CHEAP BASS LURES THAT WORK 2024

Bluegillslayer reply :

I am vary new to the site and to catching bass that are not dinks I am new to bass fishing. Part of the reason why I have not caught bigger fish (my pb is a 3 ponder) is because I have almost only used ultralight or multi species lures like grubs and tiny trout/panfish crankbaits. I made a topic the other day titled "getting into bass fishing" and many people said to get stick baits and spinners because they are good for beginners I plan on buying some "stick-os" for the stickbait selection but what about spinner baits? I do not want to spend a lot of money on lures because I am only a kid, so if their are brands that are cheap like "Creme" or "Bigbite baits" lures that work good that would be great, by the way the bass in the pond I fish a lot are no more than 3 pounds. The water is vary dark in the deeper parts and clear and shallow in other parts of the pond, forage is bluegill their are also trout, the pond is not vary weedy and their is not a lot of structure any suggestions? thanks.

-Bluegillslayer

MN Fisher reply :

Well, the bass in my profile pic was a 3.9# caught on a 3/8oz Jawbone Spinnerbait - DSG exclusive that costs $2.99 each. They also come in 1/2oz size in a small variety of colors. They also have a Buzzbait at the same price

Another option, a little more pricy, but also only at DSG is the Strike King Banshee line. Both Spinnerbait (1/4, 3/8, 1/2) and Buzzbaits (3/8, 1/2) at $4.99 each - wider color selection in the Spinnerbaits than the Jawbone line

https://www.dickssportinggoods.com/f/spinnerbaits?pageNumber=0&filterFacets=X_BRAND%3AJawbone%2CStrike King

Add the stickbaits that can be used Wacky style or T-Rigged and you've got a good start.

Bluebasser86 reply :

Depends on your definition of "cheap". Sometimes cheap doesn't equal a value. A bait that is really effective but cost a couple bucks more is worth it IMO. The Academy H2O lineup is some of the best value baits out there.

punch reply :

Want a cheap lure that'll catch fish? A scum frog. You can get em at any walmart too!

Bluegillslayer reply :

I mean lures in the price range of 6 dollars or less

OkobojiEagle reply :

On 11/20/2019 at 11:43 AM, Bluegillslayer said:

Part of the reason why I have not caught bigger fish (my pb is a 3 ponder) is because I have almost only used ultralight or multi species lures like grubs and tiny trout/panfish crankbaits...

...by the way the bass in the pond I fish a lot are no more than 3 pounds.

-Bluegillslayer

...the other part of the reason you're not catching bigger fish might be there aren't bigger fish in your pond to catch.

Bluegillslayer reply :

But the silly thing is I have not caught any of the 2-3 ponders in this pond just super tiny bass caught on bluegill lures. I know they are in there because I have seen them with my own eyes I have not used any lures specifically used for bass, which is why I am looking for cheap bass lures that work. I also caught the 3 ponder in another lake.

Edited November 20, 2019 by Bluegillslayer
mistake

txchaser reply :

To answer your specifc question - Pond Magic spinnerbaits

Paddletail worm like a Yum Swimmin Dinger (or the bps version of the same), weightless t-rigged or with a light belly weighted hook.

read this if you haven't seen it

https://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/13845-guaranteed-to-catch-bass

Bluegillslayer reply :

Thanks, looks good.

Hammer 4 reply :

On 11/20/2019 at 12:41 PM, Bluegillslayer said:

But the silly thing is I have not caught any of the 2-3 ponders in this pond just super tiny bass caught on bluegill lures. I know they are in there because I have seen them with my own eyes I have not used any lures specifically used for bass, which is why I am looking for cheap bass lures that work. I also caught the 3 ponder in another lake.

If bass are spawning, and you have dinks/bucks, being small bass, there has to be a good sized female that laid eggs for that to happen. It's possible there are bigger bass, you or those you have talked to just haven't caught them yet.

I've caught 7 lb trout on 4 lb mono, so you can catch them. As you fish more, you gain more knowledge...Keep at it. Oh and BTW, keep an eye out for used baits, sometimes you can get a great deal on not so cheap baits.

Koz reply :

On 11/20/2019 at 12:24 PM, Bluegillslayer said:

I mean lures in the price range of 6 dollars or less

Best cheap cheap lures are the $1.00 spinnerbaits at Wal Mart.

But for under $6 there are a ton of good baits out there to choose from starting with an Original Chatterbait.

NHBull reply :

You can't tell the cost of something u til the accounting period is over.

That said you also have to take into consideration replacing treble hooks if applicable. A good example for me would be my pop Max's .Don't think I have ever lost one and they do hold up better than their peers. I also think that there is a Big quality difference and performance in spinners.

N Florida Mike reply :

The lucky strike worms at Wally World are good . They’re in the bargain basket. I get the 4 inch ones. Tequila is my fav. Color. They are light, so I use them with a small split shot on a finesse rig . I try to stay with 8 pound test so they will cast good enough, with a 1 or 2/0 wide gap hook .Bass love em.

Hook2Jaw reply :

Most YUM offerings are good bang for the buck. I was excited for their Ned rig offerings, but I save more money throwing Z-Man TRDs. My favorites are the YUM Dinger, Christie Critter, Craw Chunk, Pulse, Kill Shot, and Finesse Worm.

Like @Bluebasser86 above me said, H2O Xpress from Academy have good hard baits to tie on. Stepping up a few dollars from that, I like Berkley's hard baits as well. I will say I don't like the lipless from either company, opting for Strike King Red Eye Shads.

Sometimes, it's best to go for the best bang for your buck rather than bottom of the barrel cheap.

TnRiver46 reply :

Plastic worms!!!

Mobasser reply :

Plastic worms are a cost effective bass lure. You can get a couple bags of worms, some slip sinkers, and good hooks. Later, you could upgrade your rod for a fast action med, or med hvy to fish them with.

scaleface reply :

The price of spinnerbaits has sky rocketed . Look for less expensive ones that have a ball bearing swivel . A lot of bass will be caught when the lure is paused and those with cheap swivels the blades wont turn .

