Bargain Baits...

[Brian_Reeves]

I've been seeing a lot of posts on here about cheaper baits found on clearance sales, wal-mart racks, and second hand e-bay stuff.  Just thought I'd throw out my opinion on a thread instead of hijacking someone else's for this discussion.

There are tons of knockoffs and bargains in the fishing world.  Cheap line, hooks, sinkers, jigheads, plastics, cranks, and spinners are everywhere.  Some of them are good deals and some of them are a waste of your money.  I've been through a lot of "bargains" since I have 3 kids and am married at a pretty young age (24).  Needless to say, I have to find some good deals and multi-purpose things for me to have the necessary componants to fish.  Here's some of the things I've found:

Riverside Soft Plastics (wal-mart bottem shelf .99cents a bag plastics)-  These soft plastics are surprisingly good.  They make good smaller baits that are based on YUM designs (and actually have the YUM scent in them)  The baits, as far as I can tell, are made for finesse and small fish applications.  I like their 4" curley tail worms for jig&swims, since I often lose this type of bait due to the exposed hook and light line I swim them on.  I actually catch fish on this rig quite often...surprisingly enough on a cheap jighead, also from wal-mart.

FLW Jigs&Trailers-  I've found that the fiberguard always either comes too stiff or not stiff enough.  The skirts and fiberguard -need- to be trimmed on every single jig because they are way too long.  I don't like the hooks...not sure what they are but they rusted on me >  The jig trailers aren't too bad, but are a little on the thick side, sacrificing action on the fall.  They are also pretty long and can cause a few short strikes by fish.  On the good side, the jigs are cheap (meaning they can be your sacrifical lambs when needed).

Wal-Mart Spinnerbaits-  Honestly, they aren't that bad.  I change the blades on them since you can get blades for -cheap- online.  I also do things to buff up the skirt.  All in all...to make it a consistant fish catcher, you probably end up spending a grand total of 20 cents less than a quality spinnerbait.  These, like FLW jigs, are good sacrificial lambs though.  Chunk them into impossible cover and see what happens.  

Renegade Hard plastics (Cranks and jerks)-  They aren't bad at all.  most need tuning right out of the box, but have decent fish catching abilities once that problem is corrected.  I change the hooks out of them to gammies or owner trebels in the same sizes...sometimes in red.  All in all, not a bad buy.

Terminal Tackle (Hooks, rods, reels, line, and sinkers)  I strongly recommend buying QUALITY items in all of these categories.  With hooks, always be sure your package says Owner, Gamakastu (spelling??), or Mustad.  You can't go wrong with those 3.  Eagle Claw Laser Sharps aren't bad, but I prefer the aforementioned 3.  

Rods and reels-  You can get a Tournament Quantum 6'6 MH rod and reel combo for around 60 bucks at Wal-Mart.  These are GOOD combos and will handle just about any abuse you can think of on the water.  I highly recommend these and this combo is about the best you can get at a 'cheap' price.

Line-  Silver Thread Copolymer is a good substitution for Flourocarbon and Braided.  It's a good halfway point between the two in stretch, abrasion resistance, and sensitivity.  It also comes at half the price.  This is what I use, along with Spider Wire Stealth and Berkley Vanish (for finesse)

Hopefully this helps take some of the guesswork out of your bargain shopping.

[The_Natural]

I just spent $70 on a Shimano Sedona and Berkley Lightening rod at walmart.  The new lightened Lightening rods are indeed very light and feel nice.  It's amazing how much better they are now at $30 than they were in 1989 at $70-$100 (my first rod).

[Raul]

I just spent $70 on a Shimano Sedona and Berkley Lightening rod at walmart. The new lightened Lightening rods are indeed very light and feel nice. It's amazing how much better they are now at $30 than they were in 1989 at $70-$100 (my first rod).

My only beef with the new LRs is the guides, they don 't have ceramic inserts, and you are right about the price, got my first one in 1982, paid a whopping 100 bux for it, which back then was a whole lotta munny for a rod.

