Crankbaits/Jerkbaits

[MarkWieck]

I'm looking for a good crank bait/jerk bait company.  Got any suggestion's?

[Skulley]

First of all, welcome to the forum. We're glad you're here. For crank baits I like Bill Norman, Bomber Fat Free Shads, Rapala, and Storm. I also prefer more natural patterns and rattles. For me got to have rattles because rattles help the fish find the bait better in my opinion. I also like Mann's. Specifically the loudmouth. Very loud rattles. Good in fall. As far as jerk baits, I like Smithwick, Bomber Long A, Lucky Craft, Mann's, Rapala. Again natural colors. Keep a variety in the boat. Keep a variety in my travel tackle box.

I'm kind of an affecianado when it comes to cranks. If you don't have many in your arsenal, I would tell you to try to keep it as simple as you can. You can get "carried away". I know because I have. No one needs as many as I own. I have way too many.......just ask my wife. Of course when it comes to tackle, she will tell you I have too much of everything.




BD.                               

[MarkWieck]

yeah my wife says the same thing.  how many rods do you need.  I've never really got into throwing cranks and jerks but I know they work and I want to buy ones that work.  in 3 years I don't want a pile of them that I never used or didn't work.  If you had 1 company to go with who would it be?

[huston]

Luckycraft

[Manxfishing]

yeah my wife says the same thing.  how many rods do you need.  I've never really got into throwing cranks and jerks but I know they work and I want to buy ones that work.  in 3 years I don't want a pile of them that I never used or didn't work.  If you had 1 company to go with who would it be?

depends what the budget is?

Strike king or Norman are affordable
Rapala/strom are a little more
and Lucky craft or Megabass are the high end

Your choice
My advice would be
start slow and find out what works for you

[Lightningboy]

Boy, that's the perpetual problem; ending up with a bunch of baits that don't catch fish. 

One of the major problems you run into with the less expensive baits is quality control.  Somebody tells you that they are killing 'em on Norman DLN's.  So you buy a couple.  Then don't get bit.  Then they gather dust on a shelf.

Ain't your fault.  A lot of cheaper price cranks/jerks aren't made to close tolerances.  Bills are crooked, body halves don't match up, etc.  When you buy cheaper baits, you really gotta look close to make sure you get a decently made bait.  Expect one out of ten to be a real fish catcher; one that was made "right".  When you do find that "one", guard it with your life. 

When you step up a notch in price, you get rid of the dogs.  LC, Jackal, etc. are made to tighter tolerances.  I haven't met a LC that won't catch fish just like every other LC on the shelf.

When you start to get exotic, like Megabass, you're buying little works of craftsman art.  Are they worth the price? Maybe.  I've got a few vision 110's I wouldn't part with, but can't say I've caught much on my griffons.

Bottom line is to look at hardbaits as tools.  What kind of job do you want the bait to do?  Deep or shallow?  Rounded body or flat sides?  Once you figure out what you want to do with it, then look for good baits that will do that job.

If you look in my boxes you'll find Normans, Strike kings, Raps, Bagleys, LC, Jackal, Megabass, SPRO, and others.  They've all seen water, and all catch fish.  But some might not get used for 2 seasons because I didn't run into a bite where they were the right tool.  But I still carry them, for when the situation calls for it.

Be a careful shopper.  And don't be afraid to ask us some specific questions, like "what's a good small size rattle bait that will get deep easy?"  We're more than happy to shoot the breeze about baits.