Dangerfield reply :

Cost to acquire might not be cheap but the value of Elaztech baits, from a durability stand point is leaps and bounds better than any plastic bait out there. I've got some TRDs that are 2 years old and I rarely need to restock. If I'm buying new, it's to mess with a new pattern.

Sam reply :

Hold onto your pennies, nickels and dimes. The sales will start after Thanksgiving and go through January. You can get some good baits at good prices after Thanksgiving.

You do not reflect where you live in your Avatar so we can't give you any input on local fishing expos this winter. Try to find them on the Internet and go to one if it is close to your home. And please add your location to your avatar so we can give you better input.

As an example, check out this Richmond Fishing Expo site to give you an idea of what to look for in your neck of the woods: https://www.richmondfishingexpo.com/ So many baits to choose from you could actually go nuts.

Walmart. Check out Walmart. They have some very good baits at good prices. And they put fishing baits on sale, too.

And Dick's. Dick's starts expensive but now and then they mess up and reduce a good bait's price.

Look at the sales bins at a Bass Pro Shop if you can get to one.

Academy has fantastic baits. I love their H2O frogs. Best ones out there.

As for what baits that work? They all work, sooner or later. But since we have no idea if you are in Florida, California, North Dakota, New York, North Carolina, etc. we really can't laser in on any one specific bait. But I can suggest going with YUM Dinger stick baits as opposed to Senkos. They are inexpensive and work great. Rig them Wacky and start flipping, flipping and casting.

Look for Bandits in place of Strike King for crankbaits.

Seek out baits made by local guys that are less expensive than the manufacturer brands. In fact, in Virginia there is a guy who makes a buzzbait to die for. It is the best buzzbait I have ever thrown. Even better than my Cavitrons. So look for inexpensive homemade baits in your favorite local tackle store.

Now start saving those pennies, dimes and nickels and get ready to do battle at your favorite tackle store starting Friday, November 29th. Get up early and be there when the store opens. Do some recon first, if possible, the day before or a few days before the sale begins.

And of course, I don't do this, but when you do your recon and you find some baits you want, hide them in the store the day before the sale starts. You can then get them and be ready to stand in line for an hour to check out.

Tell your parents and relatives that you have enough underwear and to give you tackle store gift certificates or money for Christmas.

Let us know what you get AFTER YOU TELL US WHERE YOU LIVE so we can give you better input.

Have Fun!

greentrout reply :

Academy >> Zoom 20 pk. Trick Worms 3.99 ...

1.79 H&H Spinnerbait ...

good fishing ...

NYWayfarer reply :

Rebel Craw is a cheap Bass lure that works.

Plastics are good cheap lures but you will go through them fast. A small crank like the Rebel Craw will catch fish until you lose it to a snag.

drew4779 reply :

I feel like most of us who started bass fishing as kids have been though this. I remember blowing a whole paycheck in high school on a K-Mart going out of business sale where a buddy and I bought nearly the entire fishing aisle. But before that, we would go to yard sales and badger our parents to take us to flea markets. We would also scour the shore lines and over hanging trees for lures other fisherman were too troubled to get un-snagged.

But you asked about cheap lures that will work, so... almost any soft plastic will catch bass, regardless of brand name. Cheap spinners will catch bass too, but may fall apart easily (although I've had not-so-cheap spinners fall apart as well). Crank baits like the above mentioned rebel craw is what I learned on, and will catch just about anything that swims. A jig is probably one of the best ways to get those larger bass to bite, and can be found for a couple bucks.

fishballer06 reply :

On 11/20/2019 at 8:57 PM, scaleface said:

The price of spinnerbaits has sky rocketed . Look for less expensive ones that have a ball bearing swivel . A lot of bass will be caught when the lure is paused and those with cheap swivels the blades wont turn .

Most folks don't realize what it costs to build a spinnerbait.

I can't put a ball bearing swivel and a skirt on a spinnerbait for less than $1, yet there's somehow companies out there retailing spinnerbaits for $1 or $2.

Trust me, buying a premium built spinnerbait is a totally different bait than the cheap one's off the shelf.

Jaderose reply :

H&H SpinnerBaits. You can them in bulk on the bay or places like Academy have for less than 2 bucks. They catch fish and if you lose them, who cares.

Pickle_Power reply :

I'd suggest a small (1.5") Bomber shallow diving crankbait. I catch all sizes of bass on them, and they also catch a multitude of other species. It's a viable option for shore fishing, as it won't dive so deep that you'll get caught up in lots of weeds. They "fit the bill" for your price range. They are generally around $4.

I agree with the suggestions others have made about fishing plastics such as Stick-Os/Senkos or other plastic worms. Just remember to be patient with these, and creep them along slowly - you don't just cast and reel in like you would with a twister tail grub, spinnerbait, or crankbait.

Someone mentioned a Chatterbait. That would be another great thing to try. Just cast these out and reel in. The thump from the blade really gives a guy confidence, and you definitely know it when you get a bite.

scaleface reply :

On 11/20/2019 at 10:50 PM, fishballer06 said:

Most folks don't realize what it costs to build a spinnerbait.

I can't put a ball bearing swivel and a skirt on a spinnerbait for less than $1, yet there's somehow companies out there retailing spinnerbaits for $1 or $2.

Trust me, buying a premium built spinnerbait is a totally different bait than the cheap one's off the shelf.

I pour my own too and know the cost of making one . My most productive baits have come when I took the components off broken manufacturers lures . I love my hand poured 1/2 ounce with Excaliber blades .

fishballer06 reply :

On 11/20/2019 at 10:59 PM, scaleface said:

I pour my own too and know the cost of making one. My most productive baits have come when I took the components off broken manufacturers lures.

