Best lures for the price! 2024
Northern Strain reply :
I am interested in what people think are the best lures for the money. I am also interested in the lures you think are over priced, or the ones that catch fisherman not fish, here is my list.
Best lure for the price: Strike King series 3 sexy shad crankbait $3.99
Over priced: Strike king sexy swimmer $14.98
Catches Fisherman not fish: X-rap
SuperNewbie reply :
allureing baits trick stick/cheap
half way in between yum dinger
senko/too much
banjo minnows/ crap
Muddy reply :
The first 2 seasons with the X Rap I caught over 20 bass in each early spring period with them.
Best:
Anything from ***
Rapala: Original Floaters,Jointed, DT's Shad Raps and Fat Raps
Barlow's Jig Heads,Slider Jig Heads and Gman Jig Heads
DINK WHISPERER reply :
*** and Zoom
burleytog reply :
Quality matters more than price. You may look at a $3 bait and think it is a great deal. I look at a $15 bait and know it is a good deal.
Northern Strain reply :
QuoteThe first 2 seasons with the X Rap I caught over 20 bass in each early spring period with them.
I caught 1...
hercdoc reply :
"Quality matters more than price. You may look at a $3 bait and think it is a great deal. I look at a $15 bait and know it is a good deal."
So you think that the more price you pay for a lure the better quality a lure is? I've got a $50.00 piece of wood I'll sell you if your interested.
Little Luey reply :
that is a tricky question for me.
do i want a cheap lure or plastic that does not have the action needed to catch fish?
or
do I want to spend $20 + on a lure that will catch fish but may not give me more than my bag of robo worms?
this is what I do, i get roboworms and name brand crankbaits like rapala, I am stil debating to spend $20+ on a lure since I am catching fish on the $7 lures. if I continue to catch them i may not need to get the $20 lures.
Raul said in another thread that the lure is a tool, it is you who catches the fish since you have to find it and give the right action to the lure.
I stopped getting every lure the experieced guys say they got their lates 10lb on because I feel i still need to be able to find them, and I need to concentrate on learning that first.
Muddy reply :
QuoteQuoteThe first 2 seasons with the X Rap I caught over 20 bass in each early spring period with them.I caught 1...
Hey Smallie: I used them in the Leigh River, I had little use for them in lakes. Then I went to the 4 inch *** and I use them now instead, they slay SMB in the river !
Muddy reply :
QuoteQuality matters more than price. You may look at a $3 bait and think it is a great deal. I look at a $15 bait and know it is a good deal.
Thats right out of the Roadwarrior handbook :
And some lures that cost 15 bucks are not worth the dough either! Just because you spend a lot of money on something does not make it more effective Side by Side I use Rapala DT's and Mann Cranks and Bruce uses Luck Crafts, and our catches on most days are identical.My friend Dan; guides for Muskies and Smallies , His #1 Smallie Crank is a bait called a Lhur Jensen Speed Trap, he gets em for 5 bucks a pop.
I will stick with the Catt Quote: It's whats between your ears that matters
DINK WHISPERER reply :
QuoteQuoteQuality matters more than price. You may look at a $3 bait and think it is a great deal. I look at a $15 bait and know it is a good deal.And some lures that cost 15 bucks are not wort the dough either! Just because you spend a lot of money on something does not make it more effective Side by Side I use Rapala DT's and Mann Cranks and Bruce uses Luck Crafts, and our catches on most days are identical.My friend Dan; guides for Muskies and Smallies , His #1 Smallie Crank is a bait called a Lhur Jensen Speed Trap, he gets em for 5 bucks a pop.
Very true Muddy! I bought the Strike King Shad swimbait for $22 and the Spro BBZ-1 for $21. The Strike King was nowhere near as good as the Spro. Goes to show all lures in the same price range are not created equal..................
bass wrangler569 reply :
QuoteQuality matters more than price. You may look at a $3 bait and think it is a great deal. I look at a $15 bait and know it is a good deal.
