Crankbaits! Can You Fully Effective With Only One Brand?

[HoosierHawgs]

http://www.bassmaster.com/blog/out-pocket-baits

[blongfishing]

I just pick up stuff when i see a good deal, so I have different brands.

Me too! You can get stuff for cheap and get to try different baits! 

[Jeff H]

And humble too!!!  wow you fished with all these people to know you are better, impressive.....

He doesn't have to fish with them all to know that.  He's just confident.  Ask them all to put their money on the table and line up and he'll likely be the first one to do it, no hesitation.  He cracks me up, wish he was my neighbor...lol

[JGBassinAL]

I don't think one brand is sufficient. To me I believe that there is a time for flat-sided crankbaits, and not every brand makes flat-sided cranks. Now you could use just one brand and catch plenty of fish, but like I said I think there is a time that certain baits are better than others. And to the guy who can catch more fish than anyone else with just Strike King cranks, cmon man....what was the point in saying that? You just want to brag or something? That's what is most wrong with fishing these days, everyone thinks they are better than the next guy. Yeah I fish 2-3 local tournaments a month and do very well in most of them, but I could care less if I can catch more than the next guy. I fish them because I love the sport and the competition and the camaraderie between the guys who fish these same tournaments that are not like you.

[HoosierHawgs]

I don't think one brand is sufficient. To me I believe that there is a time for flat-sided crankbaits, and not every brand makes flat-sided cranks. Now you could use just one brand and catch plenty of fish, but like I said I think there is a time that certain baits are better than others. And to the guy who can catch more fish than anyone else with just Strike King cranks, cmon man....what was the point in saying that? You just want to brag or something? That's what is most wrong with fishing these days, everyone thinks they are better than the next guy. Yeah I fish 2-3 local tournaments a month and do very well in most of them, but I could care less if I can catch more than the next guy. I fish them because I love the sport and the competition and the camaraderie between the guys who fish these same tournaments that are not like you.

 

Tell that thing about SK to KVD.

[JGBassinAL]

Tell that thing about SK to KVD.

 

If the Elite Series is on a lake with a primary jerkbait bite, I'll bet you KVD is throwing a Megabass Vision 110. There was actually an Elite Series event or Major League Fishing event (can't remember which one) in the last year or two that had KVD on camera throwing a Vision 110. You are oh so naive to think he never throws a hard bait besides Strike King.

[pbizzle]

Not to hijack the thread, but here is a video from Swindle talking about non-sponsored lures..

I was about to post that same vid! It's a good thing you did so that I don't have too!

[Maxximus Redneckus]

If the Elite Series is on a lake with a primary jerkbait bite, I'll bet you KVD is throwing a Megabass Vision 110. There was actually an Elite Series event or Major League Fishing event (can't remember which one) in the last year or two that had KVD on camera throwing a Vision 110. You are oh so naive to think he never throws a hard bait besides Strike King.

This is why guys think they are the best they see KVD throwing a SK and think everyone fishing in same lake is a loseer if they aint using the same lure,,,the same ones that see you pull up a 3 lber a mile away and roll up on ya 80 mph with a 50tho bassboat.thinking they own the lake after they rocked you in your kayak with your uglystiks and abu round reels,,,,,ooops way off topic

[ww2farmer]

I don't think one brand is sufficient. To me I believe that there is a time for flat-sided crankbaits, and not every brand makes flat-sided cranks. Now you could use just one brand and catch plenty of fish, but like I said I think there is a time that certain baits are better than others. And to the guy who can catch more fish than anyone else with just Strike King cranks, cmon man....what was the point in saying that? You just want to brag or something? That's what is most wrong with fishing these days, everyone thinks they are better than the next guy. Yeah I fish 2-3 local tournaments a month and do very well in most of them, but I could care less if I can catch more than the next guy. I fish them because I love the sport and the competition and the camaraderie between the guys who fish these same tournaments that are not like you.

You want to take shots at me just because I am confident that I am better with my stuff than the other guy...so be it..........just be prepared to get said shots back. Your "I'm in it for the fun" nonsense is, IMHO, loser talk....you have all the fun you want. I fish tournaments to win or cash,anything else is a bust. I fish for fun when money is not on the line. I don't care if you don't like "guy's like me".......I don't like guys who think everything should be hand holding, slapping each other on the back, and farting rainbows. When I lose, I am ticked, and it motivates me to do better, I am not wired to be "aw-shucks, maybe next time " guy.

