More Jigs or Crankbaits

[Chance_Taker4]

The bait monkey is getting really strong and I think it is time to buy some more tackle. I have it narrowed down to either Jigs or Shallow Crankbaits. I currently have about 40 jigs in all shapes, sizes and colors and 25 square bill cranks in various size and color. Which would you stock up on? I am partial to throwing cranks this time of year and into the fall and back to jigs in the winter.

[NHBull]

I catch far more on crankbaits and tend to fall in love with a select few.

I did expand my suspended jerk baits and have pleasantly surprised.

 

I really do think more jigs are in order as simply changing the trailer, changes the bait

[bigbill]

I stock up on both. I notice lately the crankbaits, some of my favorites are being discontinued. I have boxes full of them in different colors. But I do purchase more in my hotter colors. What depth to buy?  How deep is the area your fishing. Sometimes I bounce a crankbait off the bottom. Most of the cranks I use from shore run 10' deep. But I also have deeper running cranks if I go out in a boat. In the late fall(November) I like to throw swimbaits like the yum money minnow. The dying minnow presentation works well. I was out in late November fishing during the snow flurries I had the bug to go fishing. I had a strike and it battles for 15 minutes till it spit the hook. There still feeding in late November. Go plastics.

[Fishes in trees]

If you can't absolutely, positively, justify stocking up on both jigs AND cranks and maybe some spinnerbaits, and a swim bait or two, perhaps some new line, then you really aren't hooked by the bait monkey

[Choporoz]

Both.  Duh.

 

 

I will say that I have discovered an unintended positive consequence of having lots of cranks ....a sort of inverse relationship that is good for catching;

-the more cranks I have, the less worried I am about losing one; thus, the more likely I am to put them in harms way....where the fish are.

So....Bait Monkey wins!  Having lots of lures makes me fish better.....helloooo T W.....here I come

[smalljaw67]

I would base it off which is needed more. If you lose a lot of jigs and they are your main weapon, then buy mostly jigs or if cranks are it, buy more of them. Don't overlook sales, especially your shallow cranks, if hard baits are on sale I will buy them first.

[Chance_Taker4]

7 minutes ago, Fishes in trees said:

If you can't absolutely, positively, justify stocking up on both jigs AND cranks and maybe some spinnerbaits, and a swim bait or two, perhaps some new line, then you really aren't hooked by the bait monkey

I have a soft plastic order from TW arriving tomorrow, I have over 100 spinnerbaits already, 7 1500 yrd spools of line, and I just placed an order with Academy for their store brand Cranks and Swimbaits. I have a feeling a Siebert order is probably be placed by the end of the week

[Outdoor Zack]

Save the money and just go fishing!  Youll be better off for it in the long run IMO 

[Team9nine]

59 minutes ago, Outdoor Zack said:

Save the money and just go fishing!  Youll be better off for it in the long run IMO 

 

I agree with this ^^

 

If you can't catch fish consistently with the 65 baits you already have, how is buying 20 or 30 more going to improve your game? Figure out which baits/styles/colors/brands of what you already own work best over a period of time, then build off that down the road. If you already are catching plenty on what you have, just buy a few more of the proven baits as you lose them or they wear out. Don't buy just to buy.

[kickerfish1]

More jigs for sure. 45 isn't enough to wet my appetite. Hair jigs, living rubber, swim, traditional silicone, etc...

[Bluebasser86]

45 jigs is down to bare bones. 25 cranks is about 20 more than I need.

[CroakHunter]

2 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

45 jigs is down to bare bones. 25 cranks is about 20 more than I need.

Not bare bones for me But definitely on the low side. And yes 25 cranks is unheard of for me. Don't think I've ever bought that many in my 26 year life. 

[IndianaOutdoors]

5 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

45 jigs is down to bare bones. 25 cranks is about 20 more than I need.

Guess I'm bassackwards.  I have probably close to 100 crankbaits.  Maybe only 20 jigs. Well skirted jigs anyway...  Not that I need that many of either.

[Bluebasser86]

32 minutes ago, IndianaOutdoors said:

Guess I'm bassackwards.  I have probably close to 100 crankbaits.  Maybe only 20 jigs. Well skirted jigs anyway...  Not that I need that many of either.

I pour and tie my own jigs, and I hate fishing cranks, along with the fact that cranks just aren't an option in a lot of our lakes anymore. 

[CTBassin860]

You're stocked up already. Just hit the water

I've got about 16 crankbaits and half of those are lipless. I have a couple different depths and sizes in bluegill,perch and craw for my divers. If I cant catch them with those,I cant catch them.