Right on Burley
rubba bubba reply :
***'s senko - easily.
burleytog reply :
Quote"Quality matters more than price. You may look at a $3 bait and think it is a great deal. I look at a $15 bait and know it is a good deal."So you think that the more price you pay for a lure the better quality a lure is? I've got a $50.00 piece of wood I'll sell you if your interested.
Yes, you get what you pay for.
With $3 crankbaits, one in five may run right out of the box. I've never had a Lucky Craft not run right out of the box. With a $3 spinnerbait, the wire may last for three or four fish. The swivel will seize up after one trip. With a Terminator, those concerns do not come into the equation.
So while a $3 crank may be the best for the price for one person, I buy a LC because I know it will outlast any other bait. I'm not just paying for the name, I'm paying for the quality of the bait.
Muddy reply :
And from the pics you post we have similar catchs, whats y the point. If every once in a while I have to tune a Rapala, a slight twist of an eye, or spending 14 to 17 on a bait not to do that, and the results are the same? You do not always get what you pay for in life, some things are plain over priced.
burleytog reply :
It isn't just the tuning, it's the hooks and other hardware. It is the paint.
It is the quality.
And you do get what you pay for. You're going to spend the money one way or the other, so why not get it right the first time?
Muddy reply :
I have Rapalas that have been catching fish for 5 seasons, VMC hooks seem to be holding up, and except for a few Pickerel Teeth marks the paint is just fine. I am weaning the Manns baits out, as I have just come up with a few shallow running Bagleys ( 6 bucks a pop) that have no rattles in them, which I prefer. I know you have way more experience with reels, breaking them down as such, and i respect the fact that you prefer a different brand, I do not see the advantages of LC and Japanese Baits over the baits that I use, especially when the results ( fish in the boat) are equal
Northern Strain reply :
It sure sucks to get a $15 LC snagged, or lost...
burleytog reply :
But Rapala isn't a 'cheap' brand. The DT series retail from $7-12. That DT-20 isn't much cheaper than a Lucky Craft CD D-20.
Muddy reply :
QuoteIt sure sucks to get a $15 LC snagged, or lost...
If you buy em, then use em, you are going to loose a few,
burleytog reply :
QuoteIt sure sucks to get a $15 LC snagged, or lost...
A plug knocker will pay for itself in one or two trips.
Muddy reply :
Wow , I havent bought them in a couple of years I haven't paid more than 6 bucks for one. If thats the case, then I stand corrected.
Northern Strain reply :
QuoteI have Rapalas that have been catching fish for 5 seasons, VMC hooks seem to be holding up, and except for a few Pickerel Teeth marks the paint is just fine. I am weaning the Manns baits out, as I have just come up with a few shallow running Bagleys ( 6 bucks a pop) that have no rattles in them, which I prefer. I know you have way more experience with reels, breaking them down as such, and i respect the fact that you prefer a different brand, I do not see the advantages of LC and Japanese Baits over the baits that I use, especially when the results ( fish in the boat) are equal
That basically sums it up... it truly does come down to one thing and that is fish in the boat...
Muddy reply :
QuoteQuoteIt sure sucks to get a $15 LC snagged, or lost...A plug knocker will pay for itself in one or two trips.
Except if you do it MUDDY STYLE; I did not read the directions to secure the knot to the knocker, I put it over the line, let it slide down to my plug and tugged on the line : End Result I got the tag end up
PLUG PLUS KNOCKER stuck in the rocks in 12 feet of water :-[
Catt reply :
Best lure for the price: is always determined by the buyer and is set by what ever the buyer is comfortable speeding.