[Bankbeater]

You can get some really good deals when wal-mart cleans out their stock. The one by me recently had wave worms on sale for $1 a bag.

[wickyman]

I didn't see you mention anything about tackle bags on there.  So I am adding my two cents.  I went yesterday, to just look at everything they had in the fishing section of our local wal-mart, thinking that I was only there to browse.  When all of the sudden, I look down to the bottom shelf of the tackle bag isle, and I see this bright red Okeechobee Fats bag.  I pick it up, and see the price on the shelf.  My Jaw dropped, at an amazingly low $9.95!  I grabbed one, and a couple more medium boxes to go into the top compartment, which already housed two O-Fats medium plastic boxes.  I think it was $2.86 for the 2 boxes, and I have enough room for a lot of lures, gear, etc.!  I am very please with my purchase!  Of course there are other bags, or if you prefer, boxes, at varying prices!  I am on a really low budget, and I thought that it was time, at that price, to grab myself a bag!  

Also, even though you stated the renegades lures, They have other lures that are less than a dollar more, from many name brands, usually in small flats, or in bins.  I picked up a rebel Pop-R, in frog spotted, with a white and hologram fuzzy tail for 2 bucks and some change.  I also grabbed a Heddon mini torpedo in frog spotted, Cotton Cordell Big-O in grey shad.  All very good looking lures!  Don't get me wrong though, I also own a couple small renegade rattlers!  I have one in a golden shiner, and one in fire tiger.  

I also want to address the jigs.  I buy a lot of jigs every year, and I really like the Luck-e strike jigs, with the Gamakatsu hooks!  They are fantastic, but the paint wears off after a short while.  I also like the Renegade Blood-line jigs, they work excellent, when fishing a white, or green thumpin' tail grub, or even just a worm!  

I have been using several manufactures of worms, from YUM, robo worm, and senko, but I really prefer the cheaper worms, as they are really close, and produce the same results as the senko!  I do find similarities in colors, and size, but the weight, and feel of the rubber is different.  You will notice a huge different in movement between the cheaper worms, as apposed to the senko worms.  I catch just as many fish, with either worm!  

This is an awesome thread, maybe it will help some people whom are just starting, and maybe get them off on the right foot, as far as "bargain" or "low-budget" fishing goes!    Have a great day, hit that lake, pond, river, and happy fishing!

[wickyman]

You can get some really good deals when wal-mart cleans out their stock.  The one by me recently had wave worms on sale for $1 a bag.

That is a fantastic price!  I like the price before a sale, but it's a whole lot better during a sale!  Wave worms are great, and you can't go wrong with the tiki sticks!  I think that they are great, cheap, and durable worms!  They don't move like the senko worms, but fish don't really notice a whole lot!    They are worth every penny!  

[roadwarrior]

Well, I have a slightly different suggestion to save a lot of money. I have a lot of tackle, not nearly as much as some, but much more than others. I'm NOT getting rid of it, but if I had it all to do over, I might own less than half. Most of my tackle has either never been used or fished just a time or two. For example, over the past two years I think I have fished six different jerkbaits. I'm not sure exactly when I'm going to fish the other forty-two. Maybe I'll find the right water to fish one of those other colors I "needed" when I bought them.

I think you would be miles ahead if you bought three or four high quality lures (over time) within a given class rather than a dozen cheap baits all at once. With a little effort and a good lure retriever, most lures (hard baits) last indefinitely.

And one other suggestion:

Keep a list of lures HIGHLY recommended by people you trust. Add those baits to your tackle collection over time and when on sale. Don't buy stuff just 'cause it looks cool. Jumping on lures in the bargin bin isn't a good deal unless the bait is actually effective.

