cabelas or bass pro shops hard baits???

[shootermcbob]

Does anyone here use the cabelas or bass pro hard baits..such as jerkbaits, crankbaits, etc???

I was fishing over some grass a couple days ago, water is really shallow, about 2 feet deep. I am fishing from shore so access is limited. I threw spinnerbaits, tubes, flukes, worms, and got nothing. Not a nibble.

I then pulled out a 4 inch jerkbait that I bought at cabelas for 99 cents. It has a yellow back with a white belly and a really wide wobble when retrieved slowly. Three strikes, two landed fish, and a bunch of fun later made me think that might have been the best buck I have ever spent.

anyone else have luck with other "lesser" name baits?

[NateFollmer]

I always pick up those BPS 'Tournament' lures that are anywhere from $.99 to $1.99. I have caught some great fish with them. I have a black and silver crankbait that dives to 5 ft. that I throw the most. That and my Strike King Sexy Shad are my #1 producers on cranks.

[Redhed]

whats funny is that they both could be made in the same factory over seas (just like a lot of our fishing rods).. just sayin'

[roadwarrior]

Suggestion: By a few lures that are "highly

recommended" by some of our members that

you respect. Don't waste your time and money

on BPS, Cabela's or any other brand of cheapo's.

Here are some suggestions:

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1143177139

8-)

[Bassin for Walleye]

Do you really think that just cuz they are cheap that fish wont bite them. Can fish look at lures and say, "that lure is only worth a dollar, I'm worth at least a fourteen dollar lure." No they don't and I love the Cabelas grave diggers. In fact, in late July a few years ago we were trolling and catching nothing so I tied on a grave digger. First troll hooked a nice 3 pounder that we brought home to eat. 2 trolls later I hooked my biggest walleye yet and he is now on the wall looking great. If anyone needs a good taxidermist I know one of the best in the world. He in fact has a few world records if I'm not mistaken. Riverland Taxidermy in Stoddard, Wisconsin.

[roadwarrior]

Mostly I'm saying they use inferior components,

quality control is poor and performance uncertain.

I'm all about "tried and true" from companies with

reputations built over time.

8-)

[NateFollmer]

Mostly I'm saying they use inferior components,

quality control is poor and performance uncertain.

I'm all about "tried and true" from companies with

reputations built over time.

8-)

Oh I agree with you 100% there. I wouldn't trust these things if money was on the line But they work and they haven't failed me yet. They do feel cheap and would probably crack pretty easy, but I've been ok the past few years (I'll probably break one tonight because I said that)

Now cheap Wal Mart lures on the other hand, those are horrible. STAY AWAY from the $1.00 spinnerbaits they have HA. I don't know who makes them, they aren't even in a package.

[Grey Wolf]

Do you really think that just cuz they are cheap that fish wont bite them. Can fish look at lures and say, "that lure is only worth a dollar, I'm worth at least a fourteen dollar lure." No they don't and I love the Cabelas grave diggers. In fact, in late July a few years ago we were trolling and catching nothing so I tied on a grave digger. First troll hooked a nice 3 pounder that we brought home to eat. 2 trolls later I hooked my biggest walleye yet and he is now on the wall looking great. If anyone needs a good taxidermist I know one of the best in the world. He in fact has a few world records if I'm not mistaken. Riverland Taxidermy in Stoddard, Wisconsin.

What's taxidermy got to do with hard baits ? At least stay on subject.

[Blue Streak]

The Grave Diggers have been a hot bait around here for the last 3 or 4 years, especially in the fall. Everyone agrees that they feel cheap and the paint will peel off of one every now and then but they are worth the trouble because they catch fish. Of the six I have only one lost it's finish but I still caught bass with it.

[Goose52]

I've bought some of those Cabela's specials, and have bought a number of BPS cranks and lipless cranks. In some cases, I'll replace the hooks, but otherwise they've given good service.

I do tend to use the $1.99 lures in "high risk" situations - timber, etc. instead of the more expensive, and perhaps arguably more effective, baits...

[Shad_Master]

A few years back I was going to be fishing a tournament with lots of visable brush piles - stopped by BPS and saw crank baits in the bargin bin for $1.99 each - bought one in every color, 'cause I didn't care if I lost 'em at that price.  Still have all but one in the takle box and have caught fish with all of 'em.

[RAMBLER]

I've caught fish with Cabella's stick baits (4") but hooks pull out and the lips break off.  Cheaper to buy the same kind of lure from a known, reputable manufacture.

