Luck E Strike RC Jerkbait vs Megabass Vision 110

[JediAmoeba]

Someone told me recently that the Luck E Strike Rick Clunn Jerkbait was the exact same thing as the Megabass Vision 110.  So I bought a few of each and started to compare them.

 

At first glance they are very similar to the Vision 110 with Megabass having more options for paint schemes - I would not say better though - the RC paint jobs look pretty good.  After taking them out of the package they both have 2 ball bearings in their similar, if not identical, weighted system for casting.  They are about the same length (I had all intentions of measuring them but my digital calipers pooped the bed) and have a very similar shape.  But after closer inspection the vision 110 is lighter with and without the stock hardware.  The vision 110 has a narrower body from head to tail and it has a little narrower bill.  Also of note, that could be a concern, is the eyelets on the RC jerkbait are smaller gauge and smaller diameter than the Vision 110's. 

 

After fishing them it appears the vision 110 goes a bit deeper but not much (maybe 6-12") and has a little tighter swim on the jerks.  They both stop on a dime and suspend very well in 42 degree water.  

 

Overall the RC Jerkbait is a pretty good bargain when it comes in at $8 compared to $25 for the MB Vision 110.  You can't get a RC in a +1 or +2 version though... 

[Bluebasser86]

They look similar, but the current Luck-E-Strike bait is pretty terrible. They were a much better quality bait a few years ago. I still have 1 or 2 of the good ones. The new ones have bad hooks, bad paint jobs, bad split rings, just a poor product really.

[WolfyBrandon]

25 minutes ago, Bluebasser86 said:

They look similar, but the current Luck-E-Strike bait is pretty terrible. They were a much better quality bait a few years ago. I still have 1 or 2 of the good ones. The new ones have bad hooks, bad paint jobs, bad split rings, just a poor product really.

 

Ugh, don't remind me. I use to throw the Luck E Strike years ago and had some good luck on it, then they changed the bait and now it's not half the quality it was. I'm sure it'll probably still get bit, but I just can't bring myself to buy them after the change. I've stashed away my old good ones, and moved on to throwing other jerkbaits like the 6th Sense Provoke, [REDACTED], Jackall Rerange, and some Rapala's.

 

[JediAmoeba]

43 minutes ago, Bluebasser86 said:

They look similar, but the current Luck-E-Strike bait is pretty terrible. They were a much better quality bait a few years ago. I still have 1 or 2 of the good ones. The new ones have bad hooks, bad paint jobs, bad split rings, just a poor product really.

Do you have any pictures of the old ones?  I am curious now and may need to track one down...

[Bluebasser86]

5 minutes ago, JediAmoeba said:

Do you have any pictures of the old ones?  I am curious now and may need to track one down...

I know I still have this one;

 

Picture is from 12/2013, so it's been around well before they messed them up.

[JediAmoeba]

1 minute ago, Bluebasser86 said:

I know I still have this one;

 

Picture is from 12/2013, so it's been around well before they messed them up.

Yeah, I can see it's a lot slimmer - that one probably does mirror the Vision 110.  

[WolfyBrandon]

17 minutes ago, JediAmoeba said:

Do you have any pictures of the old ones?

 

Luck E Strike RC STX's (Original Version)

 

 

 

Megabass Vision 110 vs Luck E Strike RC STX (Original Version)

 

[JediAmoeba]

If anyone has some vintage Rick Clunn's they want to unload, message me - I would like to try a couple.  

[Smells like fish]

What year was this lure introduced? When did they go good to bad? I have a dozen unopened from around 2014. They're on my schedule to get around to trying in the future weeks or years. 

Great post Jedi! 

[Shimano_1]

16 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

They look similar, but the current Luck-E-Strike bait is pretty terrible. They were a much better quality bait a few years ago. I still have 1 or 2 of the good ones. The new ones have bad hooks, bad paint jobs, bad split rings, just a poor product really.

Exactly!  I fished these for several years but finally broke down this year and got some megabass.  No comparison really especially compared to the new rick clunn ones. The megabass suspend like they should...whether that matters or not. The hooks are better but still not what I'd expect on a 25 dollar jerkbait.  The paint job and quality of craftsmanship is 2nd to none. Most importantly I've been wrecking fish on em already.  I hate spending that much but after all the rods and reels and boats etc I'm in deep enough to spend a lil more on the megabass 

[scaleface]

I have one . Dont know if its an old one or not .

