Crankbaits for the coming year, suggestions.

[Timothy Glen Vaughan]

I've been avoiding getting into the crankbait game for awhile but my next baitmonkey purchase is going to be a lot of crankbaits. Ideally I have around $75 to spend. If you were beginning to build a box of crankbaits for Oklahoma what you start with? Predominately kayak fishing from March through September.

[Dangerfield]

Not sure what happened to my post... The Duo Realis M62 & M65 have a unique hunting action that is unlike any other cranks I have. A bit more than a Spro but cheaper than the big Japanese brands.

[JediAmoeba]

Go get yourself a variety of strike king or lucky strike crankbaits.  Some squarebills, some round bills in shallow and medium diving depths.  Get some white/chartreuse, bluegill and some craw patterns.  75 bucks will get you 10-15 baits and a decent start...but it can be a slippery slope getting into crankbaits.

[CountryboyinDC]

If you're looking for bang for the buck, something like https://www.samsclub.com/p/kvd-tourn-bundle-16-pc-kvd-bundle/prod21200396 would get you a small variety of SK cranks, plus a couple of spinnerbaits, a buzzbait, and a trap for $35 from Sam's.  I've seen these on sale for $25 pretty often and the reason they haven't ended up as someone's Christmas present is I'm not a member of Sam's club.

[scaleface]

15 minutes ago, CountryboyinDC said:

If you're looking for bang for the buck, something like https://www.samsclub.com/p/kvd-tourn-bundle-16-pc-kvd-bundle/prod21200396 would get you a small variety of SK cranks, plus a couple of spinnerbaits, a buzzbait, and a trap for $35 from Sam's.  I've seen these on sale for $25 pretty often and the reason they haven't ended up as someone's Christmas present is I'm not a member of Sam's club.

Thats a great deal , especially if  they can be had for 25 bucks .

[Dens228]

I'm partial to 6th Sense. 

A couple of Movement 80X for 1-3 feet, a couple Crush 50 2-X for 2-5 feet, Curve 55 for 5-10 feet, and a couple of Cloud 9 C15 for 12-19 feet.  

That's 8 very good crankbaits for under $70. 

[NorthernBasser]

13 hours ago, Dens228 said:

I'm partial to 6th Sense. 

A couple of Movement 80X for 1-3 feet, a couple Crush 50 2-X for 2-5 feet, Curve 55 for 5-10 feet, and a couple of Cloud 9 C15 for 12-19 feet.  

That's 8 very good crankbaits for under $70. 

Also, 6th Sense hooks are sticky sharp. Lots of companies you have to change the hooks out. 

[swhit140]

Bomber Square A

Bandit 100,200

Rat-L-Trap, Cotton Cordell Super Spot

 

I've also been using these KDS 1.5 RC square bill cranks that have a good choice of colors. They have them on sale for only $3.49

https://www.fishkds.com/apps/webstore/products/category/917360?page=1

[deadadrift89]

KVD 1.5

Bandit 200

Strike King Series 5

Strike King Red eye shad 2 Tap

[NittyGrittyBoy]

6th sense Squarebills. All the way. I used to be diehard SK guy, but hooks and durability of 6th sense has sold me.

 

Stack your box up with those and probably a couple Rapala DT-series, DT-6 and DT-10. Should cover most all your cranking needs unless you fish some really deep water. 

[plawren53202]

Ditto on 6th Sense.  Good quality products.  I've been slowly building my collection as they constantly have a good selection on their clearance or sale page, with many as low as $4 or $5 apiece.  And, it's not hard to find a 10% off code on social media to add on top of the sale prices.

 

But more importantly, I've found their stuff to be good quality, great hooks, and they catch fish for me.

 

Unless you're fishing deep water, I'd agree with comments above and start with square bills.  Get a range that covers shad patterns (natural colors or to match your local bait, and dirty water colors) and craw patterns.  Maybe also grab a couple of lipless.