Over priced: Lucky Craft, Booya, Terminator, Tru-Tungsten
I agree you get what you pay for up to the point where the price is no longer reflective of workmanship but of whose name won what event lately. Not many companies ever put more pride in workmanship and product quality than Jim Bagley; his crank baits have always either had 5 or 7 coats of paint. Bagley products were reasonably priced until some dude from Japan won a stupid tournament and the price tripled. So put it in perspective; price tripled while product workmanship and quality stayed the same = overpriced.com
Catches Fisherman not fish: all lures catchsome just catch better than others
bigtimfish reply :
Best for price=Bandit,Rapala,Smithwick,Manns Overpriced=LuckyCraft,Megabass,IMA,Ricos Catches fisherman not fish IMHO= Stanley ribbits
bass wrangler569 reply :
QuoteI have Rapalas that have been catching fish for 5 seasons, VMC hooks seem to be holding up, and except for a few Pickerel Teeth marks the paint is just fine. I am weaning the Manns baits out, as I have just come up with a few shallow running Bagleys ( 6 bucks a pop) that have no rattles in them, which I prefer. I know you have way more experience with reels, breaking them down as such, and i respect the fact that you prefer a different brand, I do not see the advantages of LC and Japanese Baits over the baits that I use, especially when the results ( fish in the boat) are equal
I will concede that in many situations the results between rapalas and LC may be the same, but have you ever fished for smallmouth in 47 degree gin-clear water? I promise you you will notice a difference then. I have had my arse handed to me on the river enough times by guys fishing pointers when I was fishing rogues or x-raps to realize that I needed to switch. X-raps do catch fish muddy, in fact, they catch fish very well, but trust me when I tell you that sometimes japanese baits will flat-out outperform other lures.
Oh, and Burley, X2 on the plug knocker, that thing has paid for itself many times over
Muddy reply :
QuoteQuoteI have Rapalas that have been catching fish for 5 seasons, VMC hooks seem to be holding up, and except for a few Pickerel Teeth marks the paint is just fine. I am weaning the Manns baits out, as I have just come up with a few shallow running Bagleys ( 6 bucks a pop) that have no rattles in them, which I prefer. I know you have way more experience with reels, breaking them down as such, and i respect the fact that you prefer a different brand, I do not see the advantages of LC and Japanese Baits over the baits that I use, especially when the results ( fish in the boat) are equalI will concede that in many situations the results between rapalas and LC may be the same, but have you ever fished for smallmouth in 47 degree gin-clear water? I promise you you will notice a difference then. I have had my arse handed to me on the river enough times by guys fishing pointers when I was fishing rogues or x-raps to realize that I needed to switch. X-raps do catch fish muddy, in fact, they catch fish very well, but trust me when I tell you that sometimes japanese baits will flat-out outperform other lures.
Oh, and Burley, X2 on the plug knocker, that thing has paid for itself many times over
Yes I fish in the same state you do I LIVE IN PA!!!!!!!!!, I love it when someone who is alive less time than I have been fishing, talks down to me, like I don't know what I am doing. Yes I fish the Lehigh River in PA, the St Regis River on the NY and Canadian border and I catch very nice smallies in such water with * ( ***'s Fat Ika knockoffs) and Rapala Lures. I don't trust you, more expensive LC's and Japaneese Lures do not catch more fish under these conditions. Explain how my Buddy Dan , owns river smallies using a 5 dollar Lhur Jensen Speed Traps then. Your equipment does not make you, your brain does. Unless you consider that squirt bass in your avatar and the short muskie you caught with your carrot stick make you a pro of some type.
skno reply :
X raps have been a top performer for me. Especially early spring and late fall. I will have to try a pointer. At this point I can not imagine it being any better, after all I am working the bait. :-?
Blue Streak reply :
QuoteIt isn't just the tuning, it's the hooks and other hardware. It is the paint.It is the quality.
And you do get what you pay for. You're going to spend the money one way or the other, so why not get it right the first time?
