Lure Prices Getting Silly 2024
doyle8218 reply :
You think prices are getting crazy?
Jerry Rago's Walking Rat - $64.99
Jerry Rago Glideator - $94.99 to $124.99
BenBassmaster reply :
If I bought one of those baits, I would be afraid I'd lose it. They are getting pretty crazy if you ask me.
gobig reply :
I have baits that cost more than what is pictured. The real question should be... Is it the cost of the lure that's more or the purchasing power of your dollar that's less? Inflation is the greatest tax there is.
*Hootie reply :
That is NUTS!!!!!!
Hootie
Felix77 reply :
I think that is obscene to spend on a lure. Even if I had all the money in the world I wouldn't go there. TO each their own but I could think of a ton of things I can buy with that money. Like a ton of other baits which i'm sure would catch just as good if not better than those.
doyle8218 reply :
On 1/26/2014 at 6:09 AM, Felix77 said:I think that is obscene to spend on a lure. Even if I had all the money in the world I wouldn't go there. TO each their own but I could think of a ton of things I can buy with that money. Like a ton of other baits which i'm sure would catch just as good if not better than those.
That is my point !!!!!!
CTGalloway21 reply :
crap. look up roman made swimbaits. $400+ each. I use bullshad swimbaits and they run about $60 each but they work. Use proper line and you will not lose it. Also, you guys wouldn't make good musky fisherman. Each musky lure is $20+
roadwarrior reply :
Hmm...
Just a matter of priorities I think. Although I don't own any $100 lures, I know lots
of guys who spend thousands of dollars for "add-ons" on their $40,000 pickups and
$50,000 boats.
Dyerbassman reply :
Many, many bass lures are designed to catch the fisherman, not the fish. Keep buying expensive lures, and I guarantee they will keep making them. Which is why I won't. And I still catch plenty. The bass have no idea what I spent.
MarkH024 reply :
Simple. Don't buy it if it's not for you. High end baits have the audience to keep them going across multiple species of fish. Dont get serious about musky fishing if you're afraid to spend coin on big baits.
doyle8218 reply :
On 1/26/2014 at 6:48 AM, MarkH024 said:Simple. Don't buy it if it's not for you. High end baits have the audience to keep them going across multiple species of fish. Dont get serious about musky fishing if you're afraid to spend coin on big baits.
It's not about being afraid - it's about not having to.
MarkH024 reply :
That's why there are lots of choices in tackle. Something for everyone. Clearly high end baits aren't your thing. So why make a post about it? Just because its crazy to you to spend the money?
Most high end baits are collectors pieces for guys. It's not because they can/cant catch more fish or trophy fish.
Jrob78 reply :
On 1/26/2014 at 7:08 AM, doyle8218 said:It's not about being afraid - it's about not having to.
If you want an 11" glide bait or a 6" rat bait, your going to have to pay up for one. Most of these baits are hand made and hand painted in small batches. Baits like that cost a lot of money. I don't know about the Rago baits specifically but you can't compare a big swimbait to your average crankbait.
doyle8218 reply :
Sorry to upset people I thought I could post a topic - it seems a few agree
MarkH024 reply :
No one is upset but you clearly don't know what goes into making the high end lures. You really had no point to the post other than to point out the price tags. Those are mid range prices for higher end lures anyway.
Like jrob pointed out, the craftsmanship, paint, and components are what keep the prices high and well in demand.
Youre right, it's not for everyone and many do agree. There are many that understand it and want them in their collections.
Comfortably Numb reply :
I find the high end tackle more amazing. There are such well made rods and reels for reasonable prices that there is no way a $400 rod or reel is that much better or wont get the job done any better. Its a status thing if you asked me.
Jrob78 reply :
Nobody is forcing anyone to buy expensive gear. Fish what makes you happy and keep your thoughts on what other people use to yourself.
plumworm reply :
ole Jrob, I thought the reason we came on these threads was to express our opinions and point of view. Must be wrong.
Sam reply :
If I have to pay that much for a lure I would want it to have its own sonar so it could find the fish, go up to it and snag it with its claws and bring it back to the boat without me doing anything but casting it out.
Otherwise, the standard baits we use today will suffice.
Jaiden reply :
Welcome to the world of swimbaiting lol. There are baits that cost far more than those. To justify the prices, there aren't really any cheaper alternatives around.
Jrob78 reply :
On 1/26/2014 at 7:58 AM, plumworm said:ole Jrob, I thought the reason we came on these threads was to express our opinions and point of view. Must be wrong.
You are absolutely right. My post reads a lot worse than it sounded in my head, my apologies to the board. 
However, the baits the OP listed aren't really that expensive for baits in those categories. To call the prices "silly" isn't very accurate.