I agree. I've dissected a few old baits of mine for my own baits as well. Some of the manufactured baits have unique blades that you can't buy.

plawren53202 reply :

Much of what I'll say echoes comments others have made. Having said that, I'm a major cheapskate, so here's my observations about cheapest bass baits:

--Sales of course are the best. E.g., I just grabbed a bunch of z-man original and elite chatterbaits at $1.88 each in an online sale a local sporting goods store was having.

--Apart from sales: soft plastics can be cheap (or expensive). The best deal going is usually Zoom or Yum at Walmart. Look in particular for "value deals" in boxes below the Yum and Zoom lures on the rack. I've generally found Zoom and Yum to be at least as durable as many other soft plastics--an example is Yamamoto, which seem to tear up awfully fast relative to price.

--Spinnerbaits: the cheapest are the ones in the $1 box at Walmart. I've absolutely caught fish on these. Now, some of them, the skirt will wear out faster, or it might need a little tweaking to get it to run straight. But generally, I've had good luck with them.

--Crankbaits, jerkbaits, other hard baits: Walmart has their own brand (Ozark Trail I think) that are the lowest price you can find. Sometimes the components on these are sketchy--hooks, bill needs tweaking to run straight, etc. I have caught fish on them, though. Academy's H2O hard baits are not much more than Walmart's and seem to be much better made. Bass Pro also has their own brand, and some of them will either be in a $2.75 bin, or some for regular price of $3.39-3.79, every time I go to BP. They do also have their own brands for significantly more, so you just have to look at the price.

--Topwaters: I have caught many a fish on Walmart's Ozark Trail brand frogs, and they have seemed to hold up well. There are also some Yum or Zoom soft plastic frogs that you can rig weightless/Texas style and fish on top, and I have caught fish on them as well.

That gets you a basic selection of all three zones (topwater, moving bait/mid-water column, and slow baits/bottom). I got back into bass fishing after a several year hiatus and had to start over with tackle (someone broke into our family farm and cleaned me out a couple of years ago). You might try what I did: I got a basic selection of stuff relying on these sources, lots of Walmart and Ozark Trail stuff. As I determined what I like to use best and what works best for the waters I fish, I then started slowly upgrading in those areas. For instance, over the months I have gotten some 6th Sense squarebills on sale because I use squarebills a lot; I have also upgraded to some better spinnerbaits as skirts would fall off the cheapies. Still using lots of my cheapy stuff though, like lots of Yum and Zoom plastics and the Walmart frogs.

TnRiver46 reply :

On 11/20/2019 at 9:32 PM, Dangerfield said:

Cost to acquire might not be cheap but the value of Elaztech baits, from a durability stand point is leaps and bounds better than any plastic bait out there. I've got some TRDs that are 2 years old and I rarely need to restock. If I'm buying new, it's to mess with a new pattern.

My buddy brought a pack of TRDs and a pack of shroomz hooks fishing with me on the river. Said he had been slaying them in the pond. Before noon, he had lost all TRDs and all the jig headz. And he said he felt bad for me because i spent all morning trying to get his hooks back with the trolling motor and not fishing. Z man sure does sell a lot of packs of those worms that supposedly last forever

Tizi reply :

Academy H2O hardbaits are tough to beat, especially on sale. Keep your eye open for sales from Outlet Bait & Tackle - they sell War Eagle at times for great deals. I picked up 20 last year for $1.99 each. And as others have said, soft plastics are also pretty affordable.

Harold Scoggins reply :

Mike @Siebert Outdoors has the answer.

Fishingmickey reply :

On 11/21/2019 at 12:42 AM, TnRiver46 said:

My buddy brought a pack of TRDs and a pack of shroomz hooks fishing with me on the river. Said he had been slaying them in the pond. Before noon, he had lost all TRDs and all the jig headz. And he said he felt bad for me because i spent all morning trying to get his hooks back with the trolling motor and not fishing. Z man sure does sell a lot of packs of those worms that supposedly last forever

The Elaztec lasts forever but a snag is a snag and then it is gone.

AstroFishingTV reply :

A hook, weight, and worm. That should catch plenty of fish.

waymont reply :

Bitsy Flip jigs, with a small trailer of your choice will catch tons of fish. Try a Yum Wooley Bug at $2.99 per pack you can also use a TRD worm on this jig and clean up. Bitsy Flip jigs are $2.29 ea and have a great sharp hook.

On 11/21/2019 at 12:42 AM, TnRiver46 said:

My buddy brought a pack of TRDs and a pack of shroomz hooks fishing with me on the river. Said he had been slaying them in the pond. Before noon, he had lost all TRDs and all the jig headz. And he said he felt bad for me because i spent all morning trying to get his hooks back with the trolling motor and not fishing. Z man sure does sell a lot of packs of those worms that supposedly last forever

Sounds like he was using the wrong lure for the situation.

TnRiver46 reply :

On 11/21/2019 at 6:10 AM, waymont said:

Sounds like he was using the wrong lure for the situation.

Indeed! I tried to warn him

lo n slo reply :

On 11/21/2019 at 4:21 AM, AstroFishingTV said:

A hook, weight, and worm. That should catch plenty of fish.

boom

Fishes in trees reply :

As mentioned by a couple of previous posters, "cheap" is a relative term. "you get what you pay for? is true I bass fishing lures, just like most other situations. For spinnerbaits, I like Terminators & War Eagle brands.

WRB reply :

All lures that produce multiple bass the cost should be divided by the number of bass caught per lure. You buy a $10 lure and catch 10 bass, that is $1 per bass, catch 20 and it's 50 cents per bass.

Soft plastic worms are economical initailly but can add up to over $1 per bass. Hooks and weight are not free and you lose a lot of hooks and weight when bass fishing. The worms can be eccomonical depending on the brand and quantity per bag, average about 25 cents per worm that gets destroyed quickly but still the least expensive lures on the market.

Jigs on the other hand may be the most expensive per bass caught but the average size bass is usually larger then other lures. You lose jigs just like hooks and weights but more often.

