Cranks Running Horribly Out Of The Package

[Diggy]

I bought a bps crank that was in the bargain bin and decided to use it. It does somersaults and flips out of the package. Its the most ridiculous thing I've seen. You'd think it was covered in weeds or the line was caught in the treble hooks. I think the only way to tune it is to put it in the garbage.

I have a red eyed shad that runs almost horizontally. Ive tried making adjustments with pliers and no help. I think they are probably defective at this point unless you have any tips

[J Francho]

Two words:

Lucky

Craft

(no issues, always run true straight out of the box - you get what you pay for)

Seriously, this is why I simply stopped buying cheap baits. After a while, I got sick of spending $40 on a pile of cheap baits to get one that ran true, and then wasting time and gas going back to the store to return the defective baits. It's easier just to save up for the $12-$20 bait, and get it right the 1st time.

[Bassn Blvd]

Ah, that good ol bargain bin. It looks like you were drawn to the "cheap" price tag over quality- it ok, we all do it. Like JF said, Lucky Craft. Although there are many other good quality brands to choose from, I have not had any problems with LC.

Don't spend too much or else you'll be considered "high end.", hahaha

[Polarkraft05]

i have such a large assortment of cranks, and have never had one that doesnt run correct yet. even my cotton cordell 2 dolllar crank baits run perfect and have been catching fish left and right.

i see where luckycraft or other expensive baits are better, but honeslty i see absolutely nothing wrong with cheap baits.

im sure over time my cheap ones will wear out and lucky crafts will still be going, but until that day gets here, ill fish my cheap hand me down lures.

[bigbill]

I purchase up to 6 crankbaits at the sametime, all the same. I notice some will catch fish and some won't. After a close inspection some need to be tweeked. I even adjust the front bill too.

I've seen the fish on a frenzy they even hit the lures going backwards.

[ww2farmer]

Two words:

Lucky

Craft

(no issues, always run true straight out of the box - you get what you pay for)

Seriously, this is why I simply stopped buying cheap baits. After a while, I got sick of spending $40 on a pile of cheap baits to get one that ran true, and then wasting time and gas going back to the store to return the defective baits. It's easier just to save up for the $12-$20 bait, and get it right the 1st time.

Two Words:

Bull

Crap

Lets see, if you, for example spent $40 on say Bandit baits at $5 a pop you would have 6- 7 baits give or take, so you regularly had 1 out of those 6-7 baits that was any good....like I said, bull crap.

OR....I must be the luckiest guy in the world, I have never had a "cheap" Strike King, Bandit, Bomber, etc.....bait that was junk. Yes I have had to tune some, rarely out of the box, or change some hooks, but out of 100's of baits, I have never had a bad one that I can vividly recall. Now how can it be that some people just never get a good one, I do not think they are all flawless, but to act like you need to buy truckloads of baits to find 2 good ones is total nonsense. As is the assumption that the high dollar lure companys are immune from putting out crap. Thats what's I am calling BS on....I am not anti-high dollar lure guy, nor am I anti-cheap lure guy. I am just tell it like I see it guy.

[ww2farmer]

To the OP..................slap the RES hard on the water, some times the BB's stick on the inside, one hard slap and it should right it-self for good.

[Marty]

I never owned Lucky Craft, so I can't speak about them, but I've been using crankbaits for 40+ years, many brands, all $8 or less. The only one that gave me consistent problems was the Norman Deep Baby N; it seems that I seldom needed to tune other lures.

For those who do tune crankbaits, I highly recommend the Bass Pro Shops tuning key. It's a lot easier than pliers.

http://www.basspro.com/Tuning-Tool-Key/product/52284/97249

[Diablos]

Lucky Craft are the only hard baits I'll spend $15-$20 on.

I'll be honest when the top water bite is on, I rarely take the sammy off. Maybe for a buzzbait.

I love me some RC 1.5's

[Fishes in trees]

I come across a crank bait from time to time that doesn't run right. I'll spend a modest amount of time trying to correct it and if that don't work, I just don't mess with it any more. Brands don't seem to matter so much, I've had stinkers from almost every brand. To me, I have some Mann's square bills that just don't seem to want to run right.

Just as a random thought, I think this is where the old collectable lures, with pristine paint jobs, come from. If they were a really good lure, a person will use them until they loose them. Just a thought.

[J Francho]

To the OP..................slap the RES hard on the water, some times the BB's stick on the inside, one hard slap and it should right it-self for good.

Now whos full of it? Everyone knows that getting a RES wet ruins the finish!

[Blue Streak]

I have to agree with Marty and the Farmer on this one. I have been fishing crank baits for over 50 years and I just never had a big problem with baits that did not run true. I have had some of course, but I have been able to tune them to run true. Actually the last bait I had to tune was a LC 1.5, it kept rolling over to the left but is is fine now. And I have never accepted the theory that you have to buy a dozen baits to get one that is a real bass catcher I think a lot of it is just nonsense. As far as cheap versus expensive baits I have plenty of each and do not prefer one over the other.

[outdoorsman110]

Two words:

Lucky

Craft

(no issues, always run true straight out of the box - you get what you pay for)

Seriously, this is why I simply stopped buying cheap baits. After a while, I got sick of spending $40 on a pile of cheap baits to get one that ran true, and then wasting time and gas going back to the store to return the defective baits. It's easier just to save up for the $12-$20 bait, and get it right the 1st time.

Smart man right there. I only buy Bomber, Lucky Craft, Kopper's, SPRO, and Stanford Baits.

[J Francho]

Koppers worked well out of the box for me, but an entire set of one color craw (shallow to deep, all four) literally imploded while in storage in my bedroom. And this was before I could even really leave them in my boat. It was weird, but I got a refund on all of them. Spro makes a great bait - some are copies of well known baits, some are unique. I like Aruku Shad. With their wide head, the faster you reel them, the more the head runs downward making them very snag free for a lipless bait. Trying to think of some others, but drawing a blank. I have a couple Duo Slavers, some OSP, Jackall, and Evergreen baits - mostly overpriced JDM stuff. Fun to have, but not necessary. I wait for sales, Lucky Crafts can be as low as $8 on sale. Right now there are a TON of RC series for $11/.

[tomustang]

literally imploded while in storage in my bedroom.

Lucky Crafts can be as low as $8 on sale. Right now there are a TON of RC series for $11/.

What you do in your bedroom with your baits should be private

I believe the RC's are at wally for much less than $11, somewhere around $6.50

[J Francho]

Those aren't Lucky Craft baits, they are Luck-E-Strike.

[tomustang]

I feel an acronyms thread coming soon

[ww2farmer]

Well there is a first for everything......................after not having any bad baits that I can remember, ever, I now have one. Brand new SK Red Eye Shad, takes on water. THAT IS IT!!!!! I have had it with Strike King, out of the 200-300 SK baits I have , how dare I get a bad one.

[J Francho]

I knew you'd drink the Koolaid. Just took some time.

[lavbasser]

My experience with LC is that some of their baits need significant tuning out of the box. The RC and Skeet Minis are spot on. Minor tuning for the flat-minis. The LC flats and Moonsaults usually need tuning for me, more than just a little. Bandits are very cheap and usually run straight. Even expensive custom baits like Zoom WECs need tuning. Eventually most baits will need to be tuned. It is frustrating when baits need to be re-tuned often. Sometimes you just put up with it because the bait is so productive.