Plastic or wood crankbaits???? 2025
mrbassky reply :
Its hard to find a topic with more different opinions. If you listen to D.Fritts, T.Faircloth and alot of other southern crankbait gurus they tell you wood is the only way to go and dont keep a plastic crankbait in the boat. But at the same time many pros use plastic crankbaits mostly KVD, Tim Horton and Rick Clunn to name a few. But the plastic guys arent as picky. The arguement for wood is its more boyant and has a magical action and no two are the same ect. ect. Plastic baits are more consistent (mostly), rattle better, cast better and are more durable. With new technology I hear alot of people say that many plastic crankbaits have action as good as wooden cranks. Lucky Craft is the most common example. Personally I like both and I think a good crankbait is a good crankbait. I think there are some good wooden crankbaits that have that special action but you dont have near the options with wood baits. And if its windy and you need accurate casts a good casting bait like a little john can put fish in the boat on accuracy alone. I personally cant see myself not having a couple shad raps, DB3s, or D-Baits in my boat some days to name a few. But I also need my wiggle warts, Lucky craft BDS, speed traps ect. Each crankbait has its time to shine and there are some plastic baits no wood bait compare and vice versa. Just my 2 cents
senko_77 reply :
I'm not to big of a crank fisherman, so my opinion is probably worthless, but the only time I care about what my bait is made of is in the Pre-Spawn. One of my favorite techniques is to go find shallow wood and stump fields and crash a square billed shallow diver through it. Fishing a bait made of balsa is an absolute must in this situation. The Bagley B2 is just disgusting in this scenario. It's virtually weedless and the fish can not help but crush it.
Now I'm gonna contradict myself by saying that the 1.5RC from Lucky Craft is another spectacular bait for fishing shallow, but it's made of plastic. So I guess that statement just ruined my whole argument ;D
Thanks for sharing Mrbassky
whittler reply :
Listen to what the bass are telling you, not the pros. Bass do not sell baits.
Muddy reply :
I have spoken to over 1000 bass, never once got an answer form any of them
I started with wood, added some plastic, now I gave all the plastic ones to Sharkite, I like the wood better. I learned on it and know how to mess with the actions more.
Munkin reply :
I carry way to many of each but plastic catches more fish for me.
Allen
Jake. reply :
I usually prefer balsa wood, especially for flatsides.
Stringjam reply :
What about urethane foam? 
I think the argument is overblown - - - a well designed crankbait takes into account the materials used, whether plastic, balsa, jelutong, cedar, foam, PVC.....whatever. Obviously materials have inherent qualities that make one better suited than the other for certain applications........but there's definitely seems to be some overlap when it comes to balsa against plastic.
So which one do I prefer? Easy....the one with the best DESIGN.
If you don't think plastic can hang with balsa - - try an OSP Blitz or HPF. Good design is simply good design - and only dogged nostalgia can believe otherwise.
My tackle box is filled mostly with wooden baits - but it's not because they're wooden, it's because they're designed extremely well and built by guys who are free to think apart from the considerations of building high volume. You can get profiles and actions you don't find from builders who have to invest major $$$$ to build molds for injection molded plastic baits.
I don't trip on materials - - it just has to act the way I want. If it does that - it stays.
fishfordollars reply :
All of mine are wood except the traps.
.dsaavedra. reply :
QuoteWhat about urethane foam?I think the argument is overblown - - - a well designed crankbait takes into account the materials used, whether plastic, balsa, jelutong, cedar, foam, PVC.....whatever. Obviously materials have inherent qualities that make one better suited than the other for certain applications........but there's definitely seems to be some overlap when it comes to balsa against plastic.
So which one do I prefer? Easy....the one with the best DESIGN.
If you don't think plastic can hang with balsa - - try an OSP Blitz or HPF. Good design is simply good design - and only dogged nostalgia can believe otherwise.
My tackle box is filled mostly with wooden baits - but it's not because they're wooden, it's because they're designed extremely well and built by guys who are free to think apart from the considerations of building high volume. You can get profiles and actions you don't find from builders who have to invest major $$$$ to build molds for injection molded plastic baits.
I don't trip on materials - - it just has to act the way I want. If it does that - it stays.
word.
Muddy reply :
What argument? There was a question: Do you like wood or plastic cranks, how is this an argument?
roadwarrior reply :
QuoteWhat argument? There was a question: Do you like wood or plastic cranks, how is this an argument?
Simple question and your preference is just that, it can't be wrong or
right. For me, I don't care, it's not even a consideration. I fish both and
don't notice any significant differences.
8-)
Stringjam reply :
QuoteWhat argument? There was a question: Do you like wood or plastic cranks, how is this an argument?
I assume you're quoting me? I was referring to the "age old argument" that has gone one for years among crankbait enthusiasts about material selection - - it had no reference to the original poster's question.
I would have thought the context of what I wrote would have made that clear - but I guess not. Sorry for the misunderstanding.