Avoid cheap lures at all costs.

Tom

RB 77 reply :

Plastic worm. Initial start up cost is very affordable. They are proven fish catchers. You can often times catch multiple fish on the same worm before its too worn to use anymore. Can be rigged weedless to help prevent loss due to snags. Spinnerbait would be another good one. One can get several dozen catches before the bait becomes too bent to be serviceable or losing one to a snag.

AstroFishingTV reply :

On 11/21/2019 at 6:43 AM, lo n slo said:

boom

I think most people over complicate fishing. Sometimes fish bite at simplicity. But what do I know? I'm no pro

Ratherbfishing reply :

On 11/20/2019 at 9:58 PM, NYWayfarer said:

Rebel Craw is a cheap Bass lure that works.

Plastics are good cheap lures but you will go through them fast. A small crank like the Rebel Craw will catch fish until you lose it to a snag.

Years ago, I would have agreed but have you seen their prices LATELY? Even Rebel baits have gone up a bunch.

NYWayfarer reply :

On 11/22/2019 at 3:28 AM, Ratherbfishing said:

Years ago, I would have agreed but have you seen their prices LATELY? Even Rebel baits have gone up a bunch.

I get my Rebel Craws at Walmart for under $5

Ratherbfishing reply :

On 11/22/2019 at 3:38 AM, NYWayfarer said:

I get my Rebel Craws at Walmart for under $5

Proof that I'm getting old and not keeping up with the times. My schema doesn't allow anything over 3 bucks to be considered "cheap." : )

Bluegillslayer reply :

I agree but fishing can be expensive

Bankbeater reply :

Last year I picked up one of the egg crankbaits from BPS. I’m really surprised that I caught bass on it and it was only about 4 bucks.

the reel ess reply :

For a while my PB was caught on a BPS spinnerbait that cost a dollar. It was the old Uncle Buck store brand that was about 20 years old. When I got into spinnerbaits, I bought several different size and colors combinations. I still have a few. Then that PB was eclipsed by a soft plastic craw on a plain weedless Arky jighead. That's a pretty cheap lure. As already mentioned, the Zoom Trick Worm is a great bass-to-buck ratio. After the nose gets chewed up, you can cut off a little and re-rig it and catch one or two more. In fact, I believe it gets more bites when it's shorter.

As for hardbaits, you generally get what you pay for. But you don't have to spend $10 or more on, say, a walking bait or a popper. For instance, the Spook and Pop R still really get the job done. Academy house brand hardbaits can be a deal. I think they're made by different companies because some are better quality that others.

AstroFishingTV reply :

I would say fishing is the most expensive sport besides golf. There are ways to get around having to buy every bait.

Caliyak reply :

On 11/20/2019 at 11:43 AM, Bluegillslayer said:

I am vary new to the site and to catching bass that are not dinks I am new to bass fishing. Part of the reason why I have not caught bigger fish (my pb is a 3 ponder) is because I have almost only used ultralight or multi species lures like grubs and tiny trout/panfish crankbaits. I made a topic the other day titled "getting into bass fishing" and many people said to get stick baits and spinners because they are good for beginners I plan on buying some "stick-os" for the stickbait selection but what about spinner baits? I do not want to spend a lot of money on lures because I am only a kid, so if their are brands that are cheap like "Creme" or "Bigbite baits" lures that work good that would be great, by the way the bass in the pond I fish a lot are no more than 3 pounds. The water is vary dark in the deeper parts and clear and shallow in other parts of the pond, forage is bluegill their are also trout, the pond is not vary weedy and their is not a lot of structure any suggestions? thanks.

-Bluegillslayer

Dude, keep it simple. Go to Walmart and get your gear. When you are making money, you can upgrade to better gear. Many of us started with Kmart gear and we did fine with that gear. I will tell you to get specific gear that you know that works. For example, a jig, dinger or shim e stick, a spinner bait, brush hog and some crank baits. Walmart carries all these types of lures. Don't try to match what the pro have and do. Enjoy and learn.

Also, the @Glenn is from the Washington. He can probably give you the WA specific lures.

** Hey Glenn, I still remember your comment about "the" and I being from the California. LOL

Cam R reply :

The booyah pond magic spinnerbaits 1/8 oz and 3/18 oz both work well

berkley powerbait 3” paddletail swimbaits come in a 5 pack at walmart and are $2.96 (i think)

mister twister grubs are 5.49 for a 20 pack I use the 4” in white and catch plenty of SM LM and Pike with a 1/4 oz jig head

booyah pad crasher is a $5 frog, very good and affordable

primetime reply :

For $20-$30 at Walmart, you can set yourself up well. Pack of Eagle Claw Lazer worm hooks, few packs of plastics in a few different styles and colors...Then a couple $1 spinnerbaits,maybe a cordell super spot. I wouldn't buy GYB senkos, simply but the least expensive brand. Zoom Flukes are only $2.99 at walmart, I believe a pack of trick worms are $3, so if in doubt, grab green pumpkin for trick worm, watermelon red for a Fluke. also..Grab one of the Cordell Big O's usually in the bins for a $1 as a crankbait, same with the cordell super spot lipless crank which is often a buck when called "Bait Bonanza". Not sure what if any the differences are. Creme makes good baits, been around forever for a reason, those weighted swimbaits I think called the "Spoiler" or 5 packs of the berkley powerbait weighted swimbaits catch fish and are cheap.

Walmart carries Luck E Strike 6" Curly tail worms for .99 and a curly tail worm flat out catches fish, and they seem to like that strawberry scent they come with.

You can also find cordell and bomber jerkbaits for a Buck in the bait bonanza series and they will catch fish just fine. I would also grab a beetle spin for a buck. $1 spinnerbaits,buzzbaits etc. catch fish. Walmart just buys them from an OEM overseas so they are not necessarily "Cheap".

