Is the Bull Shad really worth it?

[Luke Barnes]

This year I want to get a few hard jointed swim baits. I see the Mike Bucca bull shad and baby bull shad are popular, but at $14 for one I'm out. Plus I dont think they look that good. Big space betweens segments and colors are meh. The H2O Express ones at Academy, to me, look better. Less gap between segments and good colors and patterns. I want a bluegill and a shad patterned one. I have ZERO experience with them, so any advice would be appreciated. 

 

Also I have no interest in glide bait style swimbaits. 

[Choporoz]

45 minutes ago, Luke Barnes said:

Is the Bull Shad really worth it?

 

45 minutes ago, Luke Barnes said:

but at $14 for one I'm out.

Looks like you answered your question already.  

 

I have a jointed H2O swimbait from Academy.  Never had a bite on it.

[J Francho]

59 minutes ago, Luke Barnes said:

but at $14 for one I'm out

 

59 minutes ago, Luke Barnes said:

The H2O Express ones at Academy, to me, look better.

 

59 minutes ago, Luke Barnes said:

I have ZERO experience with them

 

59 minutes ago, Luke Barnes said:

I have no interest in glide bait style swimbaits

What's the question?  I got my money's worth (and still planning on getting more) with an OG HPH that is similar to the Bull Shad, but cost me $75.  I have a few Baby Bull Shads I'm looking forward to trying out this year.  

[Jrob78]

Bull Shad are $50-$90 depending on size. If $14 is too much for you then it doesn't really matter how great the Bull Shad is. I've had really good success with them and do think they are worth the price.

 

The H20 baits have good movement and I've caught fish on them, that is a good place to start.

 

You aren't going to find much in the sub $15 hard swimbait world that is going to be worth spending your money on. There is a reason those baits cost what they do.

[dgkasper58]

I asked Mike Bucca what the difference between the two (plastic (baby) and resin(original)) and he did not want to answer other than size, as he would have to put 1 product over the other and he did not want to.  Many others chimed in and said that resin (original) is well worth it in terms of durability and options.  Many prefer beat up pain but others are paying BIG bucks for the CHROME/flash on some of his baits where he partnered with a painter who is doing some really nice work.

[fishwizzard]

1 hour ago, Luke Barnes said:

Plus I dont think they look that good. Big space betweens segments and colors are meh. The H2O Express ones at Academy, to me, look better.

You are looking at it sitting in the package, that stuff stops mattering when you fish it as they want a quick retrieve where action matters more.  The OG Bull Shads look like something that a kid would make in summer camp but they are unquestionable very effective lures.  

[Bluebasser86]

I have a Baby Bull Shad and have had the H2O baits, along with having a few of the resin Bull Shads. The BBS beats the pants off the H20 baits. It's a much more fluid swim, a much more level and controlled sink, and the hook hanger placement is much better. I like most H2O baits, but the swimbaits were not great.

[suzuki2903]

i use the baby bull shad and the h20 xpress one as well, both work fine and both catch fish. the bull shad is bigger in size and worth the price! they can also be had on sale through dicks often or use coupon codes on them.

[looking45]

4 hours ago, Luke Barnes said:

This year I want to get a few hard jointed swim baits. I see the Mike Bucca bull shad and baby bull shad are popular, but at $14 for one I'm out. Plus I dont think they look that good. Big space betweens segments and colors are meh. The H2O Express ones at Academy, to me, look better. Less gap between segments and good colors and patterns. I want a bluegill and a shad patterned one. I have ZERO experience with them, so any advice would be appreciated. 

 

Also I have no interest in glide bait style swimbaits. 

As mentioned, $14 is not expensive for a swim bait, especially one that catches fish. Here on the west coast, almost every bass shop has swim baits that cost $40-$90 and my local shop can't keep them in stock. Here's an expensive bait

https://www.ebay.com/itm/HINKLE-TROUT-SHAD-LURES-FISHING/312884013937?hash=item48d9572b71:g:q4EAAOSwU4hd8Feu

[J Francho]

No one pays that much for a Hinkle.  1/3 that is high.

[Columbia Craw]

I'll find out this spring.

[Harold Scoggins]

Glide baits...so looking forward to throwing this one this year.

[Smalls]

6 hours ago, dgkasper58 said:

Many prefer beat up pain but others are paying BIG bucks for the CHROME/flash on some of his baits where he partnered with a painter who is doing some really nice work.

Those chrome baits are siiiiiiiiick. I don't like to spend much on swimbaits anymore, but I'd pay good money for one of those. 

 

OP, the baby bullshad is a good intro to see swimbaits, and gets bit. But if $14 is too much for you to spend, I suggest leaving swimbaits in general alone. Even quality soft baits are often going to run you more than that. 

[Luke Barnes]

Wow I didnt realize hard swimbaits were that expensive! The one I was looking at was the Catch Co baby bull shad. So the original is that much more expensive? 

 

I've got plenty of soft swimbaits that come intrigued like the SK Rage Swimmers and I have one Optimum Boom Boom line through. 

 

In comparison you all are right that $14 is way better than $50 or more, never looked into them that much. 

[J Francho]

Hand made, tested, and tuned baits command a higher price than production line baits.

[JediAmoeba]

30 minutes ago, Luke Barnes said:

In comparison you all are right that $14 is way better than $50 or more, never looked into them that much. 

When it comes to swimbaits, $50 is cheap.  I would say the common price is 100-120 bucks.  Depending on the paint scheme and size it can cost a lot more.