The hooks and paint on a $7 Rapala bait are every bit as good as any Lucky Craft and tuning is not usually a problem for me. I catch plenty of fish on Rapala baits.
bass wrangler569 reply :
QuoteQuoteQuoteI have Rapalas that have been catching fish for 5 seasons, VMC hooks seem to be holding up, and except for a few Pickerel Teeth marks the paint is just fine. I am weaning the Manns baits out, as I have just come up with a few shallow running Bagleys ( 6 bucks a pop) that have no rattles in them, which I prefer. I know you have way more experience with reels, breaking them down as such, and i respect the fact that you prefer a different brand, I do not see the advantages of LC and Japanese Baits over the baits that I use, especially when the results ( fish in the boat) are equalI will concede that in many situations the results between rapalas and LC may be the same, but have you ever fished for smallmouth in 47 degree gin-clear water? I promise you you will notice a difference then. I have had my arse handed to me on the river enough times by guys fishing pointers when I was fishing rogues or x-raps to realize that I needed to switch. X-raps do catch fish muddy, in fact, they catch fish very well, but trust me when I tell you that sometimes japanese baits will flat-out outperform other lures.
Oh, and Burley, X2 on the plug knocker, that thing has paid for itself many times over
Yes I fish in the same state you do I LIVE IN PA!!!!!!!!!, I love it when someone who is alive less time than I have been fishing, talks down to me, like I don't know what I am doing. Yes I fish the Lehigh River in PA, the St Regis River on the NY and Canadian border and I catch very nice smallies in such water with * ( ***'s Fat Ika knockoffs) and Rapala Lures. I don't trust you, more expensive LC's and Japaneese Lures do not catch more fish under these conditions. Explain how my Buddy Dan , owns river smallies using a 5 dollar Lhur Jensen Speed Traps then. Your equipment does not make you, your brain does. Unless you consider that squirt bass in your avatar and the short muskie you caught with your carrot stick make you a pro of some type.
PM sent muddy, I figured I'd be mature enough not to call you out on the forum 
:)
Edit: oh, and muddy, I put the picture of the smallmouth back up for you, I rather liked the other picture but obviously your idea of an avatar is a pis$ing match :
bigtimfish reply :
I rather enjoy reading what Muddy writes when he gets fired up. Just like I really enjoy most of Car7t sarcastic points of view about things. When you guys argue over silly stuff it's great.
J Francho reply :
Hmmmm.....it takes about three or four X-Raps to get one that runs like it should.
I have over a dozen lips from DT06, their bodies are either floating somewhere, or stuck in a fish's face. I refuse to use them now. Replace the hooks on a Bomber, and you're in business.
DT10 and DT16s are slightly better, though one in five has a completely different rattle. Don't splash your DT10s next to the boat to clean the weeds off.
Thing is, the d**n things catch. I'm wondering about the scourge of lip pullouts though, and if that will rear its ugly head in the other sizes.
New Rattlin' Rapala's sound nothing like the ones from 10 years ago. Don't feel the same weight either.
The finish on Bill Lewis Rattle Trap, Spro Arukus and Jr's, Yo-Zuri Lipless, and Redeye Shad always wears completely off after about a dozen fish. The Spro actually chips away in pieces. That doesn't happen with LC LVR or Xcaliburs.
Rapalas, in particular, are not cheap. In fact it feels like a complete ripoff to spend $7 or $8 bucks, knowing it may not work right out of the box. $15 to $20 to replace a Lucky Craft that got eaten by a pike with a lure that is EXACTLY the same isn't so bad.
Does it all matter to the fish? Probably not. Does it matter to me? Definitely. And to ge sure, it isn't all about expensive lures. I have had great experience with LJ Speedtraps, Bombers, Normans, Xcaliburs, etc. Some of the other brands being touted as "reasonable" however consistently fall short.
Muddy reply :
QuoteHmmmm.....it takes about three or four X-Raps to get one that runs like it should.I have over a dozen lips from DT06, their bodies are either floating somewhere, or stuck in a fish's face. I refuse to use them now. Replace the hooks on a Bomber, and you're in business.