You don't need the most expensive brands to catch fish, a Rebel Popper will catch fish as well as any popper in my opinion. As mentioned, a Booyah Pad crusher is a fantastic frog for any price. Mirrolure lures and tackle are inexpensive price wise, but certainly not cheap by any means. Mirrolures makes quality lures and terminal tackle. Same as Cordell and Bomber, Rebel....

Walmart actually has a good selection of tackle and it all catches Bass just fine. For line you can just get some Trilene or stren mono.....

Festivus reply :

I'm surprised no one has mentioned Zoom flukes or super flukes. Get a pack of green pumpkin flukes or larger super flukes and either 3/0 to 4/0 EWG hooks. Can work them fast on the top for a top water bite or you can let them sink and jerk them in the middle or even towards the bottom of the water column.

Run2jeepn reply :

Get on Facebook market place and search for tackle Boxes. I have bought a few tackle boxes with tackle for $5-10 and full of gear.

I like this for a few reasons. I get a tackle box or Plano box. I get random tackle to try out. I also like getting dirt cheap crankbaits this way. I will throw one of these a few times in new spots I don't know well. Then break out one of my newer store bought cranks. That I have a few bucks invested in.

Glenn reply :

Are you fishing from shore or on a boat?

On 11/23/2019 at 2:08 AM, Caliyak said:

Hey Glenn, I still remember your comment about "the" and I being from the California. LOL

LOL! Yup, I remember that too!

Bluegillslayer reply :

mostly from shore

snake95 reply :

I think there are plenty of cheap lures that work well. Case in point: Cotton Cordell Spot and Super Spot. Very versatile lures for sure!

Raul reply :

On 11/20/2019 at 11:43 AM, Bluegillslayer said:

I am vary new to the site and to catching bass that are not dinks I am new to bass fishing. Part of the reason why I have not caught bigger fish (my pb is a 3 ponder) is because I have almost only used ultralight or multi species lures like grubs and tiny trout/panfish crankbaits. I made a topic the other day titled "getting into bass fishing" and many people said to get stick baits and spinners because they are good for beginners I plan on buying some "stick-os" for the stickbait selection but what about spinner baits? I do not want to spend a lot of money on lures because I am only a kid, so if their are brands that are cheap like "Creme" or "Bigbite baits" lures that work good that would be great, by the way the bass in the pond I fish a lot are no more than 3 pounds. The water is vary dark in the deeper parts and clear and shallow in other parts of the pond, forage is bluegill their are also trout, the pond is not vary weedy and their is not a lot of structure any suggestions? thanks.

-Bluegillslayer

I have something like 150 spinnerbaits in all sprts of weights, blade combination, skirt color, 99.7% of the time I fish spinnerbaits is with the same bait, 3/8 oz single Tennessee white skirt Strike King, so, to answer your question: how many spinnerbaits do you need ? 2 or 3.

Manly Studson reply :

Ike’s Micro Jigs by Missile Baits and Strike King’s Bitsy Bugs are inexpensive and versatile. Pair them with Kalin’s grubs or Z-Man TRD Crawz and you’re bound to catch fish.

soflabasser reply :

Rebel Pop R's are relatively cheap and you can catch dozens of bass on one of these lures.

schplurg reply :

Walmart.

You say you want to try some cheap lures, you can get Zoom Super Flukes for a few bucks a bag (anywhere) but you can get crankbaits that work for $2 each at Walmart.

I caught my PB (5.25 in my avatar) on a fluke and tons of LM including my second biggest with various Walmart/Ozark Trail hard baits. They are comparable to BPS cheap baits.

I haven't bent a hook or damaged one yet. I've lost many but that's my fault. At $2 a pop it's not a big deal.

One cool thing about cheap baits is I'm not afraid the throw them into snaggy areas. Not all of my baits are that cheap but I use these a lot.

BaitFinesse reply :

Yum solft plastics are affordable and work great. Easy to find at your local Walmart. Speaking of Walmart the Ozark Trail hard baits are not half bad. Not my cup of tea but they catch fish.

snake95 reply :

On 11/20/2019 at 11:43 AM, Bluegillslayer said:

I do not want to spend a lot of money on lures because I am only a kid

I think this is an issue for a lot of guys, and I remember what it was like when I was a kid saving up for lures. I still get down when I snag lures and have to break off.

I would say that learning to fish weedless plastics has been one of the biggest steps I've taken in recent years, and suggest you do that too. Packs of YUM, Zoom, and Big Bite Baits are often $3 or less, and I haven't found a bait from these companies that doesn't work great. Another great inexpensive lure for me has been the $1.50 packs of YUM grubs that they sell at Walmart. You need jigheads for them, and I often use the smallest Z man Ned Rig heads that they sell at Walmart for this. They are not really cheap at about $5 a pack, but if you pick up one of those and two packs of YUM grubs you have a bass catching machine for less than $10.

I think it is always a good idea to stick to the basic colors and popular baits: Zoom Trick Worms and Super Flukes and Lizards. Although I love to fish a $15 Whopper Plopper or more expensive topwater, honestly a weightless trick worm fished on a 2/0 or 3/0 light wire hook will work great as a topwater too.

Also keep in mind what guys say about the sales. If you can get to Walmart or DSG in late January, or February, you might find some great deals on lures you couldn't otherwise afford. Good luck!

Chief250 reply :

Hard to say a pack of TRDS and some Ned heads aren't the cheapest

TnRiver46 reply :

On 12/1/2019 at 10:31 AM, Chief250 said:

Hard to say a pack of TRDS and some Ned heads aren't the cheapest

I say it all the time! Those Ned heads are too rich for my blood. I use round ball heads that cost less and other worms that cost less

kayaking_kev reply :

I just started fishing 2 years ago, before that I never caught a bass and didn't know what one looked like. I started out with a $10 zebco 202 slingshot combo from walmart and some $1.47 Ozark Trail 1/5 oz minnows and caught a couple hundred river smallies with it, most the time just trolling it behind my kayak.