People should fish whatever gear they can afford and whatever makes them happy. That's what it's all about anyway, right?
flyfisher reply :
I haven't spent that much on a lure but that is mainly because i don't throw swim baits.....yet lol
I can also relate to the amount or craftsmanship and skill that it takes to make these baits so the price is reasonable.
Darren. reply :
The tone of the question is not a big deal. I, too, find the prices absurd. But I am not the target market.
I also find the price of a Lamborghini absurd, but there's a market for them, and I am most undoubtedly NOT in that market.
Fantastic car, fantastic engineering, fantastic looks. Same with some of the high-end lures. Somebody will buy them, otherwise there'd be no market.
Hi Salenity reply :
My weakness is $25 110s and yes I loose one every now and then. However I have more money invested in stuff I'll never use then I do in the 110s I'm not afraid to use
That said I think the price of swimbaits is CRAZY!!!
CPBassFishing reply :
Just a thought- hard swimbaits will last over 100 fish if used properly. That's a better bang for your buck than senko fishing.
davi754 reply :
I like the original swim bait.....they cost about $2.99 a dozen for small's
If had all the money in the world, I can't say I wouldn't have one or two high end baits in my box. But I would also have jigs and floats from Walmart in there too.
Let's face it, MOST of us (not all) would own a $50,000 skeeter or ranger boat if we had the money laying around.
( I would ). But I do agree that the dollar is worthless anymore. Penny candy is now dollar candy
My 2cents
flyfisher reply :
If everyone saying the dollar is worthless or it is inflation on here really believed that then their box would be full of these baits
VolFan reply :
Those two baits are really moderately priced for big swimbaits. Swim baiting is more like trophy hunting than it is like tourney fishing. The normal box I take with me will have five baits max in it, and I guarantee that all of my fishing partners have boxes of "normal" lures worth more than my box. When you look at it from that optic, it makes a lot more sense.
gobig reply :
On 1/26/2014 at 9:57 AM, flyfisher said:If everyone saying the dollar is worthless or it is inflation on here really believed that then their box would be full of these baits
I don't have a box, I have boxes that are full but not for inflationary reasons. It would probably be frowned upon if I got into a economics lesson and explained how money is currently created on a bass forum.
Dwight Hottle reply :
I have been listening to guys complain about $15.00 lucky craft baits for at least 5-10 years. It is all relative to your interest & desire to improve your fishing sucess. I could care less about what you spend on your hobby as long as you can afford your expenditure. Custom baits cost custom prices. It is all market driven. Does anyone really care when a rich guy fires up his Lamborghini to go on a ride. If he can afford it who cares. There are a lot worse vices than spending money on your favorite hobby.
basshole8190 reply :
I have paid more for baits than the two listed most of those purchases have paid dividends in bigger bass plus i like to collect them.
Maxximus Redneckus reply :
Do yall really think ppl throw 100$ lures . Wall hangers.all i can picture is yuppies with 80,000 bassboats ,1000$ combos 50,000 trucks and line/knots made cheap and tied poor lol
aquaholic reply :
hell i think senkos are expensive. I would be devastated if i lost a $100 bait. Most of us could own them, but i know id fish it too carefully. I want something i can run through timber and not be worried.
Comfortably Numb reply :
Sometimes less expensive baits catch more fish than more expensive ones. Reason is you are not afraid to throw the cheaper one into brushpiles and other places the fish hang out.
Bluebasser86 reply :
I'm one of those guys that owns some of those baits that cost as much as a lower end baitcaster. Why? because I enjoy fishing them, I appreciate the craftsmanship that went into those baits. Maybe it's because I've built baits myself, I understand the blood and sweat that goes into making even what may seem like the simplest thing. Am I scared to lose them? sure, I'm more scared of losing my favorite crankbait they no longer make though, even though it only cost me 5 or 6 dollars. How much is a bag of Senkos now? 7 something dollars for a bag of 10? That's 10 fish per bag of baits, maybe 15 on a good day. How hard is it to go through a 10 pack of senkos in a day of fishing? I've gone through multiple bags in a day, probably $25-$30 worth a day. So in 4 trips I'm looking at having spent $100 on Senkos that I can maybe, MAYBE, catch 2 fish apiece on. You go into that knowing without a doubt that you will lose those Senkos, and we think nothing of it. Now if I don't do anything foolish with it and I retie when I need to, my swimbaits will last me years and years and potentially catch hundreds of fish and I may never lose it.
You wanna know something really silly? Spending tens of thousands of dollars and countless hours to chase a little green or brown fish around that you aren't going to do anything but put back in the water after you catch it. It's all about perspective
Montanaro reply :
The only problem I have is when people think they are better fisherman or even a better person than others because they can afford a 300$+ lure.
Jolly Green reply :
On 1/26/2014 at 2:16 PM, Bluebasser86 said:
You wanna know something really silly? Spending tens of thousands of dollars and countless hours to chase a little green or brown fish around that you aren't going to do anything but put back in the water after you catch it. It's all about perspective
Exactly.
