but grass! I also have a SK wild shiner I found for $.99 that is missing half the paint from catching fish. Since I carry 3 lure retrievers I hardly ever lose any baits anyway. This year I have found more lures than I have lost. My TM head breaks more lures than I ever lose :-[.

Allen

FishTank reply :

Fishing is a hobby/sport. It can be expensive or cheap. It is simply what you make of it.

farmpond1 reply :

Heres my two cents worth:

If the price of a bait prevents you from fishing it where the fish are, then you shouldn't use it.

If you want to throw your money away, please send some of it my way (or, more appropriately, to a worthwhile charity).

Needemp reply :

If ya don't know how to catch fish, it don't matta how expensive yo' stuff is

cajun1977. reply :

im not sure why some of you'll keep saying that cheaper lures work just as good.......noone is arguing that point i didnt see one post where someone said expensive lures catch more fish......im just wondering why those who dont have them seem to feel they can make judgements on those who do have high end lures? personally i have a butt load of rapalas and other similiar baits, but i also have a butt load of japanese baits , and to be honest i hardly fish the rapalas just because its a confidence thing with my other lures.....but im not saying they dont catch fish either.......so i guess what im really trying to say ....if you dont have these lures then why would i really care about your oponion on them?

bass109 reply :

I'm not a bait snob like raul, and others but i only try to buy what i need.

roadwarrior reply :

Quote
I'm not a bait snob like raul, and others but i only try to buy what i need.

Yeah, right...

I'm not either...

But I resemble one! :

Tokyo Tony reply :

I think to start, the term "bait snob" is misleading. How about using "bait afficionado", or "one who enjoys fine baits"?

Anyway, especially lately, I've been buying a lot of higher-end baits (hi Cabela's in East Hartford), and while there may not be a huge or even noticeable difference in fish-catching ability, I think the main advantage (other than their confidence-giving powers) is that you don't have to tune them as much (or at all). Even comparing the relatively-high-end X-Rap to the LC Pointer, X-Raps do have to be tuned relatively frequently, which is not the case with Pointers.

Either way, I like having Pointers (and other baits that look awesome) and just looking at them, especially when that's all I can do over the winter. Also, it seems a little more satisfying catching a good fish on an expensive bait for some reason, maybe because you think to yourself, "Wow - definitely worth the price!" ;D Is that crazy? Maybe.

LCpointerKILLA reply :

Quote
I think to start, the term "bait snob" is misleading. How about using "bait afficionado", or "one who enjoys fine baits"?
Anyway, especially lately, I've been buying a lot of higher-end baits (hi Cabela's in East Hartford), and while there may not be a huge or even noticeable difference in fish-catching ability, I think the main advantage (other than their confidence-giving powers) is that you don't have to tune them as much (or at all). Even comparing the relatively-high-end X-Rap to the LC Pointer, X-Raps do have to be tuned relatively frequently, which is not the case with Pointers.

Either way, I like having Pointers (and other baits that look awesome) and just looking at them, especially when that's all I can do over the winter. Also, it seems a little more satisfying catching a good fish on an expensive bait for some reason, maybe because you think to yourself, "Wow - definitely worth the price!" ;D Is that crazy? Maybe.

this is how I feel too, brethren.

sodaksker reply :

I used to think my taste in bass baits were getting expensive. Then I started musky fishing . Wow, there are some great customs on the market. I'll have to post some pics.

Low_Budget_Hooker reply :

Yea,...I have a friend,.....lol....has a beeeautiful boat full of beeeautiful gear and a horde of boxes packed with beeeautiful baits. He sure looks good in a picture, even if he's rarely holding a fish,lol.

It's not the car, it's the driver. Pretty baits are nice, I just don't think they are necessary. I'm sure not knockin' them, if I were rich, I would be the same way, but I'm not,....I'm LOW BUDGET and I'm still catchin' fish

guest reply :

I rather catch cheap bass than expensive baits ;D

guest reply :

Quote
I rather catch cheap bass than expensive baits ;D

Kinda like the women you used to date

Quote
I'm not a bait snob like raul,

Me neither 8-)

Low_Budget_Hooker reply :

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