CHEAP BASS LURES THAT WORK

[scaleface]

5 minutes ago, fishballer06 said:

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. 

I pour my own too and know the cost of making one . My most productive baits have come when I took the components off broken manufacturers lures . I love my hand poured 1/2 ounce with Excaliber blades .

[fishballer06]

2 minutes ago, scaleface said:

I pour my own too and know the cost of making one. My most productive baits have come when I took the components off broken manufacturers lures. 

I agree. I've dissected a few old baits of mine for my own baits as well. Some of the manufactured baits have unique blades that you can't buy.

[plawren53202]

Much of what I'll say echoes comments others have made.  Having said that, I'm a major cheapskate, so here's my observations about cheapest bass baits:

 

--Sales of course are the best.  E.g., I just grabbed a bunch of z-man original and elite chatterbaits at $1.88 each in an online sale a local sporting goods store was having.

 

--Apart from sales: soft plastics can be cheap (or expensive).  The best deal going is usually Zoom or Yum at Walmart.  Look in particular for "value deals" in boxes below the Yum and Zoom lures on the rack.  I've generally found Zoom and Yum to be at least as durable as many other soft plastics--an example is Yamamoto, which seem to tear up awfully fast relative to price.

 

--Spinnerbaits: the cheapest are the ones in the $1 box at Walmart.  I've absolutely caught fish on these.  Now, some of them, the skirt will wear out faster, or it might need a little tweaking to get it to run straight.  But generally, I've had good luck with them.  

 

--Crankbaits, jerkbaits, other hard baits: Walmart has their own brand (Ozark Trail I think) that are the lowest price you can find.  Sometimes the components on these are sketchy--hooks, bill needs tweaking to run straight, etc.  I have caught fish on them, though.  Academy's H2O hard baits are not much more than Walmart's and seem to be much better made.  Bass Pro also has their own brand, and some of them will either be in a $2.75 bin, or some for regular price of $3.39-3.79, every time I go to BP.  They do also have their own brands for significantly more, so you just have to look at the price.

 

--Topwaters: I have caught many a fish on Walmart's Ozark Trail brand frogs, and they have seemed to hold up well.  There are also some Yum or Zoom soft plastic frogs that you can rig weightless/Texas style and fish on top, and I have caught fish on them as well.  

 

That gets you a basic selection of all three zones (topwater, moving bait/mid-water column, and slow baits/bottom).  I got back into bass fishing after a several year hiatus and had to start over with tackle (someone broke into our family farm and cleaned me out a couple of years ago).  You might try what I did: I got a basic selection of stuff relying on these sources, lots of Walmart and Ozark Trail stuff.  As I determined what I like to use best and what works best for the waters I fish, I then started slowly upgrading in those areas.  For instance, over the months I have gotten some 6th Sense squarebills on sale because I use squarebills a lot; I have also upgraded to some better spinnerbaits as skirts would fall off the cheapies.  Still using lots of my cheapy stuff though, like lots of Yum and Zoom plastics and the Walmart frogs.

[TnRiver46]

3 hours ago, Dangerfield said:

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.

My buddy brought a pack of TRDs and a pack of shroomz hooks fishing with me on the river. Said he had been slaying them in the pond. Before noon, he had lost all TRDs and all the jig headz. And he said he felt bad for me because i spent all morning trying to get his hooks back  with the trolling motor and not fishing. Z man sure does sell a lot of packs of those worms that supposedly last forever

[Tizi]

Academy H2O hardbaits are tough to beat, especially on sale.  Keep your eye open for sales from Outlet Bait & Tackle - they sell War Eagle at times for great deals.  I picked up 20 last year for $1.99 each.  And as others have said, soft plastics are also pretty affordable.

[Harold Scoggins]

Mike @Siebert Outdoors has the answer.

[Fishingmickey]

3 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

My buddy brought a pack of TRDs and a pack of shroomz hooks fishing with me on the river. Said he had been slaying them in the pond. Before noon, he had lost all TRDs and all the jig headz. And he said he felt bad for me because i spent all morning trying to get his hooks back  with the trolling motor and not fishing. Z man sure does sell a lot of packs of those worms that supposedly last forever

The Elaztec lasts forever but a snag is a snag and then it is gone.

FM

[AstroFishingTV]

A hook, weight, and worm. That should catch plenty of fish.

[waymont]

Bitsy Flip jigs, with a  small trailer of your choice will catch tons of fish. Try a Yum Wooley Bug at $2.99 per pack you can also use a TRD worm on this jig and clean up. Bitsy Flip jigs are $2.29 ea and have a great sharp hook.

5 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

My buddy brought a pack of TRDs and a pack of shroomz hooks fishing with me on the river. Said he had been slaying them in the pond. Before noon, he had lost all TRDs and all the jig headz. And he said he felt bad for me because i spent all morning trying to get his hooks back  with the trolling motor and not fishing. Z man sure does sell a lot of packs of those worms that supposedly last forever

Sounds like he was using the wrong lure for the situation.

[TnRiver46]

5 minutes ago, waymont said:

 

Sounds like he was using the wrong lure for the situation.

Indeed! I tried to warn him 

[lo n slo]

2 hours ago, AstroFishingTV said:

A hook, weight, and worm. That should catch plenty of fish.

boom

[Fishes in trees]

As mentioned by a couple of previous posters, "cheap" is a relative term.  "you get what you pay for? is true I bass fishing lures, just like most other situations.  For spinnerbaits, I like Terminators & War Eagle brands.

[WRB]

All lures that produce multiple bass the cost should be divided by the number of bass caught per lure. You buy a $10 lure and catch 10 bass, that is $1 per bass, catch 20 and it's 50 cents per bass.