[wickyman]

That is a very good point.  I usually go for a lure that has some kind of realism to it.  If you think like the bass, then you will be ahead of the rest!  You basically want to stick to colors that are more natural to the fish, and other critters, that they might get a hold of!  When you throw pink, blue, and other colors like that, chances are, they aren't going to match anything in the area you fish, and the bass might have a little curiosity, but remember, curiosity killed the cat!  Just because a lure looks like it might be really good, or even worth a shot, it usually isn't!  Get a list of creatures in the area, such as small birds, bugs, fish, and smaller animals.  I know, it sounds weird, but I have first handedly seen a bass take a baby squirrel that fell out of its nest...  

Fish are your most likely bet, as far as a bass' dinner, or whatever.  We have many species of fish that the bass tend to eat on Clear Lake, in California.  We have trout, hitch, blue gill, crappie, catfish, and carp.  Of those, I know that the bass eat the blue gill, crappie, hitch, and trout.    So I look for a lure that is going to look as close to the markings of those fish, or at least in the same general shape.  Sometimes, you might want something to aggravate the fish into taking that type of lure though.  I like to use something that is bright green, or yellow first, then I throw out something more fit for the surroundings!  

It's all dependant on where the fish are suspended in the water also.  Are they top, mid, or deep?  If they are top, something that will make some kind of splashing, or spitting, will entice the bass to bite, but not always!  You might have to try a couple different top waters to get the desired effects.  I just recently got into diving lures, and purchased a mid diver, in a black, gray, white, with a red chin.  I have heard, that they produce many bigger fish on our particular lake!  The fish in the deeper parts will probably, or possibly want something brighter colored, to cause the effects that would catch their eyes.  But this isn't always true either.

Bass have a black, or faintly black line across their sides, that detects sound and vibration, much like the ear drum in our ears.  They use it to find food deeper down in the water, where light may, or may not be able to penetrate, due to folliage, or sheltering overhangs.  

My personal tactics have helped me land some fair sized bass, and I am happy with my results, from the research I have done over the course of the last couple months!  If all else fails, get yourself some shiners, and see what happens!  Even sometimes, a bobber and crawler!  

[Red]

i buy all my stuff at walmart...rods, reels,lures..everything..unless there is something i want that they dont have then i will go to academy....like senkos...walmart didnt have GY senkos and i wanted some, so i bought some at academy.....come to find out buy reading this forums Kinami senkos are exactly the same...and walmart does have them....i just recently bought a pinnacle solene reel, which walmart carries...but they didnt have left hand so i bought minje online....my 3 other abu's i bought from walmart, and my two berkley rods i got there, i do have one guide series rod from gander mountain but it was a gift...i have always had good luck with shakespere rods too....my favorite rod that i put the pinnacle on is a shakespere rod....i looked up online some of the reel names i have read about on here(revo for example) and cant believe the prices!! i dont think i could ever bring myself to pay that much money for a reel!  can a 200 dollar reel really be THAT much better or last THAT much longer than my 50 dollar rells?

Cliff

[wickyman]

I agree, it seems so pointless to spend that much money, on something that is going to be used for the same sport!  I am going to get me the abu garcia ambassadeur, orange colored reel at my local walmart!  I like the price, just over 69 dollars, and it feels lighter than the shimano reel, of the same price, at a local shop!  I am not all that worried about the price of a reel, but I am worried about materials, and walmart carries some of the nicer reels out there, people just don't like to buy them!  I buy my stuff from walmart because of their customer support, if an item isn't working right, they take it back, no questions asked!    I love it, and it's good that they back their sales up like that!  Not many local shops will!  They just want to send it in, and have it refurbished, and charge you to do it...  At least in my experiences!  

I have 2 out of 3 rods that are Shakespeare!  I have an older spinning rod that my dad bought back in 97 or 98.  It works great for bass!  And I have a Shakespeare intrepid IM7 bait casting/flipping rod!  Great rods for the price, and well worth, every penny!  I also have a Shakespeare reel, for my ultra light cherry wood pole.  Works perfect for crappie!  Caught my PB on it too!  4lbs 6oz, on a reel not meant for anything bigger than a 2-3lb fish!    Not bad!  

