Inexpensive prop baits

[sglenn12]

Hey all. I am looking to get some prop baits for spring fishing and I was wondering if there are any out there that won't break the bank? What are some of the better inexpensive prop baits out there? Has anyone had any experience with the H20 prop baits?

 

Thanks

[Bluebasser86]

The H2O baits are top notch. The Slush Daddy is my go to prop bait. 

[Jar11591]

Heddon Torpedo.

[papajoe222]

Cotton Cordell Crazy Shad, WoodChopper, Smithwick Devil's Horse

[Airman4754]

  On 3/22/2016 at 3:28 PM, Jar11591 said:

Heddon Torpedo.

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Yes!!! 

[mrmacwvu1]

Heddon tiny torpedo in clear is killer on smallmouth on a clear spring day

[primetime]

1- Smithwick Devil's Horse is one of the more popular here in Florida, and so is the Rapala XRAP Prop which is more expensive but they do have different actions...I like the wooden Devil's horse and Cordell Boy Howdy's since they float higher and the props are not as loud, you can still find the older ones cheap on Ebay, but the new plastic one's are fine...For a double prop with torpedo shape the Cotton Cordell Crazy Shad is another really good topwater for when fish are schooling or active. I have 2 of the academy Slush props (I have not used them much but the quality is awesome) but If you want action, the Tiny Torpedo is hard to beat....Small, I would suggest adding split rings since they come without, and you will lose less fish but I love Topwater Prop baits....The Heddon Torpedo is kind of the standard for me, I have tried more espensive ones but I find I do just as well with the Torpedo compared to Lucky Craft etc...

My overall favorite however is......The Bagleys Bang O Lure Single Prop Floating Rip bait....You can get them in 2 props, 1, and the best part is you can easily remove the prop and put it on another Floating Minnow, or any lure, but the Bagley's prop bait get's killed...The Gold/Black stripe is a killer....

I would never leave home without a XRAP Prop, Devil's Horse, Tiny Torpedo, Regular Torpedo, Crazy Shad, and several Bagley's prop baits, and the Bagley's is my workhorse since it can do tricks....

[MIbassyaker]

The Heddon tiny torpedo in chrome (black back or blue back) is my all-time favorite topwater. i like them better than the regular torpedo; the prop seems to spin better. The Devil's Horse is a winner too. Those two work so well, I don't believe I've ever tried any other propbaits.

[Mumbly]

I haven't tried the H2O prop baits but I haven't tried an H2O hardbait that wasn't good. If Bluebasser86 gives it the thumbs up then you can count on it.

My prop baits consist of Heddon Torpedo's (baby, tiny and even teeny although I did have a 3lb smallmouth pull the rear screw eye out of the teeny losing fish, hook and prop) and Dying Flutters (don't think the Flutters are made anymore but I could be wrong), Cordell Crazy Shad and Bomber Rip Shad.

Oh...forgot the last one that I haven't seen talked about much and that is the Hubs Chub Rattalur. I had watched a few Billy Westmoreland fishing shows back in maybe the mid to late 80's and he was just starting to fish those so I bought a few. It's a fantastic prop bait but they currently sell for $8.49 - $9.49 so they are more expensive than the others mentioned in this thread.

[Bankbeater]

One more vote for the tiny torpedo.

[smalljaw67]

I'm old school and really thought there was no better prop bait than the Heddon Dying Flutter, I have a good stash of the discontinued wonder. Well 2 seasons ago a friend introduced me to the Yo-Zuri 3DB Prop, that bait is killer, it has a plastic prop that really throws water and it makes a noise unlike any I've heard before but the fish just hammer it. Right now I have caught close to 100 fish on it and have yet to miss one or lose one on it, when the fish hit it they  mean it and try to eat it.

[sglenn12]

Thanks for the help! Plan on picking a few H2O's up along with some of the others mentioned in this post!

 

Thanks!

[Bluebasser86]

  On 3/23/2016 at 11:02 AM, smalljaw67 said:

I'm old school and really thought there was no better prop bait than the Heddon Dying Flutter, I have a good stash of the discontinued wonder. Well 2 seasons ago a friend introduced me to the Yo-Zuri 3DB Prop, that bait is killer, it has a plastic prop that really throws water and it makes a noise unlike any I've heard before but the fish just hammer it. Right now I have caught close to 100 fish on it and have yet to miss one or lose one on it, when the fish hit it they  mean it and try to eat it.

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I like the looks of that bait. Is the plastic prop quieter than a regular metal prop? I know a plastic prop on something like a buzzbait is quieter and gives a lot different sound. I'm intrigued by idea of what this bait must sound like, more of just the chopping of the water and less of the buzz of a metal blade I would think?

[smalljaw67]

  On 3/24/2016 at 9:21 AM, Bluebasser86 said:

I like the looks of that bait. Is the plastic prop quieter than a regular metal prop? I know a plastic prop on something like a buzzbait is quieter and gives a lot different sound. I'm intrigued by idea of what this bait must sound like, more of just the chopping of the water and less of the buzz of a metal blade I would think?

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The prop is pretty loud, I too thought it would be quiet like plastic buzz blades. Metal props have a distinct "Frrrrpppppprtttt" with metallic sound, this polycarbonate blade has a deeper "Brrrrrrrrrppppp" with a loud "hum" is what I would call it. I remember the first pull my buddy gave to the bait, I looked at him and told him it is going to get smoked as I never heard that sound and it was louder than I expected. He gives it a quick pull-pull and it wasn't stopped for a second and WOOSH!!!!! What is neat is it will call fish in dirty water, but the translucent patterns, or prism colors as Yo-Zuri calls them, work great in clear water, I've been using in situations that call for walking baits with a high success rate but every fish has hit it to eat it so far.