Every so often a similar discussion about hammers comes up among my coworkers, and to me it comes down to value, not the monetary value of the tool itself, but how that tool measures up to the personal values of the person swinging it. I (and a lot of other guys) use a very common Estwing framing hammer that does what I need it to do and is built to last. Some guys use a Dead-On framing hammer because it does what a hammer is supposed to do, is built to last, and has a cool-looking skull and crossbones on it. $25 for either of them, and they line up just fine with the values of their users.
Where it starts to crack me up is when some of these guys get all worked up into a lather of disbelief at the few guys who use $200+ Stiletto titanium hammers.
"$200 for a hammer!? Who can afford that!?" Probably anyone who uses a hammer every day could save for one easily. What do you spend on non-essential beverages, cigarettes, etc. in a month?
"$200 for a hammer!? What if you lose it!?" Really? Just likes yours, it's in his hand or his loop. How is he going to lose it? Don't confuse the carelessness YOU perceive in his use of money with some oh-well attitude on his part about where his hammer is.
"$200 for a hammer!? That's crazy! Nobody needs a $200 hammer!" Well, maybe not. But in addition to performing the basic functions of a hammer, it has features that satisfy the values of enough of the hammer-using public that they keep making them. Some people really value the lighter weight, some people value the reduced shock/vibration, some people really value knowing that they are using a top of the line tool. And yes, some people value that they have a hammer that costs more than yours. Who gives a floating rat bait's behind?
GoneFishi'n reply :
That is pretty funny because I have $100+ baits in my box that have never even seen a wall haha. As soon as I get them they hit the water. At least I'm posting up pictures if big bass on these baits. I'd love to see pictures of your big bass.On 1/26/2014 at 12:46 PM, Maxximus Redneckus said:Do yall really think ppl throw 100$ lures . Wall hangers.all i can picture is yuppies with 80,000 bassboats ,1000$ combos 50,000 trucks and line/knots made cheap and tied poor lol
Maico1 reply :
On 1/26/2014 at 5:51 AM, doyle8218 said:You think prices are getting crazy?
Jerry Rago's Walking Rat - $64.99
JRWR-BK-1.jpg
Jerry Rago Glideator - $94.99 to $124.99
JRWR-BK-1.jpgWelcome to the world of SwimBaiting, these lures are not going to be tied onto your everyday setup. You will need to invest in a heavier rod , a higher line capacity reel and at least some 25lb. line. These baits are very realistic,weight more and are geared to catch larger fish which means your catch rate will diminish greatly ie: casts to strike ratio. It is a technique that relates to a Trophy Hunter looking for that 21 pointer only we are looking for that 10 plus pound LMB.It can make for a long tiresome day throwing these big baits with only a few bumps at the bait which translates to this technique is not going to be for everyone. I for one can attest to how realistic these baits are because I have to watch out for the Loons chasing them right up to my boat. I hope this helps you see a different point of view and how it can be addicting for those looking for that Trophy Bass.....Here are a couple of vids of Butch Brown who shall we say loves his Swimbait Fishing.......http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=DE-u95hF2Xg
Maico1 reply :
One more......http://video.search.yahoo.com/video/play?p=Butch+Brown+YouTube+videos&vid=45b34fa9a09292b480b791758726f136&l=2%3A56&turl=http%3A%2F%2Fts4.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DV.4903629821378683%26pid%3D15.1&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DXwWblafrE_w&***=Butch+Brown+65%2Blb+limit+with+an+18.5+lb.+KICKER%21&c=1&sigr=11anl0aon&sigt=11gvkum1d&ct=p&age=0&&tt=b
*Hootie reply :
Could you see us all in a room together discussing this. We would have to wear boxing headgear and cups...lol.
Hootie
FishinDaddy reply :
I buy strike king and bomber cranks by the box because they are cheap and I know I'm throwing them in the heavies crap around. Several lost a weekend is not uncommon.
If I fished big swim bait waters I would probably have $100 swim baits too.
I also complain about the price of soft plastics and how many I go through in a day.
Fishing is an expensive hobby. The great thing is that everyone has their own way of spending the absurd amount of money we all spend.
Maxximus Redneckus reply :
ill post 2 of my biggest in maryland 1985 1986 9.4 and 10.4 both on a manns plastic worm about 15 cents each back thenOn 1/26/2014 at 11:29 PM, GoneFishi said:That is pretty funny because I have $100+ baits in my box that have never even seen a wall haha. As soon as I get them they hit the water. At least I'm posting up pictures if big bass on these baits. I'd love to see pictures of your big bass.