[Guest the_muddy_man]

Well, I have a slightly different suggestion to save a lot of money. I have a lot of tackle, not nearly as much as some, but much more than others. I'm NOT getting rid of it, but if I had it all to do over, I might own less than half. Most of my tackle has either never been used or fished just a time or two. For example, over the past two years I think I have fished six different jerkbaits. I'm not sure exactly when I'm going to fish the other forty-two. Maybe I'll find the right water to fish one of those other colors I "needed" when I bought them.

I think you would be miles ahead if you bought three or four high quality lures (over time) within a given class rather than a dozen cheap baits all at once. With a little effort and a good lure retriever, most lures (hard baits) last indefinitely.

And one other suggestion:

Keep a list of lures HIGHLY recommended by people you trust. Add those baits to your tackle collection over time and when on sale. Don't buy stuff just 'cause it looks cool. Jumping on lures in the bargin bin isn't a good deal unless the bait is actually effective.

RW has givien me some great points but this has to be his single best post. ABSOULUTELY CORRECT. I have bought some used cranks and top waters this spring to see what works for me I want to have my bag simple : COVER THE WATER TABLE AND TYPES OF COVER

Topwater/shallow>>>Mid Depth and some deep stuff I HAVE JUST GOT MY FIRST QUALITY JIGS eventulally I will weed out what works and what dosen't for me

What works now Original and Jointed Rapalas/Spittin Images and dog walking baits on top

*** Baits(senko knock offs) and Zoom Plastic worms and green ribbon tail worms and I have had moderate sucess with Jointed Glass Raps and some DT"S If the Jig thing takes off everything but the best quality of these lures will leave my bag I want sucess not a sore shoulder and bragging rights over who has the most stuff

RW GREAT INFO GREAT POST

[Stringjam]

Line-  Silver Thread Copolymer is a good substitution for Flourocarbon and Braided.  It's a good halfway point between the two in stretch, abrasion resistance, and sensitivity.  It also comes at half the price.  This is what I use, along with Spider Wire Stealth and Berkley Vanish (for finesse)

Silver Thread AN40 is good stuff for sure - gets very little attention, but does an excellent job.    

[Guest the_muddy_man]

Just another thought If it didn't catch fish when it was 6.99 why is gonna catch fish at 2.99  Just a question????????? :

[wickyman]

Which is a good reason to talk to the lake locals.    Most of the older guys whom fish every day, or more than most, will know what works, or works best.  If you figure out what is working, when it works, and your best chances in certain areas, then you will have more to base off that lure...  I know some people whom fish that lake all the time, they let me in on the secrets of what lures work best.  Then I make a list, and see if I can't find it for less than normal prices.  

Not only does it make a difference in the lure, but you need to learn how to work it, in different areas.  

[msmonroe]

I guess the reason I go to places like Academy or Sportsmans Warehouse (or take the occassional trip to BPS) is because, at least where I live, there are knowledgeable people that work there. They know AND fish in the lakes in the area. I waste alot less money and time because I can talk to these guys and get tips from them.

Personally, I've never had any kind of experience like that at a Walmart. I occassionally go there with my dad or brother-in-law, but in those instances there is almost never anyone there to help them, and they end up asking me questions about what to get.

Of course, if I already knew it all, then going to someplace with knowledgable salespeople would be a waste of time. But then so would going to Walmart. Then I'd just go to ***.com.

- Matt

[wickyman]

Yeah.  You really can't guess exactly what a fish wants, but you should have something in your arsenal that the fish is going to take...  It's like going to a restraunt and them only having one or two things on the menu...  You would rather eat somewhere else...  You know?  I make sure that I have a few things in there, whether or not it's a waste of money...  You might not have a lot now, or money at least, but in the future you will have a lot more tackle, as you build up...  You can never have too much stuff...  It's not possible...  You have to consider that you might want to try it as an alternative, because you lost all the producing baits, and find that the one bait you never tried, has produced all along...  

