Are You Willing To Buy Expensive Lures?

[29JMP29]

I was looking at another topic on this forum a while ago and I saw some guys talking about $100 dollar swimbaits that they use.  I guess my question is, are you willing to spend 30 dollars+ on a lure that you could lose in 10 seconds? Thought this would be a cool topic haha

[CPBassFishing]

Well, the trick is to not lose them. I have spent $75 and $70 on two different swimbaits but I don't plan on losing them. They both float. If I cast them off for some reason I can get them back easily with another lure. I also use 25lb mono and I check it every 20 casts for abrasion and I retie after every two fish. Fishing swimbaits is actually cheaper that throwing "normal" baits because you only need a few and they last years.

[Grizzn N Bassin]

yeah of course and you only use these in special situation or if you just a swimbait fisherman obviously you would use them all the time.. i think once you fish with them and learn where your fishing.. you wont lose them as much if your experenced.. i know when i fist started id fish them kinda high in the water so i wouldnt get snagged but now i have weeldess and all that stuff but yeah you still can loose them.. its another gamble of using a swimbait... i love the thrill haha

[Sam]

No. Will plop down $25 for a RICO but that's about the top of the line for me.

[derekxec]

sure if i like how it looks and think it will catch fish i dont mind paying the price

[Tony L.]

That is something that I just can't justify, no matter how much I love fishing. Maybe if I fished tournaments for a living, but I don't. I guess that someone could argue that I don't catch as many by using "inferior" lures, but that is fine by me since my livelihood doesn't depend on what's in my livewell. If I reel in 1 fish instead of 2, 5 instead of 6, 8 instead of 10, or no fish at all---- that is fine by me, I have still had a great day out of the office doing what I love.

[Marty]

I don't think I've ever paid more than $8 for a lure. That's because I have every confidence that these traditional, moderately priced lures will do just as well as their more expensive counterparts. I've never seen any credible evidence that pricier lures catch more and/or bigger fish. 

 

Obviously if an angler thinks they do, then he'll have to use them to feel confident in what he's doing. I've always believed that you can't buy your way to more success with more expensive rods, reels and lures. If evidence came to light that changed my mind, I'd be first in line to buy that equipment.

[iabass8]

No. Will plop down $25 for a RICO but that's about the top of the line for me.

x2. i have no issues paying more for a quality topwater bait. it's absurd how well certain baits outproduce similar looking baits. i throw LC cranks but only in certain situations. 

[The Guy]

I generally stay under $15

[29JMP29]

Well, the trick is to not lose them. I have spent $75 and $70 on two different swimbaits but I don't plan on losing them. They both float. If I cast them off for some reason I can get them back easily with another lure. I also use 25lb mono and I check it every 20 casts for abrasion and I retie after every two fish. Fishing swimbaits is actually cheaper that throwing "normal" baits because you only need a few and they last years.

 

Yeah I guess that makes sense, what if that expensive paint chips off? I can tell you that fishin around rocks for smallies with 10 dollar spro jerkbaits takes it off. Maybe the more expensive baits have better paints and better finishes

[Darren.]

I was looking at another topic on this forum a while ago and I saw some guys talking about $100 dollar swimbaits that they use.  I guess my question is, are you willing to spend 30 dollars+ on a lure that you could lose in 10 seconds? Thought this would be a cool topic haha

 

No way no how. Unless there was a money-back guarantee if it doesn't catch you a fish on your very first outing with it. Likewise if you snag it and lose it. Point being, they wouldn't be crazy enough to warranty it on those terms, and I wouldn't be crazy enough to buy it.

 

Now if money were no object, I might even drop $400 on a Roman made lure.

[Felix77]

Under $15 for me too.

[29JMP29]

No way no how. Unless there was a money-back guarantee if it doesn't catch you a fish on your very first outing with it. Likewise if you snag it and lose it. Point being, they wouldn't be crazy enough to warranty it on those terms, and I wouldn't be crazy enough to buy it.

 

Now if money were no object, I might even drop $400 on a Roman made lure.

 

yeah thats what I've been thinking. could buy a decent rod for $100. guess some people have more money than others and they can choose how to spend it.. I'll stick to my $5 strike kings and rapalas

[bigbill]

I recently broke open my glued shut frugal wallet and purchased some high roller lures.

