Handmade Vs Mass Produced

[tbone1993]

I have felt many soft plastics that are handmade and none of them have appealed to me. The same with the way they fish. I have not found a soft bait that I like better homemade than mass produced.  The only time I like homemade over mass produced is when it comes to jigs and spinnerbaits. Granted the spinnerbait I like a lot is a $15 spinnerbait. I havent used any hand painted cranks but honestly those are just customized mass produced lures. Does anyone have a hand poured bait or homemade bait that they swear by? Or are you like me and hate them.

[bmlum415]

When using a finesse worm for me it has to be hand poured, they're softer which equals better hooksets and generally if they're local they have amazing colors, I swear by keeper custom worms and hand made jigs either by myself or locals

[tbone1993]

I do just fine with zoom finesse worms. It is true that hand pours are softer but I also feel that they are way to limp.

[Comfortably Numb]

All depends what you are looking for. Very few baits are hand poured anymore since hand injection was developed. Hand poured/injected baits are not neccesarily softer. It all depends what plastic is used. Most people use medium which is a good mix of flexibility and durability. This medium is similar to what the big bait companies mass produced baits are. Soft plastic can be used  for more action but durability suffers.

 

Many companies add salt to baits. To me this is just a cheap filler and makes the bait weak so you buy more.

 

If you find a good custom bait company they will custom make baits to exaxtly what you want. Custom colors and glitters for example. Different kinds of scents cooked in. Different fall rates on stick baits, etc.

 

There are also different molds that may not be available from name brand companies.

 

There actually is a new additive out that replaces salt in Senko type sticks (salt is what makes Senkos sink but also makes them tear easy). It makes the baits softer and more durable but they weigh the same and sink and wiggle are identical. I have caught over 50 bass on a stick made with this new plastic

 

Alot of people fish trick worms and flukes weightless. Try having some made with the weighted Senko formula. They work awesome.

[loodkop]

I use my own handmade plastics and can customize colors, softness and sink rate to my preference. I use a custom salted buzz frog that will outcast anything available commercially and if it tears after 3/4 bass so what? I can re melt the leftovers and catch more. I'm not interested in selling as mass produced lures are much cheaper and I would hate being beaten in a tournament by my own creations.

[Bluebasser86]

I pour and tie my own jigs and chatterbaits and very rarely use a store bought versions of either anymore. On the downside I now carry way more of both than I would ever need because I have so much fun tinkering with different designs and colors. 

As for all cranks being custom painted mass produced baits, if you've never fished a hand carved/sanded and custom painted bait you're missing out. 

[roadwarrior]

We have sponsors that combine the best of both worlds: Designed and built by independent small business.

 

Siebert Outdoors

 

NorthStar Custom Baits

 

MegaStrike

 

Rage Tail

 

These companies focus on design, high grade components, quality control and customer service.

[Koofy Smacker]

All depends what you are looking for. Very few baits are hand poured anymore since hand injection was developed. Hand poured/injected baits are not neccesarily softer. It all depends what plastic is used. Most people use medium which is a good mix of flexibility and durability. This medium is similar to what the big bait companies mass produced baits are. Soft plastic can be used  for more action but durability suffers.

 

Many companies add salt to baits. To me this is just a cheap filler and makes the bait weak so you buy more.

 

If you find a good custom bait company they will custom make baits to exaxtly what you want. Custom colors and glitters for example. Different kinds of scents cooked in. Different fall rates on stick baits, etc.

 

There are also different molds that may not be available from name brand companies.

 

There actually is a new additive out that replaces salt in Senko type sticks (salt is what makes Senkos sink but also makes them tear easy). It makes the baits softer and more durable but they weigh the same and sink and wiggle are identical. I have caught over 50 bass on a stick made with this new plastic

 

Alot of people fish trick worms and flukes weightless. Try having some made with the weighted Senko formula. They work awesome.

What bait companies use the new additive if you dont mind me asking? Thats been the number one complaint about knockoff senko users is that they just dont shimmy "the same" as the original. If another company comes out with one that is as supple and has the same action with a higher durability, GYCB should watch out.

[CPBassFishing]

What bait companies use the new additive if you dont mind me asking? Thats been the number one complaint about knockoff senko users is that they just dont shimmy "the same" as the original. If another company comes out with one that is as supple and has the same action with a higher durability, GYCB should watch out.

Power Team Lures Sick Stick. Twice the action, way more durable than senkos, they sink super slow with a 1/16 oz wacky jighead and have the same action as a senko, with an 1/8 oz wacky head they fall a bit faster than a senko and instead of just shimmying the tail ends the whole bait rocks back and forth.