[Luke Barnes]

36 minutes ago, JediAmoeba said:

When it comes to swimbaits, $50 is cheap.  I would say the common price is 100-120 bucks.  Depending on the paint scheme and size it can cost a lot more.

For one bait?? That's insane! Did they really catch more fish than other baits? 

 

Also unfortunately the Dicks sporting goods in my city stopped selling fishing stuff so would have to buy a catch co baby bull shad online. 

[Choporoz]

4 minutes ago, Luke Barnes said:

For one bait?? That's insane! Did they really catch more fish than other baits?

Keep in mind that number of fish isn't the only measure of value.

 

Do you have any other hobbies?   Nearly every hobby has a parallel.   Value is extremely personal...and will differ greatly from one angler to another...many factors to consider; not just number of fish

[MassYak85]

2 hours ago, Luke Barnes said:

For one bait?? That's insane! Did they really catch more fish than other baits? 

Half of it is targeting bigger fish, but half of it is deifinitely that some people just like fishing them more and even collecting them. Like others said they're handmade works of art most of the time by garage bait makers. Sometimes I feel bad chucking them in the water but it's kind of a badge of honor for the bait to start showing some wear... It means it's working. 

 

As for the bullshad, the original resin ones are all I've ever fished. I agree, they look kinda ugly. But Mike Bucca has tuned them meticulously and has the action dialed. They get crushed. 

[Luke Barnes]

Thanks for all the information. I've only been fishing for about 3 years so just now getting into them. 

 

I think I'm going to try a H2O express one and see if it fits my style, then upgrade to a catch co baby bull shad. You can never have too many lures! So I'll start cheap and work up to more expensive ones. 

[PhishLI]

2 hours ago, Luke Barnes said:

For one bait?? That's insane! Did they really catch more fish than other baits? 

It's hard operating a small, low production business. You've got to keep the lights on. This is reflected in the asking prices.

 

Hobbies tend to get insane. Try shaving shaving tenths of a second off at the dragstrip, especially once you're faster than 10 seconds in the 1/4 mile. Very expensive and you're actually risking your life every time you make a run. Bass fishing with relatively pricey baits is far less expensive, risky, and insane.

 

No, they don't tend to catch more fish, but that's not what it's about. It's cool and interesting catching bass on cool baits. That's what it's about in the purest sense. It's also about this: Bass really try to kill the bigger baits for the most part. You can feel it. I often get the same feeling with chatterbaits. They tend to strike them violently. The big baits also tend to be either on, near, or close to the surface, so there's a show. You get to see it. It adds to the thrill, just like going down the track a 10th of a second faster than the previous run.

[deaknh03]

On February 12, 2020 at 3:12 PM, looking45 said:

As mentioned, $14 is not expensive for a swim bait, especially one that catches fish. Here on the west coast, almost every bass shop has swim baits that cost $40-$90 and my local shop can't keep them in stock. Here's an expensive bait

https://www.ebay.com/itm/HINKLE-TROUT-SHAD-LURES-FISHING/312884013937?hash=item48d9572b71:g:q4EAAOSwU4hd8Feu

thats a sucker listing. nobody that knows anything about baits will sniff that. an unpainted hinkle might fetch 2 bills.

[Smalls]

6 hours ago, Luke Barnes said:

For one bait?? That's insane! Did they really catch more fish than other baits? 

 

Also unfortunately the Dicks sporting goods in my city stopped selling fishing stuff so would have to buy a catch co baby bull shad online. 

While there's plenty of options around $50-75 that are mass produced, the more expensive options are usually hand made by small companies. I think Mike Bucca (owner of Bullshad) only has like 2-3 guys working for him, and everything is made in house. There's no Chinese manufacturer making them for $0.50 a unit. 

 

These aren't baits you're gonna find at Dick's, Cabela's, etc. Most only make a limited quantity. 

 

I won't even get started on JDM stuff. 

[MassYak85]

Something else with the big baits is resale value. The initial sticker shock getting into it is insane I agree, you will unfortunately (for your wallet) get used to it. However once you get into the custom bait makers there's a true demand for these baits, many of these guys drop baits through instagram or through small batches on their website. It's no exaggeration to say that some of these baits sell out within seconds. But even baits that are easier to get, you can usually get most of your money back in the second hand market. Buy an MS Slammer or Bullshad 4x4 and decide, "hey this isn't for me"...you can probably turn around and find a guy willing to pay 75-90% or even retail for a bait that's fairly new. Especially with baits that are harder to get, guys will even flip baits cause some are worth far more on secondary market than they are retail. Not something I agree with, but it speaks to the value some of these baits have. 

 

But these baits aren't some magic bullet or ticket to fishing success, you still gotta grind, still gotta figure out patterns and understand the fish and the lake. But they're just fun to fish and seeing an 8" bait inside the mouth of your new PB and all of a sudden that bait looks small...it's a thrill. 

[Luke Barnes]

4 hours ago, MassYak85 said:

 

 

But these baits aren't some magic bullet or ticket to fishing success, you still gotta grind, still gotta figure out patterns and understand the fish and the lake. But they're just fun to fish and seeing an 8" bait inside the mouth of your new PB and all of a sudden that bait looks small...it's a thrill. 

Best advice I've received

I'm not looking to collect, reminisce, or sell my lures. I want to catch fish that otherwise I wouldnt have caught. I thought if all these weird lures wont catch them, what about something as close to real as I can get. 

 

I'm not after trophys or collectibles. But about what will catch me more and bigger fish in the right conditions.