Nice_Bass reply :
actually inflation, cpi, etc all very low right now and are not causing any monetary Fed moves. Ever changing, but not driving policy at this time in the slightest.On 1/26/2014 at 10:41 AM, gobig said:I don't have a box, I have boxes that are full but not for inflationary reasons. It would probably be frowned upon if I got into a economics lesson and explained how money is currently created on a bass forum.
Nice_Bass reply :
Also, I throw all kinds of baits in different price ranges, and while the returns on some may not equate that does not mean a poor investment if the end user is satisfied.
I have more of an issue at the lack of return on reels over 300...but I don't fault those that swear by them.
spartyon8 reply :
It is extremely crazy as to how high these prices continue to climb. I have a personal rule about never paying retail for anything. With that being said, check out DSG right now. They are clearancing about 60% of their fishing supply including Lucky Craft and a few other "higher priced" lures.
Mattlures reply :
The guys who use those expensive swimbaits are hunting big bass. My biggest bass before I started using swimbaits was 8lbs 10 oz. On a plastic worm. I caught hundreds of bass over 5 lbs and had lost a couple bigger then the 8.10. After I started using swimbaits I started catching bigger bass. I now hove probably caught 300 over 7lbs and probably 40 over 10lbs with my biggest at 17lbs 2oz cought on a swimbait all on highly pressured public lakes. The guys who know what they are doing, who fish these expensive swimbaits know they are worth every penny when they consistently catch bigger bass then they have ever caught before. You can argue that you once caught a big bass on a crank or spinner bait etc. My argument is that the seasoned swimbaits catch big bass consistently. If a tool (expensive bait) produces bigger bass consistently then its worth a lot more then an ordinary bait that catches ordinary bass. Sometimes big bass prefer cheaper baits like big worms or jigs. I will throw them when I think I should. But other times I think they want a swimbait so I will throw them. Different tools for different situations. comparing a $5 crank bait to a $100 swimbait is like comparing a screw driver to a hammer.
ncbassfisher1496 reply :
On 1/27/2014 at 10:24 AM, spartyon8 said:It is extremely crazy as to how high these prices continue to climb. I have a personal rule about never paying retail for anything. With that being said, check out DSG right now. They are clearancing about 60% of their fishing supply including Lucky Craft and a few other "higher priced" lures.
Did they have rods and reels on clearance too?
spartyon8 reply :
Very small selection, but tons of baits!
mjseverson24 reply :
Personally I dont own any of the very expensive swim-baits or glide-baits, mainly because I live in mn and these baits would most likely have a very low probability for success. That being said if i did live or fish in areas with fish over 10 lb are a real possibility on any given day I would have some of these big baits in the box, honestly though for 100 dollars a bait I would probably just make my own custom lures in the off season, then beam with pride the first double digit fish I catch with my own custom swimbait. thats just me though.
Mitch
RoLo reply :
On 1/26/2014 at 6:30 AM, roadwarrior said:Hmm...
Just a matter of priorities I think. Although I don't own any $100 lures, I know lots
of guys who spend thousands of dollars for "add-ons" on their $40,000 pickups and $50,000 boats.
I'll bet Fishing Rhino remembers the Green Machine used for bluewater trolling. As far back as the 1970s, a daisy chain of plastic squids
ran about 60 bucks. Nonetheless, if you own a $60K boat & $600 custom-made trolling rods...a $60 daisy chain isn't going to stop the show.
Roger
SPEEDBEAD. reply :
I'm not rich. LOL
My family is warm, happy and well fed. If I have a few bucks left over to buy something of value, so be it. As long as I'm not throwing the price in your face or saying you are less of a person because you choose not to purchase those things, then what does it really matter?
I appreciate the time and effort that swimbait makers put into their product. In my eyes, they are dedicating their effort to help me catch bigger fish. Are they making a buck? Sure, you would want to make some money in that situation too. Don't get it twisted though. Break it down into hourly rate, taking into consideration all the R&D, carving, pouring, fine tuning and you'll see that it's probably comparable to what you make hourly or more likely less.
The guys who REALLY know what they are doing (perfect example is the guy a couple posts above me) can honestly command a higher price than they are currently charging. Have you ever seen the second-hand swimbait market, affectionately known to most of us as the Black Market? I'll agree that it's ridiculous what some people will pay for a hard to get bait. If manufacturers based their pricing on what people would really pay for a bait, THEN you'd see some craziness.
Fish what you want and what makes you happy.
Hyrule Bass reply :
frankly, as long as people buy them, the companies making the high priced baits will continue to sell them, and continue to raise prices.
J Francho reply :
On 1/28/2014 at 2:52 AM, Red Earth said:frankly, as long as people buy them, the
companiesguys trying to put food on the table making the high priced baits will continue to sell them, and continue to raise prices.
I think guys forget that most of these high end baits are made by self employed, skilled craftsmen, not some faceless, massive corporation.