[JGBassinAL]

I never said I didn't care if I win or lose. I said there's no reason to brag and I could care less if I catch more than the next guy. Fish is a humble sport, you could come in last in one tournament then in first the next. You can't win every single tournament. That is what I was insinuating. But from your response I see you are the guy that takes offense to everything. Pretty much everything you turned my post into was wrong. Nice try tho. I like how you say I speak loser talk when 1. You turned my words into something I didn't mean and 2. There have been two tournaments this whole year that I didn't cash in. I just see no reason in you saying you are better than everyone when most people on this forum probably don't even fish tournaments. Keep sitting behind your computer talking about how much better you are.

[Sam]

Depends on some factors.

 

1.  The pros (and research staff) study how each crankbait (and other baits) move in the water. They do this by casting into a swimming pool or tank at the manufacturer's plant and reeling the crankbaits back at different speeds. This data is recorded for each of the crankbait lines based on the depth they are supposed to dive. And the pros do this to make sure their baits run true before they modify them.

 

2.  The pros modify their crankbaits (and other baits as well) and don't let you know what they do. So when Ike, VanDam, Martens, Hack, etc. say they threw a Livingston crankbait they are not telling us how they may have modified that crankbait or if it has not been released to the general public. Remember, there are parts of the crankbait that we can change from the bill to the hooks to the BBs, to the colors, sanding the sides, adding a feather to the rear hook, removing the rear hook, and anything else you can think to do to fool the bass or make that specific crankbait run different.

 

3.  When fishing for fun it does not matter what you do to a crankbait or how it runs.  In a tournament we are serious about modifications and how each individual crankbait runs. That is why some of us who tournament fish take new crankbaits to the local pond or a friend's swimming pool and cast them to make sure they run perfectly straight.  And we notice the movement as each manufacturer's crankbaits have different movements that are suttle to us but the bass see them. There are differences in crankbaits manufactured by the same company and if you take a crankbait out of the package and start throwing it you may not be getting the expected movement or vibration you expect.

 

4.  KVD suggest you stay with one brand of rods so you can feel the difference among them and get to know how they function.  Not the same with our baits. Although some pros and guides get baits free or at a discount they still use various brands, colors and styles even though their shirts cry " Bandit" they are throwing Strike Kings or Luck-e-Strikes.  Of course, they change crankbaits when they get their photos taken with the big mommas to help promote their sponsors' products.  I have been involved with a guide who did this all the time. And we laughed about it when he mailed in his photos of him holding a large bass that either he or I caught after he put on his sponsor' shirt and cap.

 

So with all of that said, you can stay with one brand of crankbait and do well. But being a normal guy it is very difficult to pass new offerings or ones that produced for you in the past.

 

I would say for you to try many different brands, styles and colors of crankbaits (and other baits) and you will find the ones you have confidence.  I personally like Bandit 100's in Virginia's lakes and rivers. I will go with Bandit 200's in lakes if I want to go deeper.

 

BUT!!!!......I also use other brands, colors and styles when fishing and are not limited to Bandit, only. And I suggest you do this until you find the crankbaits (and others) that you like when fun and tournament fishing.

 

Let us know how the experiment works out in 2015.  A lot of us are interested.

 

Thanks for the thread. Very interesting topic that we could debate well into the night.

 

Happy New Year!

[ww2farmer]

I never said I didn't care if I win or lose. I said there's no reason to brag and I could care less if I catch more than the next guy. Fish is a humble sport, you could come in last in one tournament then in first the next. You can't win every single tournament. That is what I was insinuating. But from your response I see you are the guy that takes offense to everything. Pretty much everything you turned my post into was wrong. Nice try tho. I like how you say I speak loser talk when 1. You turned my words into something I didn't mean and 2. There have been two tournaments this whole year that I didn't cash in. I just see no reason in you saying you are better than everyone when most people on this forum probably don't even fish tournaments. Keep sitting behind your computer talking about how much better you are.

