Budget friendly cranks? 2025

I.rar reply :

after reading about people bad experiences with rapala's , i was wondering what cranks are at or around the same price range and quality (or what rapala's quality used to be)? say ~$5 a piece? i tried a couple rebels and would much rather watch their action as they are being flushed down the toilet.

bigtimfish reply :

I like Bandit and Strike King. Mostly Bandit.

J Francho reply :

Norman and Bomber.

Raul reply :

Been fishing with Rapalas since I was 9 years old ( now I 'm 45 ), my first lure was a Rapala Original Minnow size 7 in sliver/black back which BTW I still have and still fish with.

Caught my first 10+ pounder witha Rapala Original Minnow size 11 RT pattern, which BTW I still have and fish with.

Caught my PB ( 13.86 lbs ) with a Rapala Shad Rap size 7 SD pattern, which I also still have and still fish with, to add more, that partivular crank has caught me more fish than most of my other cranks all together.

My most lethal subsurface ( 1 ft ) lure is a Rapala Shallow Fat Rap ( discontinued ) size 5 in perch pattern.

I own more than 700 cranks, 80 % of them are Rapala.

Certainly I don 't think they are bad.

The only Rapala I 've found not worth it 's salt is the Rapala Long Cast minnow, not because it won 't catch fish, it 's because that danged teeny tiny lip it has breaks away if you barely sneeze at it.

Jake. reply :

The Bandit 100 series cranks are very nice for the price.

jhow2319 reply :

I have been really impressed by bandit and strike king. If you get a chance go pick up a couple of the 3/4 oz Red Eye Shad Lipless crankbaits from Strike King.

carrothead reply :

I personally like the Rebel Deep Wee-R, but Strike Kings and Normans are good.

cabullwinkle reply :

Bandit, strike king and bass pro shops.

MattinOK reply :

If you have an Academy nearby, H20 express cranks are AWESOME for the money. They have many different types and depths for 3-4$ a pop.

Quitlimpin reply :

Quote
Norman and Bomber.

Exactly

.dsaavedra. reply :

rapalas are great and if you ask me the best quality for the money.

bandits are good too, but i don't like the action on my bandit cranks as much as the action on my rapalas.

Blue Streak reply :

Don't give up on Rapala. I own a bunch of them and I have not had any trouble. And I am not easy on equipment. They perform well and they catch fish.

roadwarrior reply :

Norman Fat Boy and Bomber Square A are very similar lures

and often on sale. Both are excellent producers when a shallow

presentation is what you want. My PB was fooled by a Fat Boy,

bluegill pattern.

8-)

I.rar reply :

i mean , i will continue to buy the origonal floating rapalas (countdowns , shad raps , and a few others). those also catch me fish when nothing else will. tons of ways to fish them.

the crank in question was the x-rap series and whatever ones with the internal rattles. ive also read about some of the lips getting damaged easily. ive never seen this personally , but i am always open to trying other brands with the people on a budget in mind.

i will check out the bomber , bandit , and normans since those seem to be recommended the most.

thanks guys.

(raul , if you ever wanted to get rid of some of those 700+ cranks at a deal of a price let me know ;D)

DRhodes reply :

Another vote for Rapala

Best quality lure for the price

TrippyJai reply :

Bomber, Norman, Bandit, Manns and Strike King.

burleytog reply :

Quote

the crank in question was the x-rap series

The X-rap isn't a crankbait. :-?

I.rar reply :

Quote

Quote

the crank in question was the x-rap series

The X-rap isn't a crankbait. :-?

sorry. jerk*bait , but it is still a rapala product. cant recall which one of their baits was having the broken lip problems..

Stingray23 reply :

Strike King

EdKras reply :

Bandit 100 and 200

reo reply :

Quote

Quote

Quote

the crank in question was the x-rap series

The X-rap isn't a crankbait. :-?

sorry. jerk*bait , but it is still a rapala product. cant recall which one of their baits was having the broken lip problems..

Seems as though I missed some other thread about rapalas but I have had x-raps and husky jerks for years. Never had one fail and they flat out catch fish. I have used them for smallies, largemouth, walleyes and steelhead. No Failures.

ww2farmer reply :

I am really liking the Strike King line of cranks lately, Red Eye shads (lipless) and Series 5 and 6 deep divers have been very good buys.

Eddie Munster reply :

At about $4.20 a piece, Bandit 100/200 are pretty good deals.

I jumped on the BPS deal on LC Rick Clunn SR 1.5 & 2.5 for under $10 a piece. They're now back up to $16.00 Fantastic bait but too pricey to buy all the time.

Dock Master reply :

Quote

Quote
Norman and Bomber.

Exactly

x3.

tnbassfisher reply :

Quote
The Bandit 100 series cranks are very nice for the price.

X2.

I have also liked Rebels, but you apparently do not.

DINK WHISPERER reply :

Strike King and Rapala(they are worth it)

TheHammer84 reply :

Bomber

9178

Budget friendly cranks? 2025

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