Towards the end of my first year I upgraded to a Ugly Stik GX2 and Black Max, and got my first Whopper Plopper, a size 90. I caught lots of river smallies on that lure that first year and I used the same thing a lot this past season and caught a bunch more with the same setup. I have since bought 6 more Whopper Ploppers, but I still have that first one. They may be a bit pricey, but you have to be a bit unlucky to lose one. I've only lost one after a big smallie jumped with it and broke me off only because I failed to check my knot after several catches.

This year besides the Whopper Plopper, I started fishing plastics, mainly 5" worms of a variety of brands and it was a game changer for me to be able to catch fish in ponds and reservoirs and not just on the river. But, I agree the price can start to add up with plastics, weights & hooks, that's why I usually just get the cheap stuff. Wal-Mart has the CREME brand worms for $1 sometimes and I think normally under $2, and they are really soft. I've caught 30+ fish once on the same worm using an o-ring.

I also had some success fishing those $1 spinnerbaits on the bottom shelf at Wal-Mart this past season. I had a couple of good KVD Finesse spinners, but didn't like throwing them from the bank, so I would use the cheap $1 ones and they seemed to work good.

The gear might not last as long or might not be as exciting to fish with when you're not catching them, but they will work.

stratoliner92 reply :

Texas Rig

Zoom Trick worm

Gamakatsu 4/0 ewg hook(rig it texpose in plastic)

3/16 oz bullet weight

Cost effective, catches fish ????

J Francho reply :

I've said this before, I have a $25 Popmax that has caught more fish than ANY OTHER BAITS, COMBINED. That one topwater owes me nothing. Buy good, proven baits. Plastics can get pricey, quick. It's why I used mostly hard baits when I was young. One $5 crank could catch me 100 fish. A $5 bag of plastics might catch 5-10 fish and last me a couple hours.

Hewhospeaksmuchbull reply :

6 month ago I bought several lots of jerkbaits on Amazon, something like 20.00 for 12 baits. Currently slaying smallies with them.

Did the same with a lot of crankbaits and jigs, same result.

Hooks and split rings sucked, still saved a bundle after upgrades.

I did however get burned on my first jointed swimbait (didn't swim) of course Amazon accepted return.

Jermination reply :

On 1/7/2020 at 4:19 AM, Hewhospeaksmuchbull said:

6 month ago I bought several lots of jerkbaits on Amazon, something like 20.00 for 12 baits. Currently slaying smallies with them.

Did the same with a lot of crankbaits and jigs, same result.

Hooks and split rings sucked, still saved a bundle after upgrades.

I did however get burned on my first jointed swimbait (didn't swim) of course Amazon accepted return.

ive had these in my cart on amazon several times just have not rolled the dice yet. how heavy are the jerkbaits?

Hewhospeaksmuchbull reply :

On 1/7/2020 at 5:33 AM, Jermination said:

ive had these in my cart on amazon several times just have not rolled the dice yet. how heavy are the jerkbaits?

Jermination: Sougayilang minnows weigh in at .49oz and wLure Minnow (divers) .51oz. Terrible hooks and rings and some funky colors however they are catching fish.

Munkin reply :

On 1/7/2020 at 2:46 AM, J Francho said:

I've said this before, I have a $25 Popmax that has caught more fish than ANY OTHER BAITS, COMBINED. That one topwater owes me nothing. Buy good, proven baits. Plastics can get pricey, quick. It's why I used mostly hard baits when I was young. One $5 crank could catch me 100 fish. A $5 bag of plastics might catch 5-10 fish and last me a couple hours.

I have a LC pointer that cost $18 which is on like its 11th set of hooks. This thing has 100's of fish to its name.

Allen

A-Jay reply :

Best $10 bucks I've spent in a long time . . .

A-Jay

Sweet Tater Pie reply :

On 1/7/2020 at 2:46 AM, J Francho said:

One $5 crank could catch me 100 fish. A $5 bag of plastics might catch 5-10 fish and last me a couple hours.

^^^^ Very true

soflabasser reply :

Zoom makes lots of soft plastic lures that are cheap and very good such as the Zoom horny toad, Zoom super fluke, and others.

swhit140 reply :

The free Strike King crankbait that someone lost.????

Catt reply :

On 11/20/2019 at 11:43 AM, Bluegillslayer said:

I am vary new to the site and to catching bass that are not dinks I am new to bass fishing. Part of the reason why I have not caught bigger fish (my pb is a 3 ponder) is because I have almost only used ultralight or multi species lures like grubs and tiny trout/panfish crankbaits

Ya catching "dinks" cause ya fishing where dinks live!

Maxximus Redneckus reply :

Cheap made lures work ...cheap lures work my idea of cheap is a 1 six inch manns jelly worm about 20 cents 1 owner 3/0 worm hook about 60 cents and a 1/4 bullet weight about 10 cents ...with 90 cents i caught my personal best in maryland in 1985 at 10 lbs 4 oz .....cant get any cheaper IMO spending over 10 bucks for a swimbait like a rapala j 14 is all about...hey look at me i paid 200$ for a bait that will catch the same size bass as you ....its just for prestige

Hook2Jaw reply :

Combining BOSS components to make jigs, spinnerbaits, and buzz baits puts a quality lure on the end of your line for around 2.50ea.

the reel ess reply :

On 12/1/2019 at 11:48 PM, TnRiver46 said:

I say it all the time! Those Ned heads are too rich for my blood. I use round ball heads that cost less and other worms that cost less

Elaztec stuff will melt together on a hot day, even if it's in a tackle bag and out of direct sunlight. It's good stuff, but I've had to throw out a couple bags of it, which makes it less cost effective.

I bought some plain 1/4 oz. weedless Arky jigheads a while back and used them with a plain soft plastic craw or a Hula Grub. That's a cheap bait right there. I haven't lost a single jighead yet and caught a PB at one time on this rig. Granted, you can go through GYCB baits quickly, but you can use a Rage Craw or any other plastic craw. I guess you're not limited to craws either.

galyonj reply :

On 1/8/2020 at 7:58 PM, Catt said:

Ya catching "dinks" cause ya fishing where dinks live!

