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[tim4081]

While I've been bassin for many years I've never put alot of effort into crankbaits.  My resolution is to change that this year.  My question is are the high dollar cranks really worth the money?  I'm referring to Luck Craft, Ima, Megabait, Jackal etc.  Thanks for the feedback

[Mike Cork]

The only one I have fished with very much that you listed is the LC. And I believe they are worth the extra dollars. I will always try to find them on sale though LOL.

Something I have been trying lately is the H20 series at Acadamy, they look identical to LC's and have great action and require very little tuning if any out of the package. They also come with good hooks. They are much cheaper in price to the LC's but seem to have good quality.

[reitzells]

Well speaking from experience I wouldn't start out with the most expensive ones I could find, because you WILL lose allot of crankbaits! I like the Bandit's and Norman cranks they are $ 5.00 a piece and when you do lose it it doesn't hurt your feelings as bad! Once you learn to work the crank through the cover without getting it hung and having to break it off, I would absolutely start trying some of the more expensive brands, because for me I am trying to get as close to the bait fish as I can and lets face it the brands you mentioned do some fabulous paint jobs!

Personally I would spend more on a good cranking rod rather than the baits! Hope this helps!

[Stump bumper]

The one low dollar crank I have problems with is the Strike King baits, but they do have the pro series for a few dollars more and they seem to run straighter and last longer. I have a love/hate relationship with Rapala because I like the DT series but the lips warp and break easy so I can go through 5 or 6 $7 rapalas and still have a $15 LC that I have thrown twice as much.

On jerkbaits I have broken a lot of X-raps at $7 a piece but have never broke an Ima, Mcstick or pointer, so at $12-$15 a piece they have been a better buy.

In the pre spawn I still like the little wiggle wart but now I see people getting custom paint jobs on these little lures and paying $25-$40 for these $5 lures. I can't tell you how they work but I can tell you they are paying for them with their winnings.

[screwballl]

For starting off, try sticking with the ones in the $3-5 range like the Strike King red eye sexy shad lipless cranks and the bass pro XPS cranks. That way if you lose one, you are only out a few dollars, and not a whole lot more.

Once you learn how they work and where to not use them, you can start to spend a bit more on the LC and a few higher end models.

[MarcDVD]

LCs are completely worth the money, they are all about quality. I love their RC series crankbaits. Like Mike said though, you'll like them more if you find them on sale 

[Mike Cork]

Great advice on the less expensive baits to start.

[J B]

You guys worried about loosing crankbaits need to invest in a Hound Dog lure Retriever.If you dont have one you are probable casting around targets to avoid snags instead of in them where the fish are.Banging crankbait in to down logs and brush turns the fish on.
 As for the Wiggle Warts , I would bet that there isn't a single boat fishing the FLW Table Rock today that doesn't have a rod with a craw wiggle wart tied on,on the deck.

[reitzells]

You guys worried about loosing crankbaits need to invest in a Hound Dog lure Retriever.If you dont have one you are probable casting around targets to avoid snags instead of in them where the fish are.Banging crankbait in to down logs and brush turns the fish on.
 As for the Wiggle Warts , I would bet that there isn't a single boat fishing the FLW Table Rock today that doesn't have a rod with a craw wiggle wart tied on,on the deck.

I have never avoided throwing somewhere because I thought I might not get my lure back   But I have never used a Hound Dog either. How do they work?

[J B]

They run down your line to the bait and knock it loose or grab the hooks and you just reel to back up with your bait.I have been able to retrieve every crankbait I snagged this year so far.I did have to replace bent hooks on 1 bait but thats cheaper than replacing the bait.Bass Pro has them as does Jewel Bait Co here is the info https://jewelbait.com/store/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=JBC&Product_Code=HDLR&Category_Code=ACC

[Swede]

I tend to use Rapala, Bandit, and Norman, but do have one box dedicated to Jackall.  This company does make some great baits - and they are proud of them based on price.  $10-$15 per CB although I have found some decent deals on EBAY.  I've found success with their Cherry series, Aragon series, and the RS-150 series.  Cherry - I like the brown craw color best and have found that these tend to run true right out of the box.  Aragon - have never caught a fish under two pounds with these - first one I caught went 7+ and I've been hooked since (red craw is my favorite).  Lastly the RS-150 series works great as a small jerk bait - especially good around schoolers and other locations where small pond minnows are the food of choice.  Hard to put a company down if their baits are producing even if a little pricey.