[Dens228]

1 hour ago, NorthernBasser said:

Also, 6th Sense hooks are sticky sharp. Lots of companies you have to change the hooks out. 

And they are stronger than some less expensive brands.  The was one of the reasons I switched to them.

 

[Choporoz]

Include a plug knocker in your budget.

The sooner you are confident that you will get them back, the sooner you will be willing to put them where the bass hang out.

[Timothy Glen Vaughan]

Awesome responses guys. Considered 6th sense subscription box but honestly they have so many baits I'm afraid I woukd get confused. 

 

I have a quality selection of lipless as they are probably my favorite lure 

[PourMyOwn]

A very underrated classic is the Mud Bug. Probably won't get much response on the internet due to them being old, but they just catch fish.

[FishinBuck07]

I really like the Berkley cranks, not over the top in price, and good hooks.  

[Tizi]

6th Sense, Strike King, Berkley are all good choices.  I prefer 6th Sense.  I do the monthly box deal.  Sweet!!!

[galyonj]

5 hours ago, NittyGrittyBoy said:

...hooks and durability of 6th sense has sold me.

I'm a recent convert, and absent literally everything else about them that I like, I'm just glad that at least the hooks aren't garbage. Just about every other hard bait I buy, I just replace the hooks before they even see the first drop of water.

[Columbia Craw]

20 hours ago, Dens228 said:

I'm partial to 6th Sense. 

A couple of Movement 80X for 1-3 feet, a couple Crush 50 2-X for 2-5 feet, Curve 55 for 5-10 feet, and a couple of Cloud 9 C15 for 12-19 feet.  

That's 8 very good crankbaits for under $70. 

 

This is close to what my suggestion would have been.  Just be aware the Cloud 9-C15 weighs an ounce.  Be aware that bait model almost requires it's own rod.  Other than that, 6th Sense has quickly become one of two of may favorite brands for crankbaits.  A substitution to the c-15 is the Normans NSX. This bait gets little attention but is a winner. Still on sale !

[scaleface]

5 hours ago, PourMyOwn said:

A very underrated classic is the Mud Bug. Probably won't get much response on the internet due to them being old, but they just catch fish.

 He would have to search for them . I still have several .   I like them in cold water.

[WRB]

I use Major Craft Zoner Hunters ( about 4'-8' deep)  in Ghost Shad and Missouri Crawdad colors, Norman DD14 ( about 8'-12' deep) in Lavender Shad and Chili Bowl colors. 

Without knowing what type of rod-reel you have it's difficult to suggest deeper divers.

Norman are on sale at TW, buy 2 each, about $60

Tom 

 

[PourMyOwn]

2 hours ago, scaleface said:

 He would have to search for them . I still have several .   I like them in cold water.

I have 5 or 6 left. They're a great compliment to a jerkbait during pre spawn.  

[Smells like fish]

I think the Berkley lineup is the best value going! I am looking forward to trying them this year.

[Bluebasser86]

I like the 6th Sense baits but bill durability has been an issue for me. Not even when fishing them either. I had a Flat 75X with a broken bill when I took it out of my box a few weeks ago and it's not the first one that's happened to. Seems the Flat 75X has been the worst offender. Hasn't been bad enough to keep me from buying them, but something to consider for someone just getting into it.

 

Strike King or H2O is the best bang for your buck IMO. I'd highly suggest having a #5 or #7 Shad Rap in the mix too.

[king fisher]

I have way to  many crank baits that I have collected over the years, and buy new ones every year.  Hard to imagine starting from scratch.  If just getting started with crank baits, I would go to Academy sports and buy a variety of models, colors, and sizes.  They are inexpensive, and catch fish.  As you fish and find a style, size and color that work on your water, consider buying something similar from a more expensive brand.  Less chance of having expensive baits in your box that you never use.  Size 1/4 to 3/4 oz., 3 to 20 ft. deep, colors, shad, crawdad, something with chartreuse in it.