Maico1 reply :
On 1/28/2014 at 3:02 AM, J Francho said:I think guys forget that most of these high end baits are made by self employed, skilled craftsmen, not some faceless, massive corporation.
You are asking a lot from people to actually understand that, we are talking price.......not to mention these guys will bend over backwards to service you and stand behind their products.
RoLo reply :
On 1/28/2014 at 2:52 AM, Red Earth said:frankly, as long as people buy them, the companies making the high priced baits will continue to sell them, and continue to raise prices.
Price is controlled by supply & demand, it doesn't rise in a vacuum.
When the quality or effectiveness doesn't justify the cost, the price will move down, not up.
Roger
J Francho reply :
Really, supply and demand? No consideration for R&D, materials cost, and labor? I think it's a little more complicated than simple supply and demand. They are handcrafted baits not commodities. Some of he best baits out there are the result of thousands of hours of trial and error. Often times when you buy one of these baits it's really just a snapshot in the evolution of bait maker's process.
RoLo reply :
On 1/28/2014 at 4:01 AM, J Francho said:Really, supply and demand? No consideration for R&D, materials cost, and labor? I think it's a little more complicated than simple supply and demand. They are handcrafted baits not commodities. Some of he best baits out there are the result of thousands of hours of trial and error. Often times when you buy one of these baits it's really just a snapshot in the evolution of bait maker's process.
The variables you mention and a great many more are already factored into the price by the marketplace,
which is a highly efficient mechanism. When a company overcharges for R&D, labor or what have you, they reduce 'demand' for that product,
a little thing called Competition.
Roger
J Francho reply :
These aren't Fortune 500, international corporations, usually just one or two guys working out of a garage or small shop.
gobig reply :
I have to agree with Rolo. Not to discount what some of these guys do but R&D, labor, materials cost ect... don't mean jack if you produce something no one wants. Supply and demand make up the market place in its purest form free of govt control or price fixing. A commodity is simply something that can be bought or sold. If many of these baits were readily available they would not sell for twice the retail value and with out the demand they would sell below retail.
RoLo reply :
On 1/28/2014 at 4:33 AM, J Francho said:These aren't Fortune 500, international corporations, usually just one or two guys working out of a garage or small shop.
Matters not, price is still determined by the marketplace.
The advantage of being a two-man cellar shop is low overhead, which makes you more competive, not less competitive.
K_Mac reply :
It is disposable income that determines the price I am willing to pay. This means that I am often priced out of the market for many things, including some fishing tackle and gear. I do not resent anyone for buying anything that I can't afford though. Too many people consider anything beyond their means excess. That is a very limited, and limiting way of looking at the world IMO. Matt, of Mattlures fame and fortune 
, is a fine example of a guy who has developed a product for a specific demographic. Many will find his prices too high. It does not matter at all. He can sell more than he can make at prices that are very reasonable in his market.
I just found out a few minutes ago that an eye exam and new pair of glasses will cost me $516. Is that too much? It is too much for me to pay without some cost -cutting in other areas. I could go somewhere else and probably buy glasses a little cheaper. I won't, because I know when I buy glasses from this place I will get exactly what I want, and if I have any issues they will be taken care of without delay or argument. Price and cost are often two very different things.
Mattlures reply :
Rolo does have a point. Tons of R&D and a quality product does not mean the bait will survive if priced to high. When it comes to fishing lures the bait has to produce bites. When it comes to swimbaits, the baits have to produce big bites. If the baits fail to do this then only the collectors will want them. Quality product and great customer service will only last so long if the design does not produce the desired results. When you do have a bait that produces big bites and you provide great customer service along with a quality product, then you can charge a higher price and have a healthy market. When it comes to real swimbaits there are only a handful of companies producing great baits. There are many cheaper knock offs that simply do not produce any where near as good as the originals. Because of this, the market has not become saturated with great baits. there is a limited supply and there is a demand. There is a large supply of the inferior swimbaits and once a bait has been shown to be a poor producer there is almost no demand. Unfortunately these are the baits that many beginners buy to try out swimbaiting and then they think swimbaits don't work for them. Had they bought a good bait to begin with they most likely would have had much better results. 1 proven swimbait for $50 is better then 10 junk baits that cost $5 each. However ther are a few great baits that aren't very expensive and there are plenty of newer swimbait companies that charge a premium for bait that are poor producers.
On a side note it always bothers me when guys think they don't need swimbaits because they don't have 10lb bass where they live. I bet they still have 8lbers. And 2lb bass do eat 8in baits. 5lbers eat them all the time. The idea of throwing real swimbaits is to target the biggest bass you have in your waters, weather its a 15lber or an 8lber.
