Are You Willing To Buy Expensive Lures?

[McAlpine]

Everyone has their pain point when it comes to purchasing their gear and nobody is right or wrong.  I've traditionally been a pretty cheap guy but in the last few years I've realized that after you sink money into a boat, a truck to pull the boat, the gas, insurance, maintenance, trolling motor, electronics, rods, reels, line, boxes...etc..  What's another $15-$25 for a bait?  Or even for the guys that throw swimbaits, what's $300 or $500?  If that is the last magic piece to put the puzzle together then it makes the other ~$50,000 - $100,000 you've already spent worthwhile.

 

penny wise, pound foolish. 

[bigbill]

The cost of the new poppers live target bait ball cranks is the most I ever spent on one lure.

I used the very affordable fishing rods and reels so I had more money saved to spend for more lures. I can fish with any decent rod and reel but can't fish without a lure selection.

[chromedog]

Pickerel, even big ones don't usually account for lost lures.  Northern pike are another story.  Thankfully, there are only a couple of short windows of time in spring and fall where both fish's location intersects.  Otherwise, if you're catching pike while fishing for largemouth, then you probably in the wrong spot.  Smallmouth, well that's another story, but we all know cranks don't work for smallies, lol.

Ya, and the Pickerel usually intersect when you are fishing for walleye on Oneida opening weekend!

[J Francho]

Ya, and the Pickerel usually intersect when you are fishing for walleye on Oneida opening weekend!

 

I could be fishing for squirrels in the trees, and the picks would steal the bait.  They are so bad on that lake, lol.

[chromedog]

If you go anywhere near big bay, forget about it.  100 casts, 100 pickerel.

[Master Bait'r]

Only if it's handmade by someone in this country and even then only very few.  I'd put the cutoff at right around $50 in any case.  I don't like to spend a lot of money on bait though, so it has to be something very special like the Bettencourt dying bluegill and it can't just be pretty- it has to do something special like the action in the aforementioned dying blue crank.  I actually just talked to Nate today, and spent I think $20 on a new weedless version of his rodent he's going to start making- you can't buy it anywhere but he says "sure I'll make that for you!" without hesitation.  Size, color, hooks, you name it and it's yours...  You don't get that kind of service, availability and customization at Dick's for $9.95, that's all I can say.  Sure I could have gotten two $10 koppers rats, but it's plastic-  Not that there's anything wrong with that, but it just feels good to support quality craftsmen in any case IMO, there's a reason it's a dying art!   

 

 

Honestly though, if you deal direct with a tacklemaker, the extra money spent is usually well worth it both in terms of the quality of product and the feel good aspect of spending money on something somebody actually really cared about making.  

[SirSnookalot]

Francho posted at one time that lures are cheaper in the long run compared to soft plastics, I whole hardly agree.  He's a smart guy and knows his species and what works for him.  The caveat is needing a little luck, as it's just as possible to have a lure last for a year or so, or to lose it to a snag or cutoff the first day you own it.  The latter is not a deterrent for me, I want to use the lure that's going to catch fish.  I never fish defensive, meaning I don't like wire, if I'm not mentally prepared to lose a lure I shouldn't be using in the first place.  The cost is another issue, as a rule my limit is about 10 bucks, I'm not convinced the extra expense produces any better for me. That said I much prefer using a hard lure, it's more exciting for me.  

I do more saltwater fishing and many of the same lure types are available and I do use them on occasion, but I am 100% convinced nothing catches more fish than a fluke on jig head, bucktail jig (crappie jigs destroy fish here, everyone uses them) and a spoon.  But there ain't much to compare to getting smashed on a top water lure, it's worth the risk of a losing it.

[Maico1]

You guys have the Picks I have the Pike and what a pain in the ass they can be. Does not matter they will attack anything,it is always fun when they slam a Jig on the fall and then charge the boat....

[fishguy613]

i like not having to tweak the more expensive hardbaits, last year i re-tuned and replaced hooks on several strike kings but theyre great lures

[Champfishnva]

Most expensive lure is an A rig... Look on tw at the 429.00 dollar lure out of this world a foot long

[SPEEDBEAD.]

Most expensive lure is an A rig... Look on tw at the 429.00 dollar lure out of this world a foot long

 

It's been responsible for at least an 18 in Japan. Trust me, I'd pay it for a fish like that.

[flippin and pitchin]

This has worked with 100% success.

 

I heard you closed the winding spool in the tailgate of your truck ?

[SPEEDBEAD.]

I heard you closed the winding spool in the tailgate of your truck ?