[Team9nine]

Here's the metrics for comparison between the old RC and the MB-110. Might be able to tell the old from the new based on the numbers. I haven't bought any of the new/bad ones recently to compare with.

 

[JediAmoeba]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/152436119879

 

Does anyone know if this is the old one?  The packaging looks different.  I want to get one but am worried I will just buy the new ones...

[Smells like fish]

22 minutes ago, JediAmoeba said:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/152436119879

 

Does anyone know if this is the old one?  The packaging looks different.  I want to get one but am worried I will just buy the new ones...

I can only tell you that I just compared your pic to my lures from around 2014 or so...

 

My packaging does not match that pic. My packaging does not have the yellow circle and print in the center of the card. In the pic where yours says suspending mine says Luck-E-strike and suspending is printed above that one the clear packaging...

 

i too too am wanting to know which lures are which

 

Do you see in eBay ad where it has a two digit number and then the numeral 2? Mine has the two digit number (which is color code) and numeral 1... The back of my lures says RC STX

 

I have some crazy looking Rick Clunn cranks by them with lips similar to the Hot Lips Express, I think the back of the lure has a 2 by its lettering... I'll dig it out and see.  Does anyone here have the STX with a 2 by it?

[Smells like fish]

A little looking online and I found out

 

RCstx released at Icast 2011

 

RCstx jr (which I have never saw in person) released in 2012 Icast

 

from the get go fishermen was saying the split rings were bad and as usual everyone said change out the hooks...

 

If you get any of the older ones Jedi are you gonna fish as is or change out the hardware? I'd like to see a report on the bait as it came in the pack.

[JediAmoeba]

46 minutes ago, Smells like fish said:

If you get any of the older ones Jedi are you gonna fish as is or change out the hardware? I'd like to see a report on the bait as it came in the pack.

I would see how it fishes out of the package like I always do then switch hardware.  When I get a bait I like to see how it fishes with the original hardware because that is usually a representation of how the company expects it to fish. 

 

I also have new digital calipers on the way to give accurate measurements.  

[Smells like fish]

Some new info I've seen from eBay...

 

the 2 numeral we was talking about is the jr size 3 1/2"

 

the good ones say MADE IN THE USA, they have yellow trim on packages right side. There are bunch of them on eBay for around $11.75 each

 

there is also a floating model of these although I'm not sure if they were produced before moving production to China. 

 

The company when made in usa had a Arkansas address and used VMC hooks and possibly split rings. 

 

Ive done all this investigating to realize all this time I have the Chinese junk ones laid up ?

[Bluebasser86]

@JediAmoeba I have my original one in the Cosmic Shad color. It's pretty scratched up and would need new hooks because the ones on it are bent from battling wipers, but they like #6 ST36 Owners. I no longer need it if you're wanting to try one.

[5by3]

Here’s a few of the original stx. As others have mentioned, the current version of the stx sold in the yellow package is terrible. I don’t buy them anymore. The old one was sold in a white package with silver trim.

[WolfyBrandon]

23 minutes ago, 5by3 said:

The old one was sold in a white package with silver trim.

 

I remember when it first changed, I noticed on the white package with the silver trim the blue Luck-E-Strike logo was added to the bottom of the package. If you find one without the blue logo at the bottom, it should be an old one.

 

[JediAmoeba]

I got one off ebay for 10 bucks.  Suspending model, made in USA. In the package 

[mrpao]

All of mine are in the white package with the silver trim and say Suspending on the clear plastic. They also have the downward looking eyes. But on the back they say made in China. I've had them for a few years now. Can't remember when I bought them. 

They have the original round luck-e-strike symbol in the middle of the package behind the lure.

I guess these are not the original made in the USA models, but are they still the good ones? 

[5by3]

On 3/13/2020 at 1:19 AM, mrpao said:

All of mine are in the white package with the silver trim and say Suspending on the clear plastic. They also have the downward looking eyes. But on the back they say made in China. I've had them for a few years now. Can't remember when I bought them. 

They have the original round luck-e-strike symbol in the middle of the package behind the lure.

I guess these are not the original made in the USA models, but are they still the good ones? 

Yes those are the ones that always caught me more fish. They have downward looking eyes and the paint jobs are much, much nicer. 

[JediAmoeba]

So I got my new calipers and the Rick Clunn jerkbait.  I also pulled out the others...I didnt know there was so much discrepancy between them.  Whoa.  I can see why some people would like them and others would not like them.  I am going to finish measuring and typing this up but initial appearance is pretty shocking.

[Smells like fish]

Fill us in on your findings and opinion