DT10 and DT16s are slightly better, though one in five has a completely different rattle. Don't splash your DT10s next to the boat to clean the weeds off.
Thing is, the d**n things catch. I'm wondering about the scourge of lip pullouts though, and if that will rear its ugly head in the other sizes.
New Rattlin' Rapala's sound nothing like the ones from 10 years ago. Don't feel the same weight either.
The finish on Bill Lewis Rattle Trap, Spro Arukus and Jr's, Yo-Zuri Lipless, and Redeye Shad always wears completely off after about a dozen fish. The Spro actually chips away in pieces. That doesn't happen with LC LVR or Xcaliburs.
Rapalas, in particular, are not cheap. In fact it feels like a complete ripoff to spend $7 or $8 bucks, knowing it may not work right out of the box. $15 to $20 to replace a Lucky Craft that got eaten by a pike with a lure that is EXACTLY the same isn't so bad.
Does it all matter to the fish? Probably not. Does it matter to me? Definitely. And to ge sure, it isn't all about expensive lures. I have had great experience with LJ Speedtraps, Bombers, Normans, Xcaliburs, etc. Some of the other brands being touted as "reasonable" however consistently fall short.
Hey John: If you were going with a Balsa Crank. without Rattles , under 10 bucks where would you go? BAGLEY"S?
J Francho reply :
I have a pile of old Bagleys, as well as a pile of old Poe's Ceder. Truth be told, I don't fish them that much, and don't even generally carry them with me. I keep them for sentimental reasons, some were my grampa's. Same issue with that type of bait. If you have a "special" top producer, you'd be hard pressed to find a replacemtn. Therefore you don't throw it where you need to throw it.
I actually prefer the plastic bodied cranks, and slowly but surely have been replacing with them. So far Lucky Craft, Megabass, Deps, and Duo have the styles that work with my style of fishing. If I lose one (rare with a plug knocker), it can be replaced with an exact copy.
But to answer your question, I'd look for a sale on the Rick Clunn silent cranks from LC.
bigtimfish reply :
The only thing I really fish from Rapala are X raps and Husky jerks. I have yet to have to tune one. The same goes with rogues. Every single one I have ever bought swims true and suspends perfect. Although I must agree with the paint on the lipless cranks. I can not remember a Rat L Trap's paint lasting long at all after a few fish. My Xcalibur's on the other hand do not even have a chip. But even after all the paint falls off, I will still fish a (BL) Rat L Trap because I have caught more fish on them than i have on any other. That goes for Spro,Xcalibur( which i fish regularly)and Bagleys.Bandits are also "cheap" cranks I can not say 1 negative thing about them either.
Blue Streak reply :
I have several Rapala DT 4, 6, 8, and 10 have used them a lot for a long time and have not had the problem with the lips breaking or coming out, or the lures running bad that some have had. Cabela's had them for about 6 bucks this spring. I wonder if that problem is from certain runs on those baits?
Crestliner2008 reply :
Best bang for your buck: Bill Norman crankbaits, especially the deep Little N. Have taken a lot of bass on these.
Have used X-Raps since they first came out and have never had a problem; either with the quality or the amount of fish taken. I love the action of the LC Pointers as well. Two uniquely different actions for fish in different moods. I purchase hard baits as tools for specific jobs, not looks or price.
DRhodes reply :
Alot of votes for a Rapala, and I'mno different. I refuse to buy a Japanese lure. I have been highly successful with Rapala, and would reccomend them to anyone.
uicdent11 reply :
Soft Plastics: *** and Zoom (25% off sale at BPS helps)
Cranks: Bomber
Spinnerbaits/Buzzbaits: still looking
Muddy reply :
QuoteSoft Plastics: *** and Zoom (25% off sale at BPS helps)Cranks: Bomber
Spinnerbaits/Buzzbaits: still looking
Hey , a heads upWalmart has Zooms on sale by me, check the one by you.
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