[KYntucky Warmouth]

I like the BPS Nitro Shad deep divers.  I deep crank alot from the bank under a bridge in an area with alot of brushpiles, rocks, and steel cables around the bridge.  Needless to say I have lost a few lures there.  I really like the Bomber Fat Free Shad and Norman DD22s but here I tend to fish the BPS cranks and SK Series 5-6 baits, both are 3.99, Normans are almost $7 here and so are the Bombers.  They get the job done and don't hurt my wallet as much when the get snagged.

[Bassin for Walleye]

Mostly I'm saying they use inferior components,

quality control is poor and performance uncertain.

I'm all about "tried and true" from companies with

reputations built over time.

8-)

Ok, I understand that but all I'm saying is just because they are cheap doesn't mean they wont catch fish. Sure they might break and crack but you can still buy 3 or 4 of the cheap ones that you can cast for a while and not worry about losing for the same price as 1 of the better named brands.

[Bassin for Walleye]

Do you really think that just cuz they are cheap that fish wont bite them. Can fish look at lures and say, "that lure is only worth a dollar, I'm worth at least a fourteen dollar lure." No they don't and I love the Cabelas grave diggers. In fact, in late July a few years ago we were trolling and catching nothing so I tied on a grave digger. First troll hooked a nice 3 pounder that we brought home to eat. 2 trolls later I hooked my biggest walleye yet and he is now on the wall looking great. If anyone needs a good taxidermist I know one of the best in the world. He in fact has a few world records if I'm not mistaken. Riverland Taxidermy in Stoddard, Wisconsin.

What's taxidermy got to do with hard baits ? At least stay on subject.

Sorry I get in the zone and don't realize what I am saying some times... I was just throwing that guy out there because I am very pleased with his work.

[J Francho]

The issue is with consistency.  If I lose a proven bait, I want to know it can be replaced with an IDENTICAL lure.  This is not always the case, and even some expensive lures don't live up to this expectation.

[Revo_Carrot Stix]

I've bought some of those Cabela's specials, and have bought a number of BPS cranks and lipless cranks. In some cases, I'll replace the hooks, but otherwise they've given good service.

I do tend to use the $1.99 lures in "high risk" situations - timber, etc. instead of the more expensive, and perhaps arguably more effective, baits...

My sentiments exactly! You can straighten the hooks out with your fingers. Their lipless crankbaits (replace the hooks) are about as far as I go. I've tried topwater, shallow and mid-divers before and the paint chips easily and lips break. Usually for an extra $1-2, you can get a name brand with better quality if that is your price range.

I have found Cabela's bulk-on-the-rack buzzbaits excellent with hardly no adjustments, sharp hook and a heavier wire (vs. cheapos at Walmart). They have gone up to $1.49/each from .99, but it performs just as good as $3.99-4.99 name brands. 

Good luck!

[iceintheveins]

The bass pro hardbaits are pretty good if you buy their more expensive ones. The bps XPS rattle shad is actually my favorite lipless crank, and the BPS XPS deep running nitro crank, along with the nitro shad dancer, are some of my better cranks as well.

[flippin and pitchin]

I like the BPS XPS Slim Dog. It is one bait, for the money, that is worth tryng.

[gobig]

I have caught a few big sacks on the xps pro flat cranks. But the hooks suck. You have to change them out.

Normans are almost $7 here and so are the Bombers.

Your getting ripped off. I buy Deep Little N's and DD22's for about $4.

[Bass Junkie]

    Those spinnerbaits and buzzbaits at Walmart are Strike King proportionals..........

[Bass Junkie]

    Those spinnerbaits and buzzbaits at Walmart are Strike King promotional baits..........

[iceintheveins]

I have had pretty good experiences with BPS lures. Their plastics are really awesome, not to change the subject.

[shootermcbob]

just to add to the discussion, I was fishing the last two days. I fish along a state highway and there is lots of rip-rap. I started off throwing a strike king 1xs in sexy shad, and gizzard shad?, then I moved to bandit 100 in two different colors, then I threw my rapala dt 4 in bluegill, chrome w/ blue back, and silver, and caught nothing. I then put on a cabelas grave digger in bluegill and also a white color, again nothing. Finally, I pulled out a cabelas dig-it in baby bass color and whacked three fish in the next 8-10 minutes?

Was it the size, color, or tight wiggle that triggered the bite??

I was fishing standing on the same rock, casting parallel to my left and right, (All three fish came from my right side), and using the same rod/reel and same (consistent retrieve..w/ starts and stops) cranking method.

I am always left wondering what it was that turns these fish on to bite?

Since I am standing right near a causeway, I don't know if the fish were even there when I started fishing.