Truth.

J Francho reply :

On 1/8/2020 at 8:21 PM, Maxximus Redneckus said:

Cheap made lures work ...cheap lures work my idea of cheap is a 1 six inch manns jelly worm about 20 cents 1 owner 3/0 worm hook about 60 cents and a 1/4 bullet weight about 10 cents ...with 90 cents i caught my personal best in maryland in 1985 at 10 lbs 4 oz .....cant get any cheaper IMO spending over 10 bucks for a swimbait like a rapala j 14 is all about...hey look at me i paid 200$ for a bait that will catch the same size bass as you ....its just for prestige

Devil's advocate here, how many $.90 rigs did it take to get you your PB?

Don't get me wrong, my personal best is from a T-rig worm as well. I bet I spent well over $200 in worms to get it, though.

TnRiver46 reply :

On 1/8/2020 at 10:25 PM, J Francho said:

Devil's advocate here, how many $.90 rigs did it take to get you your PB?

Don't get me wrong, my personal best is from a 10" T-rig worm as well. I bet I spent well over $200 in worms to get it, though.

I lose treble baits way more often than worms . If they made a weedless vision 110 I would probably buy one

galyonj reply :

On 1/8/2020 at 10:27 PM, TnRiver46 said:

I lose treble baits way more often than worms . If they made a weedless vision 110 I would probably buy one

Fish are just super inconsiderate. They should stop living in places that eat lures.

J Francho reply :

On 1/8/2020 at 10:27 PM, TnRiver46 said:

If they made a weedless vision 110 I would probably buy one

They do, it's called a Super Fluke.

TnRiver46 reply :

On 1/9/2020 at 12:46 AM, J Francho said:

They do, it's called a Super Fluke.

As such, I have lots of those and zero megabass haha

FryDog62 reply :

A split shot rig - EWG Hook and pea-sized split shot + whatever plastic is on sale. Two years ago I got a bag of $2.99 Yum Crawbugs and threw them on a split shot rig in some drainage ponds/ditches in Florida while on vacation and must have caught 100 fish on half a bag of craws...

J Francho reply :

On 1/9/2020 at 1:55 AM, FryDog62 said:

A split shot rig - EWG Hook and pea-sized split shot + whatever plastic is on sale. Two years ago I got a bag of $2.99 Yum Crawbugs and threw them on a split shot rig in some drainage ponds/ditches in Florida while on vacation and must have caught 100 fish on half a bag of craws...

There's 8 in a bag. Are you saying you got 25 fish per bait? I use these pretty heavily as well, but I don't that kind of life out of them.

Hook2Jaw reply :

On 1/9/2020 at 3:27 AM, J Francho said:

There's 8 in a bag. Are you saying you got 25 fish per bait? I use these pretty heavily as well, but I don't that kind of life out of them.

I can't catch crap on these things. Are you drop shotting them?

J Francho reply :

There's a multitude of rigs that work: on an open football jig, stand up jig, DS, split shot rig, but the rig I use the most is with a nail weight in the tail, on a wacky rig hook, similar to how you'd hook a live craw, through the tail.

FryDog62 reply :

On 1/9/2020 at 3:27 AM, J Francho said:

There's 8 in a bag. Are you saying you got 25 fish per bait? I use these pretty heavily as well, but I don't that kind of life out of them.

I used 4-5 in the bag... granted these were 1-2 lb largemouth but yeah they caught a lot!

I just checked, my bad they are TRD crawZ not crawbugs!

Maxximus Redneckus reply :

On 1/8/2020 at 10:25 PM, J Francho said:

Devil's advocate here, how many $.90 rigs did it take to get you your PB?

Don't get me wrong, my personal best is from a T-rig worm as well. I bet I spent well over $200 in worms to get it, though.

Ahhh you have a point ....from that perspective i spent prob 4 or 5 yrs doin that with the same setup of course not the same setup ...plenty of 5 lbers 7 lbers etc etc then the 10 4 ....

J Francho reply :

On 1/9/2020 at 8:21 PM, Maxximus Redneckus said:

plenty of 5 lbers 7 lbers etc etc then the 10 4

Similar experience, but it took longer. Probably 20 years of throwing baits, with plenty of 5# class fish. Then, boom! A 7-2, from an unlikely body of water, in an unlikely location, on an unlikely cast and retrieve.

Catt reply :

Hunting or fishing is not really cost effective ????

J Francho reply :

On 1/9/2020 at 9:56 PM, Catt said:

Hunting or fishing is not really cost effective ????

I think it can be. It has to be, especially for young 'uns to get into it. Not all kids have parents or grandparents like us that will gladly supply them with what they need to experience the catch.

Rpratt reply :

Anyway you slice it, eventually the Bait Monkey comes for you and it's game over ????

Boomstick reply :

As far as lures that you mentioned, the Big Bite Baits senko knock offs are great and I picked up a ton of them at Dick's Sporting Goods for $1 or $2 a pack, as are the Creme lures pre-rigged swimbaits (use the 3" for bass). Yum Dingers are also a decent cheaper senko alternative that are sold at any Walmart.

But I wouldn't worry too much about cheap as I would on buying quality lures that work. You don't have to go out and buy the LiveTarget frogs that I love, but at least pick up a Booyah Pad Crasher over the cheapest alternative as they are cheaper and hold up well and catch 90% as many fish. Buy Strike King, Booyah or War Eagle spinnerbaits instead of the River2Sea and Terminator T1 spinnerbaits (which I happen to like). Over time if you don't snag too many, you'll have a collection of usable lures that work.

On 1/11/2020 at 3:42 AM, Rpratt said:

Anyway you slice it, eventually the Bait Monkey comes for you and it's game over ????