At around $12+ I found they do catch bass. I got three of the castiac 9" trout $30 lures for $9 each. Spending more than $25 isn't me that's my limit.

Non of my fishing rods cost more than $30 dollars, most are between $4.99 to $22, my most expensive reel is under $100.

I'm retired and can just about afford anything I want for fishing. But I didn't get to this position by spending my hard earned dollar. In the beginning of my working at 16yo fulltime I was happy to have a p&j sandwich to eat with twenty five cents for a soda. I went to work because I got tired of returning deposit cans and bottles for nickels to buy bread so we could eat. I worked hard and saved were I could.

Now I enjoy fishing.

Never let your desires out weigh your actual needs to get by. Having a $25 rod setup will get you fishing. Something is better than nothing. I'm not rich when it comes to material things. Having a wonderful wife and children makes me rich.

I'm not cheap I'm frugal.

[MarkH024]

Different strokes for different folks. Whatever people do with their money is up to them and ultimately what makes someone happy is what is important.  I will splurge at times but I don't have pockets deep enough to have an arsenal of super expensive baits.  Some of those swimbaits have wicked action that your big name retailers just don't produce. That's a fact jack!  Do they cause more strikes or catch bigger fish....eh....probably not. Never know unless you throw 'em!

[CPBassFishing]

Yeah I guess that makes sense, what if that expensive paint chips off? I can tell you that fishin around rocks for smallies with 10 dollar spro jerkbaits takes it off. Maybe the more expensive baits have better paints and better finishes

plastic and resin baits don't usually get chips, just hook rash. Wood baits will get chips if the clear coat isn't very good.

[derekxec]

not sure if they produce more but i do it cause i like to try out all types of lures...hell $100 is cheap my friend used to make teasers and such for marlin and people would buy for $300-500 each 

[bigbill]

I agree I have a few $12 lures. When nothing else works I'm back to my $3 bomber cranks for success.

[EvanT123]

About 15 like some of the other gents said. That said most of my fish come on soft plastics which max about $7 a bag.

I've spent more on baits and quite frankly they don't catch anymore fish then less expensive baits and generally stay in the tacklebox. Like rods and reels the fish don't know how much a lure costs. It's all about right place right time no matter how inexpensive or expensive the bait.

[GoneFishi'n]

It really depends if you want to catch fish. That's my take on it. I've spent $60-$70 on swimbaits in the past couple of weeks. I placed an order about 3 weeks ago and it was about $365 and I only got 7-8 swimbaits out of it. If they're catching bass for me and some big ones, I'm happy I spent that much. The thing is when you buy quality swimbaits, there's usually quality customer service. I had a 6lb 3oz bass break a MattLures Hardbass and I was able to get on the phone with Matt Servant himself. I will gladly pay $50 all the way up to $100 if I know I'll catch bass on it. Throw some pricey baits and you will see why they cost so much. Plus, when you fish one of those ridiculous pricey swimbaits, you'll see why they cost so much. That's my take on it.

[vikingbear8]

I would never spend more than $5 for a lure, it outrages me to even think of spending that much money on a stupid fishing lure 

[tomustang]

Let someone else pay retail, ill pick them up used for half off

[vikingbear8]

Let someone else pay retail, ill pick them up used for half off

that rule unfortunately does not hold true for high end swimbaits. Because most of them are so sought most of the time a used lure will be more than a new one, and many cases much much much more.

[Mike2841]

I think the most I've paid for a single lure is 10-12$ for a frog, but if you think about it senkos are probably the most expensive over a season. Right now in my tackle box I probably have at least 4 different colors of senko not to mention craws, flukes and other plastics. At 3$-8$ a bag that adds up real quick.

[Darren.]

I think the most I've paid for a single lure is 10-12$ for a frog, but if you think about it senkos are probably the most expensive over a season. Right now in my tackle box I probably have at least 4 different colors of senko not to mention craws, flukes and other plastics. At 3$-8$ a bag that adds up real quick.

 

Good point! But this is one bait I'll gladly pay for! For me and my experience, I'd gladly pay for the Senkos (and knock-offs) that actually catch me fish as opposed to the cranks that never (or rarely) do!