[Bud]

             can a 200 dollar reel really be THAT much better or last THAT much longer than my 50 dollar rells?                        

In one word YES.     Their is a world of difference between a $200 reel and a $50 dollar one.

[Red]

ok...lol...i will take your word for it..but i think iw ill stick to my 33 dollar abu garcias from walmart!

Cliff

[Guest the_muddy_man]

In one word YES.     Their is a world of difference between a $200 reel and a $50 dollar one. QUOTE

Yea 150 less to spend at the track

[Guest avid]

Well, I have a slightly different suggestion to save a lot of money. I have a lot of tackle, not nearly as much as some, but much more than others. I'm NOT getting rid of it, but if I had it all to do over, I might own less than half. Most of my tackle has either never been used or fished just a time or two. For example, over the past two years I think I have fished six different jerkbaits. I'm not sure exactly when I'm going to fish the other forty-two. Maybe I'll find the right water to fish one of those other colors I "needed" when I bought them.

I think you would be miles ahead if you bought three or four high quality lures (over time) within a given class rather than a dozen cheap baits all at once. With a little effort and a good lure retriever, most lures (hard baits) last indefinitely.

And one other suggestion:

Keep a list of lures HIGHLY recommended by people you trust. Add those baits to your tackle collection over time and when on sale. Don't buy stuff just 'cause it looks cool. Jumping on lures in the bargin bin isn't a good deal unless the bait is actually effective.  

Kent's logic is irrefutable.  There is no doubt that a carefully selected cross section of quality baits will serve the angler better than a "shotgun" approach to the bargan bin.

The only problem with logic is that it does not appeal to emotions.

I cannot - repeat - cannot go into a Wal-mart without buying SOMETHING from the fishing department.  It may only be a popping cork or a pack of hooks, but usually it's something more.

Have you tired those cheap little renegade worms?  they catch bassies fo' sure.

[FatBoy]

To get back to the original point of this thread...

I ABSOLUTELY DO NOT RECOMMEND any of Walmart's Renegade jig heads.  I bought a few packs of those last summer.  Within 2-3 weeks in my box every hook was rusted.  And I mean thoroughly rusted, even through the painted head.  

These days I keep a couple of those silica gel packs that you can get in shoes or whatever in each of my boxes (got that tip right here on BassResource.com!!!)  So rusting stuff is not so much of a problem any more.  But still, you should avoid those Renegade jig heads like the plague.  

[burleytog]

I don't know what hook they use in those heads, but they are very prone to rusting.

Doesn't matter if they get wet or stay dry, they just rust.

[Red]

well i have to say, i used those renegade jig heads almost exclusively for walleye fishing in minnesota and zero rust issues with them...they are cheap and they cought tons of walleyes for me...just my experience

Cliff

[wickyman]

Wait...  I haven't had any issues with the renegade jigs...  I have had them for quite a while, and none of them have rusted?!  Maybe it's just me, and my care to close my box when I fish...  Even the ones I have used are still like new...  I basically use the bloodline renegade jigs, but not a one has rusted...  I have zerust boxes by flambeau, and the supposedly let off a gas when you close the lid, that seals out the moisture...  I don't know if I believe that, but not one rusty hook!

[FatBoy]

Wait...  I haven't had any issues with the renegade jigs...  I have had them for quite a while, and none of them have rusted?!  Maybe it's just me, and my care to close my box when I fish...  Even the ones I have used are still like new...  I basically use the bloodline renegade jigs, but not a one has rusted...  I have zerust boxes by flambeau, and the supposedly let off a gas when you close the lid, that seals out the moisture...  I don't know if I believe that, but not one rusty hook!

Not jigs, jig HEADS.  I'm not talking about a jig with a skirt and weed guard.  I'm talking about just the lead head and hook like you'd rig a grub or something on.