CHEAP BASS LURES THAT WORK

[Bluegillslayer]

I am vary new to the site and to catching bass that are not dinks I am new to bass fishing. Part of the reason why I have not caught bigger fish (my pb is a 3 ponder) is because I have almost only used ultralight or multi species lures like grubs and tiny trout/panfish crankbaits. I made a topic the other day titled "getting into bass fishing" and many people said to get stick baits and spinners because they are good for beginners I plan on buying some "stick-os" for the stickbait selection but what about spinner baits? I do not want to spend a lot of money on lures because I am only a kid, so if their are brands that are cheap like "Creme" or "Bigbite baits" lures that work good that would be great, by the way the bass in the pond I fish a lot are no more than 3 pounds. The water is vary dark in the deeper parts and clear and shallow in other parts of the pond, forage is bluegill their are also trout, the pond is not vary weedy and their is not a lot of structure any suggestions? thanks.

-Bluegillslayer     

[MN Fisher]

Well, the bass in my profile pic was a 3.9# caught on a 3/8oz Jawbone Spinnerbait - DSG exclusive that costs $2.99 each. They also come in 1/2oz size in a small variety of colors. They also have a Buzzbait at the same price

 

Another option, a little more pricy, but also only at DSG is the Strike King Banshee line. Both Spinnerbait (1/4, 3/8, 1/2) and Buzzbaits (3/8, 1/2) at $4.99 each - wider color selection in the Spinnerbaits than the Jawbone line

 

https://www.dickssportinggoods.com/f/spinnerbaits?pageNumber=0&filterFacets=X_BRAND%3AJawbone%2CStrike King

 

Add the stickbaits that can be used Wacky style or T-Rigged and you've got a good start.

[Bluebasser86]

Depends on your definition of "cheap". Sometimes cheap doesn't equal a value. A bait that is really effective but cost a couple bucks more is worth it IMO. The Academy H2O lineup is some of the best value baits out there.

[punch]

Want a cheap lure that'll catch fish? A scum frog. You can get em at any walmart too!

[Bluegillslayer]

I mean lures in the price range of 6 dollars or less

[OkobojiEagle]

44 minutes ago, Bluegillslayer said:

Part of the reason why I have not caught bigger fish (my pb is a 3 ponder) is because I have almost only used ultralight or multi species lures like grubs and tiny trout/panfish crankbaits...

 

...by the way the bass in the pond I fish a lot are no more than 3 pounds.

-Bluegillslayer     

...the other part of the reason you're not catching bigger fish might be there aren't bigger fish in your pond to catch.

 

oe

[Bluegillslayer]

But the silly thing is I have not caught any of the 2-3 ponders in this pond just super tiny bass caught on bluegill lures. I know they are in there because I have seen them with my own eyes I have not used any lures specifically used for bass, which is why I am looking for cheap bass lures that work. I also caught the 3 ponder in another lake.

Edited November 20, 2019 by Bluegillslayer
mistake

[txchaser]

To answer your specifc question - Pond Magic spinnerbaits

 

 

Paddletail worm like a Yum Swimmin Dinger (or the bps version of the same), weightless t-rigged or with a light belly weighted hook. 

 

read this if you haven't seen it

https://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/13845-guaranteed-to-catch-bass

 

[Bluegillslayer]

Thanks, looks good.

[Hammer 4]

1 hour ago, Bluegillslayer said:

But the silly thing is I have not caught any of the 2-3 ponders in this pond just super tiny bass caught on bluegill lures. I know they are in there because I have seen them with my own eyes I have not used any lures specifically used for bass, which is why I am looking for cheap bass lures that work. I also caught the 3 ponder in another lake.

If bass are spawning, and you have dinks/bucks, being small bass, there has to be a good sized female that laid eggs for that to happen. It's possible there are bigger bass, you or those you have talked to just haven't caught them yet.

 

I've caught 7 lb trout on 4 lb mono, so you can catch them. As you fish more, you gain more knowledge...Keep at it. Oh and BTW, keep an eye out for used baits, sometimes you can get a great deal on not so cheap baits.

[Koz]

2 hours ago, Bluegillslayer said:

I mean lures in the price range of 6 dollars or less

Best cheap cheap lures are the $1.00 spinnerbaits at Wal Mart.

 

But for under $6 there are a ton of good baits out there to choose from starting with an Original Chatterbait.

[NHBull]

You can't tell the cost of something u til the accounting period is over.

That said you also have to take into consideration replacing treble hooks if applicable. A good example for me would be my pop Max's .Don't think I have ever lost one and they do hold up better than their peers.  I also think that there is a Big quality difference and performance in spinners.

 

[N Florida Mike]

The lucky strike worms at Wally World are good . They’re in the bargain basket. I get the 4 inch ones. Tequila is my fav. Color. They are light, so I use them with a small split shot on a finesse rig . I try to stay with 8 pound test so they will cast good enough, with a 1 or 2/0 wide gap hook .Bass love em.

[Hook2Jaw]

Most YUM offerings are good bang for the buck.  I was excited for their Ned rig offerings, but I save more money throwing Z-Man TRDs.  My favorites are the YUM Dinger, Christie Critter, Craw Chunk, Pulse, Kill Shot, and Finesse Worm.

 

Like @Bluebasser86 above me said, H2O Xpress from Academy have good hard baits to tie on.  Stepping up a few dollars from that, I like Berkley's hard baits as well.  I will say I don't like the lipless from either company, opting for Strike King Red Eye Shads.

 

Sometimes, it's best to go for the best bang for your buck rather than bottom of the barrel cheap.