[tim4081]

Some great tips....thanks a bunch I really appreciate it.  Has anyone had any experience using River2Sea cranks?  I've seen them on a couple of web sites and they look really good but just wondering if anyone here has used them.

[Pro Reel]

You might also consider some custom painted baits. I have several old favorite baits that didn't come in detailed paterns. Sent these to crankin cracker for some custom paint and they are now so realistic, I would eat them.

[RichmondVa]

Bandits and Strike Kings (if they are good enough for the best elite pros, they are good enough for me).

[stock28]

I think they are but it depends on what you're willing to lose. If you are afraid to cast them for fear of losing them then I would go with a cheaper bait. You will lose baits if you throw in the thick stuff, its just the nature of the game. I use a lot of LC baits and I think they look better in the water and tend to run true out of the box.

[pawpaw]

Are the high priced crankbaits worth the money  ? Well they look great and some of them are just---pretty. Maybe the action is different on some of them.
As far as the paint jobs I think sometimes they may help and sometimes not. I read one time where David Fritz would lay crankbaits on the dash of his pick-up so the sun would fade them for certain situations.

[basnbud]

Hey Bro, if you want to use some cb's that look like LC's look at Jannsnetcraft. they got some nice ones for a real good price. you just hang the hooks and your ready. pluse the more you order, the cheaper they get.

just another option for ya.

Basnbud

[tim4081]

Thanks for the info....I'll check them out.

[OCBassman]

The best place to find deals on Crankbaits is on ebay.

Also Yes the high end cranks are worth the money. But it is Great advice on the less expensive cranks to start.

[D_Allen]

I can't speak for the others you mentioned, but LC is not worth the money. I have 2 CBD20's that were horribly out of tune right out the pack. I have several other LC cranks. They work fine, but I have several less expensive brand cranks that are equally productive. Don't be fooled. Most guys are buying confidence, not a higher quality product. After all it's a $20 lure. Must be better right?  I've been sucked into that too. Trust me, knowing where, when, and how to use them is much more important than which brand you're using. Tune them true and upgrade the hooks.

[netmansc]

I use several of the LC models and have mixed results but I have noticed that I dont see alot about the Yo-Zuri Hardcore.  Maybe they are just popular in my neck of woods but I have had great results with them in the last several years.  I have use both the factory colors and have several handpaints.  They dont cost quite as much as the LC's. 

[firerat41]

You might also consider some custom painted baits. I have several old favorite baits that didn't come in detailed paterns. Sent these to crankin cracker for some custom paint and they are now so realistic, I would eat them.

Barry Weaver, a.k.a. the Crankin Cracker, does AWESOME custom paint jobs for a very reasonable price.  Check out my thread on Custom Painted Baits in the Tackle Box section.  I posted pics of a Jackall Giron swimbait and a Rapala DT16 that Barry painted for me.  I had him paint them in a bluegill pattern.

[bigjim5589]

netmansc, it may be that the Yozuri lures are perceived as saltwater lures. That's a mistake if that's the case, they make some real good ones that work great on bass. I don't have any of the hardcore series, but do have several other Yozuri lures, and have done real good with them. Some of them, I originally purchased for Striped bass fishing, but have caught Largemouths & Smallmouths on them too. 

[garland7]

Don't start off with the most expensive you can buy. Buy brands you hear everyday: Bandit, Storm, Bill Norman, Strike King, Lucky Strike, Rapala etc.. Experiment with the bait action, lure retrieve, and feel of your tackle when doing so! More expensive can be a waste If you not " in -Tune " with you tackle. Good fishing!

[lunk71]

I get the best feel through cover with the Lucky Craft Cranks .. definitly worth the$$ IMO.

.. Wouldnt trade any of my CHEAP square billed Bombers for anything though  .