[Jig Meister]

We have sponsors that combine the best of both worlds: Designed and built by independent small business.

 

Siebert Outdoors

 

NorthStar Custom Baits

 

MegaStrike

 

Rage Tail

 

These companies focus on design, high grade components, quality control and customer service.

 

 

And these 4 companies comprise 90% of what I fish that is a jig, trailer, spinner, scent.

 

I feel like for the price these guys offer, they have as high, if not higher (certain items) of quality as certain bigger name brands. I also prefer the customer service I get from these guys. If I have an issue with my order from Mike, I know that it will not be an issue getting it resolved. You can not say that about a lot of bigger businesses.

 

I did not know about 2 of those 4 before I joined BR and since I joined now that is all I use. 

 

As for soft plastics, I go with Zoom for almost everything, they have one style of everything that I need, if I use something else it is because I got a sample pack of it from someone. Exception is Rage Tail for trailers, can't really beat those.

[Comfortably Numb]

Yup. RW, All great companies and great people.

[Comfortably Numb]

Power Team Lures Sick Stick. Twice the action, way more durable than senkos, they sink super slow with a 1/16 oz wacky jighead and have the same action as a senko, with an 1/8 oz wacky head they fall a bit faster than a senko and instead of just shimmying the tail ends the whole bait rocks back and forth.

 

If you need to add a weight ist not a Senko type stick bait. Not sayin its a bad bait but its basically just a worm.

[whitwolf]

As for all cranks being custom painted mass produced baits, if you've never fished a hand carved/sanded and custom painted bait you're missing out. 

+1

 

While I still fish a few Norman crankbaits, the majority of my crankbait fishing Is with custom baits that have an action unlike any mass produced baits.

[Megastink]

I tie my own jigs, spinnerabaits, buzz, etc... anything with a skirt, I make my own. I can customize colors, sizes, blades. I have a lot of confidence in my baits, AND I prefer mine over massed produced  baits because I know mine have the best components (Gamakatsu hooks, for exaple).

 

I swear by my own baits, and I do fairly well in competition.

[jhoffman]

I really like ghostbaits handpours but the customer service is LACKING

[jhoffman]

Power Team Lures Sick Stick.

 

Have you used hogtonic? That stuff will knock you down its so strong. You would have a hard time competing with raw garlic crammed strait up your nostril. Stuff is awesome.

[CPBassFishing]

Have you used hogtonic? That stuff will knock you down its so strong. You would have a hard time competing with raw garlic crammed strait up your nostril. Stuff is awesome.

yep it reeks, but I would rather smell hog tonic than that nasty gulp stuff.

[WRB]

Like most things there are high quality hand made lures and poor quality hand made lures. In regards to soft plastic worms high quality hand pours or automated hand pours like Roboworms can be custom colors and sizes for specific lakes, these worms out perform mass produced injection molded worms. The down side is they cost more and don't last as long. If you are putting $$ for tournaments and want to be competitive on some lakes, hand pours are well worth it.

On high pressured lakes where bass see the same lure over and over again, they learn to avoid it. If you have 50 boats all fishing green pumpkin red flake Zoom worms your odds are low thinking you are better angler than the others and will catch more bass. If you have a hand poured custom color that the bass are eating, you are not competing with the other 49 boats.

I fish home made jigs that no other angler on the lake is using, unless I gave someone my jigs to fish. This gives me a big psychological advantage and confidence the bass haven't seen this jig often. I am targeting a very low population of wary giant bass and success comes from presenting these bass a lure they are comfortable eating and I am confident using.

Tom

[Primus]

Have you used hogtonic? That stuff will knock you down its so strong. You would have a hard time competing with raw garlic crammed strait up your nostril. Stuff is awesome.

 

I've also been impressed with this company but I have not yet tried the Sick Sick, looks like I might have to order a few.

 

 Regarding Soft baits I use a combination of mass produced & hand pour. I typically use the hand poured baits for custom colors. I typically go with Dichoso baits when the need arises, he's terrific to deal with and the quality is very good.

 

 One hand made crank that has performed well for me is the C Flash, all the ones I use are from the original bait maker I can't comment on the ones made when the business changed hands.

 

 Most of the hand made baits are from the swimbait world though the best mass produced baits that I have used would be the 6" & 8" Spro BBZ's and they are part of my line-up as well.

 

 The bottom line is catching fish and like to use whatever works whether it's handmade or mass produced.