[TnRiver46]

Plastic worms!!!

[Mobasser]

Plastic worms are a cost effective bass lure. You can get a couple bags of worms, some slip sinkers, and good hooks. Later, you could upgrade your rod for a fast action med, or med hvy to fish them with. 

[scaleface]

The price of spinnerbaits has sky rocketed .  Look for less expensive ones  that have a ball bearing swivel . A lot of bass will be caught when the lure is paused and those with  cheap swivels  the blades wont turn .

[Dangerfield]

Cost to acquire might not be cheap but the value of Elaztech baits, from a durability stand point is leaps and bounds better than any plastic bait out there. I've got some TRDs that are 2 years old and I rarely need to restock. If I'm buying new, it's to mess with a new pattern.

[Sam]

Hold onto your pennies, nickels and dimes. The sales will start after Thanksgiving and go through January. You can get some good baits at good prices after Thanksgiving.

 

You do not reflect where you live in your Avatar so we can't give you any input on local fishing expos this winter. Try to find them on the Internet and go to one if it is close to your home. And please add your location to your avatar so we can give you better input.

 

As an example, check out this Richmond Fishing Expo site to give you an idea of what to look for in your neck of the woods: https://www.richmondfishingexpo.com/  So many baits to choose from you could actually go nuts.

 

Walmart. Check out Walmart. They have some very good baits at good prices. And they put fishing baits on sale, too.

 

And Dick's. Dick's starts expensive but now and then they mess up and reduce a good bait's price.

 

Look at the sales bins at a Bass Pro Shop if you can get to one.

 

Academy has fantastic baits. I love their H2O frogs. Best ones out there.

 

As for what baits that work? They all work, sooner or later. But since we have no idea if you are in Florida, California, North Dakota, New York, North Carolina, etc. we really can't laser in on any one specific bait. But I can suggest going with YUM Dinger stick baits as opposed to Senkos. They are inexpensive and work great. Rig them Wacky and start flipping, flipping and casting.

 

Look for Bandits in place of Strike King for crankbaits.

 

Seek out baits made by local guys that are less expensive than the manufacturer brands. In fact, in Virginia there is a guy who makes a buzzbait to die for. It is the best buzzbait I have ever thrown. Even better than my Cavitrons. So look for inexpensive homemade baits in your favorite local tackle store.

 

Now start saving those pennies, dimes and nickels and get ready to do battle at your favorite tackle store starting Friday, November 29th. Get up early and be there when the store opens. Do some recon first, if possible, the day before or a few days before the sale begins.

 

And of course, I don't do this, but when you do your recon and you find some baits you want, hide them in the store the day before the sale starts. You can then get them and be ready to stand in line for an hour to check out.

 

Tell your parents and relatives that you have enough underwear and to give you tackle store gift certificates or money for Christmas.

 

Let us know what you get AFTER YOU TELL US WHERE YOU LIVE so we can give you better input.

 

Have Fun!

 

 

[greentrout]

Academy >> Zoom 20 pk. Trick Worms 3.99 ...

1.79 H&H Spinnerbait ...

good fishing ...

[NYWayfarer]

Rebel Craw is a cheap Bass lure that works.

 

Plastics are good cheap lures but you will go through them fast. A small crank like the Rebel Craw will catch fish until you lose it to a snag. 

[drew4779]

I feel like most of us who started bass fishing as kids have been though this.  I remember blowing a whole paycheck in high school on a K-Mart going out of business sale where a buddy and I bought nearly the entire fishing aisle.  But before that, we would go to yard sales and badger our parents to take us to flea markets.  We would also scour the shore lines and over hanging trees for lures other fisherman were too troubled to get un-snagged.  

 

But you asked about cheap lures that will work, so... almost any soft plastic will catch bass, regardless of brand name.  Cheap spinners will catch bass too, but may fall apart easily (although I've had not-so-cheap spinners fall apart as well).  Crank baits like the above mentioned rebel craw is what I learned on, and will catch just about anything that swims.  A jig is probably one of the best ways to get those larger bass to bite, and can be found for a couple bucks.

[fishballer06]

1 hour ago, scaleface said:

The price of spinnerbaits has sky rocketed .  Look for less expensive ones  that have a ball bearing swivel . A lot of bass will be caught when the lure is paused and those with  cheap swivels  the blades wont turn .

Most folks don't realize what it costs to build a spinnerbait. 

 

I can't put a ball bearing swivel and a skirt on a spinnerbait for less than $1, yet there's somehow companies out there retailing spinnerbaits for $1 or $2. 

 

Trust me, buying a premium built spinnerbait is a totally different bait than the cheap one's off the shelf. 

[Jaderose]

H&H SpinnerBaits.  You can them in bulk on the bay or places like Academy have for less than 2 bucks.  They catch fish and if you lose them, who cares.

[Black Hawk Basser]

I'd suggest a small (1.5") Bomber shallow diving crankbait.  I catch all sizes of bass on them, and they also catch a multitude of other species.  It's a viable option for shore fishing, as it won't dive so deep that you'll get caught up in lots of weeds.  They "fit the bill" for your price range.  They are generally around $4.

 

I agree with the suggestions others have made about fishing plastics such as Stick-Os/Senkos or other plastic worms.  Just remember to be patient with these, and creep them along slowly - you don't just cast and reel in like you would with a twister tail grub, spinnerbait, or crankbait.

 

Someone mentioned a Chatterbait.  That would be another great thing to try.  Just cast these out and reel in.  The thump from the blade really gives a guy confidence, and you definitely know it when you get a bite.