J Francho reply :
I guess my argument is that if you put the R&D, use quality materials, and build a solid fish catcher, the demand is a given. The maker rarely gets fully compensated for their total effort. Maybe I'm wrong, but my guess is that these guys aren't rolling in dough. Making money, yes. But getting rich? I doubt it. The best baits come from guys that do it because they love it and want to share their success. If they can fund development of new baits by selling proven designs, I'm grateful to be able to buy the baits. I don't remember what I paid for my hard floater, but it's money well spent. As for having a fancy bait just to show off…I've replaced the split rings and hooks a few times, and that's not because they were cheap. They wore out and rusted. The finish is a little chopped, but pretty much perfect after many northern bass. To say it's all about the money, and that prices are high because that's what we'll pay isn't really the whole truth. If they didn't work so well, they wouldn't sell. If the don't sell, no one is gonna make them for a loss.
NEjitterbugger reply :
It's as simple as not spending that much money for a lure, some Roman made's go for $400+ I believe...
Mattlures reply :
J Francho You are correct sir. I am not wealthy. I make enough to stay in business and pay my bills.
ww2farmer reply :
On 1/28/2014 at 10:37 AM, Mattlures said:J Francho You are correct sir. I am not wealthy. I make enough to stay in business and pay my bills.
Are you related to my boss? LMAO
RoLo reply :
On 1/28/2014 at 9:13 AM, Mattlures said:Rolo does have a point. Tons of R&D and a quality product does not mean the bait will survive if priced to high. When it comes to fishing lures the bait has to produce bites. When it comes to swimbaits, the baits have to produce big bites. If the baits fail to do this then only the collectors will want them. Quality product and great customer service will only last so long if the design does not produce the desired results. When you do have a bait that produces big bites and you provide great customer service along with a quality product, then you can charge a higher price and have a healthy market. When it comes to real swimbaits there are only a handful of companies producing great baits. There are many cheaper knock offs that simply do not produce any where near as good as the originals. Because of this, the market has not become saturated with great baits. there is a limited supply and there is a demand. There is a large supply of the inferior swimbaits and once a bait has been shown to be a poor producer there is almost no demand. Unfortunately these are the baits that many beginners buy to try out swimbaiting and then they think swimbaits don't work for them. Had they bought a good bait to begin with they most likely would have had much better results. 1 proven swimbait for $50 is better then 10 junk baits that cost $5 each. However ther are a few great baits that aren't very expensive and there are plenty of newer swimbait companies that charge a premium for bait that are poor producers.
On a side note it always bothers me when guys think they don't need swimbaits because they don't have 10lb bass where they live. I bet they still have 8lbers. And 2lb bass do eat 8in baits. 5lbers eat them all the time. The idea of throwing real swimbaits is to target the biggest bass you have in your waters, weather its a 15lber or an 8lber.
Matt, there's another big positive working in your court.
Here in Florida for example, some bait dealers charge up to $20 a dozen for 'large' native golden shiners.
Though some anglers buy up to 8 dozen shiners, the usual order is about 4 dozen, which sets the angler back about $80.
At day's end those baits are gone forever, but the swimbait goes back in your tackle box 
Roger
The Young Gun reply :
On 1/26/2014 at 6:48 AM, MarkH024 said:Simple. Don't buy it if it's not for you. High end baits have the audience to keep them going across multiple species of fish. Dont get serious about musky fishing if you're afraid to spend coin on big baits.
X2
Hooligan reply :
On 1/26/2014 at 7:34 AM, MarkH024 said:Those are mid range prices for higher end lures anyway.
Not really, mate. Those are entry level prices on the mid-range of things. There are collectors baits out there than go in the thousands, both in muskies and bass.
I own a few of the upper end baits like Roman Made and ETRC. A few that most of the guys here have never heard of, and a few that are underground secrets. I have no qualms about spending that money on baits, it's not as though I'm ever going to lose it. I've never had a bait so hung- in that category- that I couldn't get back. I've lost more $18-$20 jerkbaits than I care to think about, most to the appeasement of the Esox gods. You say there are more things that you can spend that money on, great, go do that. The caveat to that, is go fish CA or TX when those double digit fish are on that triple digit offering and a $5 crankbait just isn't going to cut it. I've had more fun hucking a 12" glide bait for ten hours catching three fish (For a weight of over 35lbs) than I have catching a hundred fish in the same time span. THe reverse is also true. That said, though, there are times when nothing but those giants work, and when that's the case I'm throwing them. I guess, to me, it doesn't matter whether it's quantity or quality when it comes to baits. I'm going to buy whatever I choose to buy, as are you. Calling me insane, ludicrous, or stupid for doing so is pretty ridiculous.
gallowaypt reply :
Let people spend their money however they see fit. There are many worse things one could spend $150 on.
basshole8190 reply :
Bottom line is....
you buy what catches you fish. Whether its a 4 dollar rebel crank or 400 dollar handcrafted swimbait. if it catches you fish and you're happy with your catch results, what else really matters?
