Livingston Lures

[ghost]

I was at BPS and the Pro Sizzle Jr and Dive Master Jr were on sale, there were one of each left, I bought them cuz I have been curious of Livingston lures.

I don't know if the electronic sound is suppose to be loud on these lures, but the ones I bought, the sound was low. I think the battery in them was getting weak sitting on the shelf, probably reason they were on sale. it was cool when I put them in water they made a clacking sound.

But I was not impressed, the more I thought about it, when the battery dies, it's just like any other lure on the market and you can't change out the battery.

So I am returning the 2 lures I bought, also the sale price wasn't all that significant . 

What are your thoughts of Livingston lures and the electronic sound it has? are they worth the asking price and after a year or so of use, you have just a regular lure?

[primetime]

I have noticed that DIck's has had them at a deep discount locally & they still are sitting on the shelves...I never really liked the concept but I am sure they catch fish...I like the way the lipless cranks look but not enough to buy one. Just my take.

[snake95]

First, I despise gimmicks of all types, and I am a cheap angler and normally wouldn't buy any lipless crank costing more than a good ol' red eye shad.  

But - I picked up a Livingston Pro Ripper lipless for $5 in the clearance bin at Walmart and it has been my best bait in the last 3 outings, catching bass each time.

My thinking was that it looked like a decent, well-made lure and it wouldn't matter if the crazy EBS worked or not.

In my first experience, I was tossing weightless stick baits into a cloudy pocket in otherwise clear shallow water, where I could actually see bass cruising in and out.  I had no takers so on a whim I basically pitched the Pro Ripper into the pocket and a bass slammed it on the fall.  I then made a long cast into the clear bay and ran it fast with my rod tip high, just below surface.   I caught another decent bass on a reaction bite.

The next time I was out I also caught several bass running it alternately fast and slow.

It was only then that I took the time to see if the EBS thing was detectable, and one of my co-workers had a good laugh when he saw me hunched over the office sink with the lure up against my ear.  It does croak away - but not loud.

Does the Pro Ripper work as a good lure?  Definitely!  It seems well made and it catches fish.  I thought the hooks seem a little undersized but very sharp and strong.  I'd say that's a good indication of the quality of their other lures.

Does the EBS help?  I'm not sure.  I actually don't want to believe it does, but it certainly didn't hurt in enticing a bass to strike at least a couple of times when it wasn't hit on a pure reaction strike.  I don't like to admit it, but honestly I'd keep the baits.

 

 

[flyingmonkie]

I'm not so sure if the glowing eyes and sound add much to the effectiveness to the lure.  I'd say there is an argument to be made that it does purely because it's different.  I think you could also make the argument that most of the time a crankbait strike is a reaction strike and it wouldn't matter if there are bells and whistles or not.

So my thinking: they are well made baits, so at the least, you have that.  Is there potential for the flair to catch an extra fish or two? Maybe... maybe not.  Solid buy at 5 or 6 bucks? Yes.  Worth 10 or 12 bucks?  I'd rather have a pair of SKs.

The Classic was won on them three years ago, so we know they catch fish.

[Bluebasser86]

I own 1 Livingston, one of their swimbaits, it sounds like a cricket chirping when it gets wet. Haven't caught a fish on it yet but I had a big one try real hard to eat it but I pulled the trigger to fast when she tried to eat it at the boat. 

Waiting for a Walking Boss part 2 to ever come back in stock to give one of those a shot, looks like a good bait.

[jsh32]

I got one for free because of a messed up package from one of the LTB/MTB places. On a pretty slow day I decided it couldn't hurt to throw it out. Within the first few cast I caught a little guy. Was this because of the sound it makes? Who knows, but I do know it obviously doesn't hurt. 

[WIGuide]

I've got one of their first generation crankbaits. It's a nice bait regardless of if the internals work or not. I don't know that they're worth what they're asking, but I've had mine for two years I believe and it still works. If you want to test them out of the water, lick your thumb and pointer or middle finger and touch the hook hangers. You'll be able to hear it. It's not overly loud, but when you think about it, fish swimming under water and feeding aren't that loud either. 

[Team9nine]

I don't ever see me owning a Livingston Lure, so I guess that covers my thoughts on them and their electronic sound. I don't care how bad you're whipping my butt on one, you'll just never find a lure called the "Pro Sizzle" in my boat - it's simply a matter of principle  

-T9

[j bab]

I can hear them fine. Also, to be fair, the sound is going to be way amplified under water.

All that being said, I don't think Livingstons are worth the money. I got some for cheap last year and they're perfectly fine but not worth full price imo

[William Rossi]

If they didnt have loud rattles that totally drown out the electronic chirping, we might see if the EBS worked.

Good quality cranks anyway if you pay normal crank prices.

[wdp]

Got some as birthday gift & have yet to use them. I need to give them a try. But I agree with others, kinda hard to justify the price when you can pick up some SK Redeyes for a fraction of the cost, and they're reliable fish catchers.