As Steve Smith Sr would say................"ice up son, ice up"

[HoosierHawgs]

I never said I didn't care if I win or lose. I said there's no reason to brag and I could care less if I catch more than the next guy. Fish is a humble sport, you could come in last in one tournament then in first the next. You can't win every single tournament. That is what I was insinuating. But from your response I see you are the guy that takes offense to everything. Pretty much everything you turned my post into was wrong. Nice try tho. I like how you say I speak loser talk when 1. You turned my words into something I didn't mean and 2. There have been two tournaments this whole year that I didn't cash in. I just see no reason in you saying you are better than everyone when most people on this forum probably don't even fish tournaments. Keep sitting behind your computer talking about how much better you are.

 

It's not like you wont here it on the dock at tournament. Tournament fishing has evolved, a lot less humble then it used to be. When people don't get w/the program they get left behind.

[roadwarrior]

C'mon guys...

 

Back on topic, If you are successful with a single brand, great!  For me it kinda works

both ways.  My hardbaits cover a lot brands, but not so many soft baits. It seems to me

that there are "very special" baits/ lures made by a variety of companies.

[MarkH024]

Tell that thing about SK to KVD.

Listening and speaking with KVD in person, his own words were that he uses baits outside of SK. You'd be a fool to think any pros are using just a single brand of anything. Rods and reels perhaps but not lures.

[Horseshoe crazy]

I thought that this was a interesting article when I read it. http://www.bassmaster.com/blog/tell-truth

[HoosierHawgs]

I thought that this was a interesting article when I read it. http://www.bassmaster.com/blog/tell-truth

It is quite interesting. It opens your eyes to the difficulties of something like tournament fishing. No other sport has that 'pay to play' thing for pros as hard as fishing does. Sponsors help with that, and as you can see, it can put you in a tough spot. Thanks for posting it.

[aavery2]

I'll keep my post simple, No, I do not think so.

[kadas]

C'mon guys...

 

Back on topic, If you are successful with a single brand, great!  For me it kinda works

both ways.  My hardbaits cover a lot brands, but not so many soft baits. It seems to me

that there are "very special" baits/ lures made by a variety of companies.

I agree with roadwarrior--I have several different brands of hard baits because there seem to be different brands work well in certain places and times--rattle trap type baits are a perfect example of that--some days the original rattle trap is hard to beat--other days the red eye shad of strike king seems to be the winner--but there  is only a couple different brands of soft baits that I use--they cover my needs and I have confidence in them to do that--what ever you choose to do--try multiple brands or use only one brand is right because it suits you and that is all that matters when it comes down to it at the end of the day

[smalljaw67]

The simple answer is yes, you can be successful with one brand of baits but what is the fun of that? I use all kinds and some waters one shallow crank will be better than another, for example, I have these Sebile SR Cranksters in 1/4oz, they go about a foot deep, in the river I fish I'll get a few smallmouth on them but if I switch to a Mann's Baby 1 minus, it is lights out, I'll get 4 or 5 to 1 on that shallow crank versus any others I throw. Now some may say it is due to more confidence in one over the other but I have confidence in all the baits I use, but for some reason the smallmouth in the river just hammer that Mann's Baby 1 minus. In two lakes I fish, the crankster is the hot ticket, the natural shiner and bluegill colors are big fish catchers, now this is just my waters and if I was going to fish 1 brand I'd go with Rapala and that is because the DT series has been real good for me and that includes the DT Flat and DT Fat, I use them all but sometimes a different medium diving bait works better but it is more fun to try other brands to see what is out there.

[ColdSVT]

Im all over the map lol

Deep i like SK and bomber

mid i like SK and jackall with some lucky craft

shallow i like SK and rapala

lipless its jackall and SK

topwater i have lucky craft, RI and live target

jerks are lucky craft, jackall and megabass

The only constantson my boat are Mt dew, yamaha and minn kota lol

[pbizzle]

If you feel as if you can have the best lure for the any condition that you're faced with by using only one brand, then that's fine. Please continue to do so. No skin off my back. I'll just be more a more effective angler by keeping my brand loyalty at a minimum and using what ever lure will produce the most and best quality fish at the moment.

Edit: I mean no disrespect to any other members on this forum, and I'm certainly not targeting this post at one individual specifically. I'm just saying that it's silly for anyone to think that they're being the best angler they possibly can by putting brand royalty over results.

[TorqueConverter]

A guy could fish for just about any predator species that swims using nothing but rapalas, but that's no fun.

[gobig]

I think you could be successful with one brand but what fun would that be?

[fishballer06]

I could easily only throw Rapala cranks, but what's the fun in that?