I've been on both sides of this argument. a broke young fisherman who was fishing a 10" power worm until it was shorter than my hook . also I've had the disposable income to drop 500 bucks on custom hand crafted baits. Like speed said earlier, my fanily is fed clothed and happy first before i even consider buying any fishing gear. I've fished with guys who whooped my tail with a zara spook while I'm throwing a 316 wake jr. also I've stunned a guy with a 8" hudd while he threw a foot ball jig.
To sum it up ... "Different Strokes For Different Folks"
Kirk Bonanny reply :
I wholeheartedly agree that lure prices are getting crazy, but our money doesn't go near as far as it did even 10-15 years ago, so it is a little bit of both. Prior to fishing in a tournament my most expensive lures were $5 to $8.00. I remember the first time I saw a Lucky Craft I thought to myself that I'd never spend that much for any lure... Until one day I drew a partner who was throwing a Pointer 78 and out fished my Rogue's & Rapala's 4:1 or better. That night I went out and bought two as this was a two day tournament and on the 2nd day I was able to slightly out fish him. I never dreamed that would have been possible, but seeing is believing! I now have more Lucky Craft (and other pricey lures) than I know what to do with, but I do use them very often. My main regret is that I have an old style Lucky Craft Crankbait I bought when I was afraid to spend that kind of money on a single lure. That lure has won me many a river tournament, and by the time I realized what I had that model was discontinued. I tried custom painting other cranks in the Nishiki (Clown) color but they do not produce anywhere near as well as that single lucky Craft. I always keep my eyes open hoping to encounter a few more of these, but I think that well dried up a long time ago.
Bluebasser86 reply :
On 1/28/2014 at 12:26 AM, mjseverson24 said:Personally I dont own any of the very expensive swim-baits or glide-baits, mainly because I live in mn and these baits would most likely have a very low probability for success. That being said if i did live or fish in areas with fish over 10 lb are a real possibility on any given day I would have some of these big baits in the box, honestly though for 100 dollars a bait I would probably just make my own custom lures in the off season, then beam with pride the first double digit fish I catch with my own custom swimbait. thats just me though.
Mitch
I know of quite a few guys in Minnesota that fish swimbaits and catch lots of fish on them. You don't have to have 10 pounds to be successful with swimbaits. I do 90% of my fishing in Kansas, not exactly known for it's big bass potential. Our state record is just shy of 12 pounds but a 10 pounder is extremely rare here. Still, I catch my share of fish on swimbaits. I feel a lot of my success is due to the fact that fish rarely see these types of baits, but that doesn't change the fact that the fish here will still eat a big shad or bluegill if one presents itself at the right time. I think my biggest concern where you're at are things with teeth. We have almost no pike and zero muskie in KS to worry about stealing my baits.
Hyrule Bass reply :
On 1/28/2014 at 3:02 AM, J Francho said:I think guys forget that most of these high end baits are made by self employed, skilled craftsmen, not some faceless, massive corporation.
doesnt really matter to me who makes them, a big factory or a guy in his garage, if people are willing to pay the price for them, then the price is going to stay high and possibly increase in time. its a pretty simple theory.
On 1/28/2014 at 3:52 AM, RoLo said:Price is controlled by supply & demand, it doesn't rise in a vacuum.
When the quality or effectiveness doesn't justify the cost, the price will move down, not up.
Roger
what im saying is, if people are paying the price, its unlikely to go down, and more likely to go up eventually.
Primus reply :
I fish some of the relatively expensive baits ( I do have my limit on what I 'm willing to spend ) and I also fish conventional tackle and I have had success with both approaches. I will be the first to tell you that you don't need expensive baits to have fun bass fishing and for most this is going to be the way to go to either fit their budget, they have other things they prioritize or it could be " I would never spend that kind of money on tackle " mantra . If you fall in that category that's cool but I find there is resentment by a few sometimes directed at those who buy this kind of tackle which I've never understood. If you don't like it don't buy it, who cares what the other guy fishes. I don't fish live bait but I have no problem with anyone who does. That is my rant part of this post.
The appeal of big custom baits to me is their trophy potential and the fact that when I throw a Matt's hard gill for example I am probably the only one in our county and one of only a few in my state that evens owns this bait so it's fun to show the fish something different. I also attempt to be a student of the sport( though there are outings where I fish like a flunkie ) so it's fun to me to experiment with different not commonly used approaches and big bait fishing certainly works for me from that perspective. That said I also enjoy fishing jigs, traps & jerkbaits in the spring etc and my evolution as an angler is trying to sort out the best times for big bait fishing verses the times when another approach is better. My advice is get the tackle that works for you and your budget and go have fun whether it's a 5$ spinnerbait or a 100 $ swimbait or try both and when you can take a kid or a newbie fishing.