The bait monkey always wins --- always.

schplurg reply :

On 1/8/2020 at 10:25 PM, J Francho said:

Devil's advocate here, how many $.90 rigs did it take to get you your PB?

Don't get me wrong, my personal best is from a T-rig worm as well. I bet I spent well over $200 in worms to get it, though.

I caught the PB in my current avatar on a Super Fluke. My second biggest on a $2 Walmart crank 3 weeks later. Caught em both from the same spot on shore about 4 months after I started serious bass fishing last year.

They're only 5 pounders but there isn't anything much bigger around here. I only had one rod at the time too, so I hadn't spent much.

I'm upgrading my rods and reels as I go but I don't spend a lot on baits. Yet. And my most expensive reels are Presidents, so I'm still cheap.

I'm starting to put together my own jigs too. Last summer was all about crank baits. This year I'm going to try jigs and jerks more.

Saving money so I can get a boat!!!!

Plottman1974 reply :

You can catch bass on a budget...

Pflüeger Trion medium spinning combo if you need to upgrade to something a little more hefty.

Scumfrogs...the regular ones will catch as many or more than $10 frogs and they cost around $3 at Walmart and nothing is more exciting than topwater frog fishing. The frogs are also light and ok for spinning rod/reel application compared to heavier frogs.

A good pack of EWG hooks along with Yum Dingers and white pearl Zoom Flukes will catch anything in the lake/pond

H2O lures from academy are good and inexpensive. they run sales often

My most productive crankbait in the last 5 years has been a cheapo bass pro version of a bait that dives no more than 1 foot...I don't know the name of it but it is an awesome lure for around $3. It isn't the one called "the egg" but the regular one...

bomber cranks are good and inexpensive...the 1.5 bomber crank is a bass catcher

Jitterbug for topwater is fun, cheap and catch fish

H and H spinnerbaits...around $2 at academy. I caught a nice one today on an H and H.

MN Fisher reply :

On 1/13/2020 at 6:37 AM, Plottman1974 said:

Pflüeger Trion medium spinning combo if you need to upgrade to something a little more hefty.

Currently, I have two Trion setups. One is a Trion-30 on a Dobyns FR702SF - this is my general finesse rig. The other is a Trion-35 on a M/F Aird-X. Last year, the 30 was on the Aird and used for small cranks/jerks, light t-rigs, wacky and light jigs. I've been thoroughly impressed with my Trion, which is why I bought another...darn good reel for the money.

Boomstick reply :

On 1/13/2020 at 6:37 AM, Plottman1974 said:

Pflüeger Trion medium spinning combo if you need to upgrade to something a little more hefty.

I have a medium President combo, it's actually not half bad for the $50 or so I spent on it!

NYWayfarer reply :

On 11/28/2019 at 12:10 PM, BaitFinesse said:

Yum solft plastics are affordable and work great. Easy to find at your local Walmart. Speaking of Walmart the Ozark Trail hard baits are not half bad. Not my cup of tea but they catch fish.

I picked up the Ozark Trail 5 lure kit. 1 twitching minnow, 2 square bill crankbaits, 1 lipless crankbait, 1 popper. Best part is they come equipped with eagle claw treble hooks. Not the best but better than some mystery hook.

BaitFinesse reply :

On 1/13/2020 at 8:53 AM, NYWayfarer said:

I picked up the Ozark Trail 5 lure kit. 1 twitching minnow, 2 square bill crankbaits, 1 lipless crankbait, 1 popper. Best part is they come equipped with eagle claw treble hooks. Not the best but better than some mystery hook.

That popper isn't half bad. It almost wants to try and walk.

ike8120 reply :

Don't know if mentioned H20 Express Lures.

the reel ess reply :

On 1/9/2020 at 9:24 PM, J Francho said:

Similar experience, but it took longer. Probably 20 years of throwing baits, with plenty of 5# class fish. Then, boom! A 7-2, from an unlikely body of water, in an unlikely location, on an unlikely cast and retrieve.

LOL. My last 2 PBs bit the bait as soon as it hit the water. One was a War Eagle spinnerbait and the other was a Whopper Plopper 110. They probably would have bitten almost any lure in the tackle box.

On 1/13/2020 at 7:02 AM, MN Fisher said:

Currently, I have two Trion setups. One is a Trion-30 on a Dobyns FR702SF - this is my general finesse rig. The other is a Trion-35 on a M/F Aird-X. Last year, the 30 was on the Aird and used for small cranks/jerks, light t-rigs, wacky and light jigs. I've been thoroughly impressed with my Trion, which is why I bought another...darn good reel for the money.

I bought one in a larger size and was impressed, but it's heavy. Then I saw a brand new 20 size in a pawn shop still in the blister package for $20. It feels perfect. I put it on my finesse combo.

MN Fisher reply :

On 1/13/2020 at 9:03 PM, the reel ess said:

I bought one in a larger size and was impressed, but it's heavy. Then I saw a brand new 20 size in a pawn shop still in the blister package for $20. It feels perfect. I put it on my finesse combo.

I got a President 25 as a gift from someone here last year - that's on my UL rig that I use for Neds. The 35 I just picked up from FFO (Pure Fishing's Factory Outlet) for $19.

Plottman1974 reply :

On 1/13/2020 at 8:51 AM, Boomstick said:

I have a medium President combo, it's actually not half bad for the $50 or so I spent on it!

I used one for years and it was great...Unfortunately I shut it up in a car door a year or two ago and broke the rod

Sweet Tater Pie reply :

On 1/14/2020 at 6:43 AM, Plottman1974 said:

I used one for years and it was great...Unfortunately I shut it up in a car door a year or two ago and broke the rod

I did that a few years back with my first bait caster but in the car window.

Don’t ask me how that happened...

5974

CHEAP BASS LURES THAT WORK 2024

Jermination: Sougayilang minnows weigh in at .49oz and wLure Minnow (divers) .51oz. Terrible hooks and rings and some funky colors however they are catching fish.

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