 

 

Easy fix.

 

[J Francho]

No, but I did get a knot in the cord. Had to pick it out with my teeth. Don't tell my dentist.

[Djman72]

Rapala is the highest priced lures I have ever bought so roughly $7-9 dollars.

[Talonman]

Yes... 

 

Megabass Vision 110 Squarebill Hook size #6 (Floating) - $24.99

Megabass Ito Shiner Hook size #4 (Suspending) - $25.99

Rapala BX Balsa Extreme Jointed Minnow 3-1/2", 5/16oz, 6-8ft, Hook size 6 - $10.99

Rapala BX Balsa Extreme Jointed Shad 2-1/2", 1/4oz, 4-6ft, Hook size 8 - $10.99

IMA Rock N' Vibe 1/2oz Sinking #6 Owner ST-36 - $14.49

 

Black Dog Shell Cracker G2 Length 4", Weight 1.5oz - $19.99
(1) Color: Bluegill
(1) Color: Ghost Bluegill
(1) Color: Crappie
(1) Color: Redear Sunfish

 

They are my most expnsive baits.

[AQUA VELVA]

If I spend $15. for a bait, I feel like the ''fish'' has already been caught.

[rippin-lips]

I'm just getting into some of the small swim/wake baits this season. $20-30 has been my limit so far. Mini ms slammer,4" bbz-1,g2 shellcracker,s waver,magic swimmer. Baits like that.

[iceintheveins]

I generally don't go above $20 - 25 bucks.

[gulfcaptain]

I used to think that I would NEVER buy a $90.00 lure.  Ok, never has come and passed.  The guy's here that throw the big swimbaits, $20-30 is pretty cheap.  High risk, high reward fishing. It's not for everyone, but once you catch a couple pigs on them you start look at them differently.  The one in my profile pic is my first swimbait fish, just under 9lbs, But as one above stated, swimbaits are cheaper if you only fished a couple for a few years opposed to buying packs of plastics at $5.00 ea.  I just make sure the more expensive ones float so if I happen to have a line pop, well I can retrieve it.

[basshole8190]

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

love that bone color freestyle

[0119]

I used to be willingly to pay high dollar for hard lures.  Not swimbaits, I'm not willing to use that heavy tackle.  I'm not anymore, I think I graduated to preferring to fish my own creations and that is where the big bucks really start adding up.

[SirSnookalot]

I agree about using heavy tackle required to cast heavier swimbaits, additionally the waters I fish in South Florida are not conducive for them.  There is a limit to what I'd spend on a lure, I'm also looking at what I can catch with it.  An 8+ bass is a nice fish, I've probably caught as many of them on a senko as anything else and I don't need to spend 30 bucks plus the heavier tackle, besides I think medium spinning gear is more fun.  I do use a waxing sometimes, cost 18 bucks, on any given cast there is no upside limit of what can be caught.  Does that waxwing catch more and bigger fish, nope.  As nice a lure as it is it will never outclass a bucktail jig, spoon or fluke on a jig head, it's just something else to have fun with once in a while.

[HLNichols]

$15 is about my limit. I COULD buy the $30 baits, but just the thought of losing that much money in one terrible cast... 

 

I usually rely on soft plastics. My fishing style is more accommodating to soft plastics' actions. Due to this, I usually stick to $5-10 packs of finesse worms, frogs, lizards, flukes, etc. If I lose one of the 10 or 20 that come in a package, no big deal. 

 

When I lose a crank bait, especially an expensive one, I have to take a second to cry and question what I have done to deserve this horrible plight of misery and regret. 

[shootermcbob]

I havent stepped into the swimbait world yet, but when i do i wont hesitate to buy quality baits.

 

The most ive spent for lures now have been in the $25-30 range. Pretty much megabass and a few deps buzzjets.... I find most of my lures are in the 10-15 dollar range.

 

I have favorites, like luckycraft sammies, megabass pop x's, that i will pay full price for because there worth every penny. Also, i spend more on topwater baits cause 99% of the time im not going to lose them with braid.

 

When it comes to cranks or jerkbaits i tend to stay a bit cheaper. I have some rapalas and yozuris that work great.

 

But like someone else said, i shop around, look for sales and used tackle online. Love finding me some used sammies at a great price. Replace the hooks and your ready to go. 

Same here. I have a few deps buzzjet jrs. some lucky craft, etc. I will spend more on topwater. Most of my "expensive" stuff is used, and even then, I don't throw any except for topwaters. When I get my boat, then I will be more willing to throw the high dollar stuff.