AaronSchneider reply :
HOLY CRAP. Most of my rod/reel/line combos I paid less than 4 bills for...On 1/26/2014 at 6:22 AM, CTGalloway21 said:crap. look up roman made swimbaits. $400+ each. I use bullshad swimbaits and they run about $60 each but they work. Use proper line and you will not lose it. Also, you guys wouldn't make good musky fisherman. Each musky lure is $20+
CJV reply :
These kind of topics pop up over and over again! Who cares if you fish a $1 wal mart spinnerbait or $16 jackall spinnerbaits? I personally have a passion for "high" priced lures like Deps, Megabass, Jackall, etc however I have the financial backing to support it so I buy what I want. I am starting to think that those who can't afford them feel some sort of way about it? Who really cares though wether you fish a $1 lure or a $100 lure because it really doesn't matter!
Djman72 reply :
Green Jacket, Gold Jacket, Who cares?
In all seriousness, who cares if your set up costs 30 dollars or 3000 dollars.
Fishing is about catching fish, use whatever means you feel comfortable to have fun and catch em'. I own and regularly use a 30 dollar uglystick set up with $1 wal-mart spinners and catch fish. I also own a $350 dollar set up i use for other techniques and I catch fish on that too.
Same goes for lures, I know my rant is a lil off topic
Ratherbfishing reply :
My only concern, and I don't know if reality bears this out, is this: As more expensive baits become available in the market place, the greater the tendency there might be for lower end baits companies to increase the price of their baits. Riding the wave of "respectability", so to speak. Personally I don't care how much someone else spends on their equipment so long as it doesn't effect me. So long as I don't have to, I'll never spend over ten dollars for a lure.
Glenn reply :
And just when you thought a beat horse had been beaten beyond recognition.....
Maico1 reply :
Or "all this and more"......On 2/15/2014 at 3:59 AM, Glenn said:And just when you thought a beat horse had been beaten beyond recognition.....
Brian Needham reply :
first time I have seen this thread.........and I am way late to the party. BUT:
how many of yall non swimbaiting price whiners have an IPHONE?
drops mic.....
fishinthedacks reply :
Do I think its crazy? A little but so is me spending 300.00 for xmen vs street fighter stand up arcade game when I can pay two dollars for it on snes. We all have our guilty pleasures. That being said it seems no matter the forum fishing, arcade, cars, motorcycle there's always a group of people who belittle the poster and make him feel like crap for posting. Some of you guys went way overboard on this poor guy. Not like he said you are a bunch of morons for spending that kind of cash. So in response maybe a hey, I can afford it and like the artwork etc behind it to each his own.
And this may be an old topic but if you dont search just right you won't find it. Or if you're using a windows phone like me you can't even search the forum. I knew there were high priced antique lures but didn't know they were msrp'ing new lures for that kind of cash. Thanks op for bringing this niche market to my attention and I look forward to seeing this craftsmanship in person some day. And hell I make good money maybe I'll buy one for my man cave and slap it in my case of overpriced crap most of you wouldn't pay for haha
doyle8218 reply :
On 2/15/2014 at 1:12 AM, CJV said:These kind of topics pop up over and over again! Who cares if you fish a $1 wal mart spinnerbait or $16 jackall spinnerbaits? I personally have a passion for "high" priced lures like Deps, Megabass, Jackall, etc however I have the financial backing to support it so I buy what I want. I am starting to think that those who can't afford them feel some sort of way about it? Who really cares though wether you fish a $1 lure or a $100 lure because it really doesn't matter!
I thinl many are misunderstanding this topic. I don't mean people who buy or fish them are "silly", I mean that the prices are getting out of hand. I don't care what people use to fish or how much they spend.
Just pointing out an observation. So all the upset people can relax now.
buzzed bait reply :
one factor you need to weigh in here is that those baits you listed are 100% made in the USA. many of those cheaper baits everyone would like to compare this to would originate in Asian countries where they do not abide by the same labor laws nor copyright laws we adhere to. Many people will pay far more for goods produced in the USA. Let alone high quality, high demand items.
It all boils down to preference, but you can't really make an apples to apples comparison between these baits you listed and typicals plastics, cranks, etc.
Pz3 reply :
A hand crafted lure might be worth the extra $$$ but I couldn't justify spending more then 30$ on one. I would how ever be very much into the idea of making my own which would probably cost quiet a bit.
AQUA VELVA reply :
I've spent $30. on a musky bait but I probably would'nt spend that much on a bass bait. I think most people have a cut-off point in them when it comes to this kind of stuff. After that , cost / benifit kicks in.
conorsixtakc reply :
On 2/15/2014 at 2:15 AM, Djman72 said:Green Jacket, Gold Jacket, Who cares?I can't even. This is too good.
J Francho reply :
I think we've said all we can say this week.
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