Soft plastic worms are economical initailly but can add up to over $1 per bass. Hooks and weight are not free and you lose a lot of hooks and weight when bass fishing. The worms can be eccomonical depending on the brand and quantity per bag, average about 25 cents per worm that gets destroyed quickly but still the least expensive lures on the market.

Jigs on the other hand may be the most expensive per bass caught but the average size bass is usually larger then other lures. You lose jigs just like hooks and weights but more often.

Avoid cheap lures at all costs.

Tom

[RB 77]

Plastic worm. Initial start up cost is very affordable. They are proven fish catchers. You can often times catch multiple fish on the same worm before its too worn to use anymore. Can be rigged weedless to help prevent loss due to snags. Spinnerbait would be another good one. One can get several dozen catches before the bait becomes too bent to be serviceable or losing one to a snag.

[AstroFishingTV]

19 hours ago, lo n slo said:

boom

I think most people over complicate fishing. Sometimes fish bite at simplicity. But what do I know? I'm no pro

[Ratherbfishing]

On 11/20/2019 at 7:58 AM, NYWayfarer said:

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. 

Years ago, I would have agreed but have you seen their prices LATELY?  Even Rebel baits have gone up a bunch.  

[NYWayfarer]

7 minutes ago, Ratherbfishing said:

Years ago, I would have agreed but have you seen their prices LATELY?  Even Rebel baits have gone up a bunch.  

I get my Rebel Craws at Walmart for under $5

[Ratherbfishing]

47 minutes ago, NYWayfarer said:

I get my Rebel Craws at Walmart for under $5

Proof that I'm getting old and not keeping up with the times.  My schema doesn't allow anything over 3 bucks to be considered "cheap."  :  )

[Bluegillslayer]

I agree but fishing can be expensive

[Bankbeater]

Last year I picked up one of the egg crankbaits from BPS. I’m really surprised that I caught bass on it and it was only about 4 bucks. 

[the reel ess]

For a while my PB was caught on a BPS spinnerbait that cost a dollar. It was the old Uncle Buck store brand that was about 20 years old. When I got into spinnerbaits, I bought several different size and colors combinations. I still have a few. Then that PB was eclipsed by a soft plastic craw on a plain weedless Arky jighead. That's a pretty cheap lure. As already mentioned, the Zoom Trick Worm is a great bass-to-buck ratio. After the nose gets chewed up, you can cut off a little and re-rig it and catch one or two more. In fact, I believe it gets more bites when it's shorter.

 

As for hardbaits, you generally get what you pay for. But you don't have to spend $10 or more on, say, a walking bait or a popper. For instance, the Spook and Pop R still really get the job done. Academy house brand hardbaits can be a deal. I think they're made by different companies because some are better quality that others.

[AstroFishingTV]

I would say fishing is the most expensive sport besides golf. There are ways to get around having to buy every bait.

[Caliyak]

On 11/19/2019 at 7:43 PM, Bluegillslayer said:

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     

Dude, keep it simple. Go to Walmart and get your gear. When you are making money, you can upgrade to better gear. Many of us started with Kmart gear and we did fine with that gear. I will tell you to get specific gear that you know that works. For example, a jig, dinger or shim e stick, a spinner bait, brush hog and some crank baits. Walmart carries all these types of lures. Don't try to match what the pro have and do. Enjoy and learn. 

Also, the @Glenn is from the Washington. He can probably give you the WA specific lures. 

 

** Hey Glenn, I still remember your comment about "the" and I being from the California. LOL 

[Cam R]

The booyah pond magic spinnerbaits 1/8 oz and 3/18 oz both work well

 

 berkley powerbait 3” paddletail swimbaits come in a 5 pack at walmart and are $2.96 (i think)

 

mister twister grubs are 5.49 for a 20 pack I use the 4” in white and catch plenty of SM LM and Pike with a 1/4 oz jig head

 

booyah pad crasher is a $5 frog, very good and affordable

[primetime]

 

For $20-$30 at Walmart, you can set yourself up well. Pack of Eagle Claw Lazer worm hooks, few packs of plastics in a few different styles and colors...Then a couple $1 spinnerbaits,maybe a cordell super spot. I wouldn't buy GYB senkos, simply but the least expensive brand. Zoom Flukes are only $2.99 at walmart, I believe a pack of trick worms are $3, so if in doubt, grab green pumpkin for trick worm, watermelon red for a Fluke. also..Grab one of the Cordell Big O's usually in the bins for a $1 as a crankbait, same with the cordell super spot lipless crank which is often a buck when called "Bait Bonanza". Not sure what if any the differences are. Creme makes good baits, been around forever for a reason, those weighted swimbaits I think called the "Spoiler" or 5 packs of the berkley powerbait weighted swimbaits catch fish and are cheap. 

 

Walmart carries  Luck E Strike 6" Curly tail worms for .99 and a curly tail worm flat out catches fish, and they seem to like that strawberry scent they come with. 

 

You can also find cordell and bomber jerkbaits for a Buck in the bait bonanza series and they will catch fish just fine. I would also grab a beetle spin for a buck. $1 spinnerbaits,buzzbaits etc. catch fish. Walmart just buys them from an OEM overseas so they are not necessarily "Cheap". 

 

You don't need the most expensive brands to catch fish, a Rebel Popper will catch fish as well as any popper in my opinion. As mentioned, a Booyah Pad crusher is a fantastic frog for any price. Mirrolure lures and tackle are inexpensive price wise, but certainly not cheap by any means. Mirrolures makes quality lures and terminal tackle. Same as Cordell and Bomber, Rebel....

 

Walmart actually has a good selection of tackle and it all catches Bass just fine. For line you can just get some Trilene or stren mono.....