H2O Xpress lures

[beginningfisherman]

I am looking at some of the h20 express hardbaits that they have on sale and thinking about picking some up. What are the opinions on them and which models should I buy or avoid?

[wordty]

Well I have had very good luck with them...many others on here have well...some people replace hooks and o-rings, but i don't do any of that...i stock up when they go on sale...my best two have been the sexy shad lipless crank bait like a RatlTrap and the red / craw of the same bait...I am in Louisiana fishing Toledo Bend and local dark / stained ponds and lakes

[the reel ess]

Well, their reviews are good. I have these 2:

 

https://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/h2o-xpress-jointed-sunfish-35-in-swimbait#repChildCatid=22567

https://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/h2o-xpress™-lcr-5-8-oz-lipless-crankbait#repChildCatSku=026272351

 

The swimbait looks like really good quality. But it sinks fast. If you don't reel it kind of fast, it's swimming nose-up, which looks weird to me. And it helicopters when you cast. I have yet to catch a fish on it. I had one good day with the lipless crank. But the next time out, it got spanked by the Cordell Spot my buddy was using. I had to switch baits to catch anything. Mine is the gold/black color and the finish started coming off. I haven't caught enough fish on it for it to be looking beat up.

 

[Mobasser]

I had great luck last year on the H2o popper. Good quality hooks and good finish. The cost is so good when they have sales, you could try several

[Brett's_daddy]

Generally speaking they have the best "house" baits of all (including Bass Pro Shops, Cabelas etc.).

[Robin]

Cannot go wrong with their square bills! They are as good or better than anyone else's and are about half the price.

I have been hoarding these for the last year out of fear that they may discontinue certain colors. Every bit as good as Strike King and the other name brands.

[bigbassin']

I've thrown three of their lures, the jerkbaits that look like 110's, the prop bait that has a bluegill profile to it, and their wakebait. 

 

The Prop bait is solid, for a while it was the only topwater I threw.  During spring this is my go to topwater.  Quality is great, makes a huge disturbance without really moving very far.  Not sure if these are on sale, but either way I'm pretty sure you wouldn't be disappointed picking up a few. 

 

I'm not a jerkbait expert by any means, x-raps are the only other I've thrown, but I would take the Academy brand over x-raps if I had to pick just one for bass.  I've got a grey/red glitter pattern and a white/blue pattern I think.  The white/blue pattern has worked better for me.  For the price I'd say their a good choice if you only fish jerkbaits a couple of times a year  (me).

 

The wakebait is ok, I've caught fish it with it and it seems to be made of good parts just like the others.  My only knock on it is that it's been outfished side-by-side with a Shallow A a couple of times and it wasn't even close.  Of course there's a lot of factors that play into that and maybe 30 minutes earlier the H2O bait would of been the better choice.

[Bluebasser86]

9 hours ago, Brett's_daddy said:

Generally speaking they have the best "house" baits of all (including Bass Pro Shops, Cabelas etc.).

Agreed and it's not even close. 

 

Not a big fan of the swimbaits, but there's nothing wrong with them, just not anything special. All the rest of their baits are solid though. 

[Sam]

13 hours ago, Brett's_daddy said:

Generally speaking they have the best "house" baits of all (including Bass Pro Shops, Cabelas etc.).

X2

[ThatredneckguyJamie]

I've got several of the H2O express rattle trap type and have had better luck with them than the actual Rat L Trap..and the price is MUCH better

[guitarkid]

12 hours ago, Sam said:

X2

X3

[Deleted account]

25 minutes ago, guitarkid said:

X3

X4

 

[Abby]

I just got a box of their square bill lures and they look solid with great coloring. I have yet to try them out but the sale price and free shipping was too good to pass up... GO FOR IT...

[volzfan59]

I agree with everyone else, these are excellent baits. I own a ton of them. Like "Brett's_daddy" said, best house brand bait made. I don't change the hooks or split rings either.

[Falkus]

H2O XPRESS™ Ultimate Jerk Shad 1/2 oz. Floating Jerk Bait

 

They do look like megabass for a great price - would this be something that I should try out ? 

would I need to replace the hooks to convert it into suspending 

 

Sexy Ayu & Crackle looks good 

[Bluebasser86]

2 hours ago, Burke said:

H2O XPRESS™ Ultimate Jerk Shad 1/2 oz. Floating Jerk Bait

 

They do look like megabass for a great price - would this be something that I should try out ? 

would I need to replace the hooks to convert it into suspending 

 

Sexy Ayu & Crackle looks good 

These baits are mislabeled, as things seem to often be on Academy's website, at least when it comes to fishing tackle. They are suspending baits, not floaters. I own several of them in most all the colors they offer but crackle is by far my favorite. 

[the reel ess]

I forgot, I have their frog bait too. The price is right at $2.99 and it would do in heavy cover. But it's harder to walk in the open and the material feels harder than Booyah and more expensive frogs. I bought on a whim because I didn't have a black frog. I'm sure I could catch some fish on it. A rod with a little tip action would help it out. I have a frog-specific rod that's stiff enough to shoot pool with. I may give it another go on my 7' MH jig/worm rod sometime.

[Huntero_01]

On 3/15/2018 at 7:26 PM, Abby said:

I just got a box of their square bill lures and they look solid with great coloring. I have yet to try them out but the sale price and free shipping was too good to pass up... GO FOR IT...

I just did the same thing. They look great. I also bought the “Angler” rod along with it. All at a GREAT price!