Muddy reply :
Yea well I am in charge of starting arguments not you
I was just bustin on you. Actually whenever there is a discussion on crankbaits, because I am trying to get better with them, I always look for you, Fivebass Limit and Micro's input. All three of you explain it well, and You and Micro, have opened a lot of doors for me as to the differences in these baits. So it is time to say THANK YOU 8-)
Stringjam reply :
QuoteYea well I am in charge of starting arguments not youI was just bustin on you. Actually whenever there is a discussion on crankbaits, because I am trying to get better with them, I always look for you, Fivebass Limit and Micro's input. All three of you explain it well, and You and Micro, have opened a lot of doors for me as to the differences in these baits. So it is time to say THANK YOU 8-)
I gotcha, Muddy.... Thanks for the compliment as well - - I just wish I was half as good at fishing these things as some people think I am. Truth is, I consider myself a student of the art of crankbait fishing - and there are guys who are far far far far far better and more knowledgeable about it than me.
I just have a lot of baits and a big mouth. ;D
Muddy reply :
And Micro has big baits and lots of mouth
.ghoti. reply :
I'll admit to a preference for wood cranks, but for a different reason than most.
We all know that all crankbaits are not created equal. Some just behave differently then other seemingly identical baits. Every now and then you find one that doesn't quite run true. It doesn't run crooked, or over on it's side; it has an erratic, back and forth, "hunting" action.
When you find one of those, you've found a diamond in the coal pile.
In my experience, you have a lot better chance of finding one of these "diamond" baits in wood than plastic.
mrbassky reply :
QuoteI'll admit to a preference for wood cranks, but for a different reason than most.We all know that all crankbaits are not created equal. Some just behave differently then other seemingly identical baits. Every now and then you find one that doesn't quite run true. It doesn't run crooked, or over on it's side; it has an erratic, back and forth, "hunting" action.
When you find one of those, you've found a diamond in the coal pile.
In my experience, you have a lot better chance of finding one of these "diamond" baits in wood than plastic.
This what I meant by special action in my original post. The new LC BDS series are supposed to do this. I havent watched them in a swimming pool to find out but I read this from several pros. Alot of the best shallow crankers swear by these (Clunn, Ike, Ben Matsubi, ect.).
Avalonjohn44 reply :
Both, looking at quality over what the bait is made of. Usually quality means a little pricier, but not always...Bandits are dirt cheap and catch a ton of fish.
My favorite wooden baits are Old Bagley Baits, H&T Balsa baits, Rapala DTs and Catching Concept Cedar baits.
My favorite plastic cranks are Megabass, Rapala Glass series, and Bandit 100s.
They all produce. I will typically throw a wooden bait into heavier submerged cover because their buoyancy helps prevent hangups. I will murder rip rap with plastic baits because they stand up better and get a better sound off the rocks.
Munkin reply :
QuoteWhat about urethane foam?
Who makes that bait? I made a mold of a RC 1.5 that I pour bodies out of Alumilite Resin with microballons and add a poly lip. It is a slow floater and when I can find time to make some more I plan on sending you one to test.
Allen
Avalonjohn44 reply :
QuoteThanks for trying. Hey did you every Google K-Lues ? some pretty nice wood topwaters at nice prices.
I've seen that guys lures on ebay too. I like that popper eating the fish.
Stringjam reply :
QuoteThey were recommended to by one of the big crank guys on here Big M or Stringjam, I think. I hope they guy hasn't gone out of business...
I think he went out of business......I tried to contact him a while back and he never would respond (and his eBay store is gone.)
Stringjam reply :
QuoteQuoteWhat about urethane foam?
Who makes that bait? I made a mold of a RC 1.5 that I pour bodies out of Alumilite Resin with microballons and add a poly lip. It is a slow floater and when I can find time to make some more I plan on sending you one to test.
Allen
It's made by T.H. Tackle (Japan). I can't figure out how to get them over here any other way except finding someone in Japan who is willing to go to a tackle shop and pick one up for you.
Let me know how your foamy RC 1.5 turns out!
Jake. reply :
QuoteQuoteThey were recommended to by one of the big crank guys on here Big M or Stringjam, I think. I hope they guy hasn't gone out of business...I think he went out of business......I tried to contact him a while back and he never would respond (and his eBay store is gone.)
That really stinks, his cranks looked great and I really wanted to try some.
Munkin reply :
spotaholic reply :
I only throw a crankbait in the fall and winter when the water gets less than 55 degrees. I feel like the fish are looking for a more subtle bait this time of year which I have found is better in a wood bait.In the spring and and summer when the water is above 55 I feel there are better choices on the Hill so I keep the cranks in the box. I use Shad Raps, Circut Breakers,Suddeth Little Earls and a few custom flat baits . I like baits that are without a rattle this time of year for the same reason. The times I will use a palstic crankbait with rattle is in muddy water and when using a lippless crank.
Avalonjohn44 reply :
QuoteQuoteThey were recommended to by one of the big crank guys on here Big M or Stringjam, I think. I hope they guy hasn't gone out of business...I think he went out of business......I tried to contact him a while back and he never would respond (and his eBay store is gone.)
Hey guys, regarding Catching Concepts. I spoke with the guy thru ebay and he will be listing things at his ebay store again soon....
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