Cheap vs expensive lures

[gim]

Yes, I agree. Once it passes the $10 thresh hold, I consider it an expensive lure.

 

Based on that parameter, I actually don’t have a ton of expensive lures. I would say that a lot of them are right at the $9-$10 range.

[MN Fisher]

Just now, gimruis said:

Yes, I agree. Once it passes the $10 thresh hold, I consider it an expensive lure.

 

Based on that parameter, I actually don’t have a ton of expensive lures. I would say that a lot of them are right at the $9-$10 range.

Ya - I'm in the same boat. Really only have a few 'expensive' lures...and most of those were gifts. I think there's only one lure I paid more than $10 for in my bag(s).

[soflabasser]

42 minutes ago, roadwarrior said:

Hmm...

Guess it's a matter of perspective, but I suspect something around $10 distinguishes what most

guys consider "expensive".

 I consider any lure under $20 inexpensive. I agree it is a matter of perspective since some do think any lure over $10 is expensive while some think a swimbait that cost +$100 is not expensive. For me a lure is worth it if it catches the fish I am after whether it is a black bass, snook, tarpon, or other fish. Another thing to take into consideration is that many lures are made to catch a fisherman's attention more than anything else.

[Cgolf]

Forgot one bait that is dirt cheap but is one of the better lipless baits. Cordell spot. Once I finally tried it I was super impressed. I think they can be had for 3-4 bucks and in the Wally World bargain bins. 

[jimmyjoe]

   I look at it this way:

   1) Does it catch fish for me? If it doesn't, I don't care whether it's free, I don't want it taking up space in my tackle bag. If it does catch fish, I go to #2.

   2) Do I lose it often? Whether it's snagged up or broken, if I lose it often it's going be low priced or I won't have it.

   3) How many do I think I need? I've got over 30 Dardevle spoons, but only one Rapala Countdown, in Silver. Big difference in money spent. My wife thinks the Dardevles are expensive, and she's right. But they'll go to the grave with me, because no one will be able to pry them from my cold, dead hands. ????

   Which brings up my last point: Do I simply think that I have to have them, for whatever reason? If I do, then it's " .....d**n the torpedoes, full speed ahead ....." And I think there are a lot of us with that same attitude.

   And that's why "expensive" is such a relative term.               jj

[Michigander]

59 minutes ago, roadwarrior said:

Hmm...

Guess it's a matter of perspective, but I suspect something around $10 distinguishes what most

guys consider "expensive".

 

I was looking at it from budget bin lures vs your ultra premium offerings, but yeah, "expensive" will totally vary from person to person.

[soflabasser]

This subject reminds me of a man I fished with who has caught lots of lunker sized bass on 1 dollar spinnerbaits. He showed me a picture of a beautiful bass that was well over 9 pounds that he caught on 1 dollar spinnerbait. He also fishes with what most would consider ''budget tackle'' yet he is catching bass that many gear snobs can only dream of catching.

[Michigander]

2 minutes ago, soflabasser said:

This subject reminds me of a man I fished with who has caught lots of lunker sized bass on 1 dollar spinnerbaits. He showed me a picture of a beautiful bass that was well over 9 pounds that he caught on 1 dollar spinnerbait. He also fishes with what most would consider ''budget tackle'' yet he is catching bass that many gear snobs can only dream of catching.

I'd wager that his skill level is also pretty high.

[Bluebasser86]

I try to be as cheap as I can, without sacrificing quality. Some of my favorite plastics are YUM's, which are certainly on the cheaper side. Then I use hard baits that range all over the place from 4 or 5 dollars, to upwards of $40 for some custom made balsa cranks. They all catch fish if you put them in the right place at the right time.

 

[soflabasser]

3 hours ago, Michigander said:

I'd wager that his skill level is also pretty high.

Yes he is a talented bass fisherman. It also helps that the place we where fishing in is very good and we both caught lots of big bass there. If you ever want to do a fun challenge to test your fishing skill you can fish with a Cuban Yo-Yo reel for bass. Use whatever bait or lure you want since fishing with a Cuban Yo-Yo reel is much more difficult than a nice baitcaster combo. To add to the challenge you have to fish from the shore in public waters. Give it a try, I know I have fun fishing this way every once in a while.

[moguy1973]

I'll pay more for a floating bait.  If I'm fishing in where the fish typically live and I get hung up, 99% of the time I can go in and get the bait back.  If you cast out a $25 Megabass jerkbait and you get hung up, usually it's going to be underwater and it's not as easy to get it back.  Now granted if you break off while fighting a fish, it's adios to whatever bait you have on there.

 

I just wish there were more jerkbaits under $10 that worked well.  Best ones I have found are the SK jerks, but even those are right at the $10 mark unless you get them on sale.  As other's have said, it's usually the hardware that is on the bait that raises the price, e.g. hooks and split rings.  The paint job also catches fishermen and raises the price too.  I don't think fish really care about that though.  I've had several super realistic looking baits that have caught more after they've gotten beaten up and nicked and scratched.

[Michigander]

8 hours ago, soflabasser said:

Yes he is a talented bass fisherman. It also helps that the place we where fishing in is very good and we both caught lots of big bass there. If you ever want to do a fun challenge to test your fishing skill you can fish with a Cuban Yo-Yo reel for bass. Use whatever bait or lure you want since fishing with a Cuban Yo-Yo reel is much more difficult than a nice baitcaster combo. To add to the challenge you have to fish from the shore in public waters. Give it a try, I know I have fun fishing this way every once in a while.

Once I master the bait caster, maybe I will give that a whirl. Just switched from all spinning gear last winter, so it'll be a while before I get that good.

[Smells like fish]

Cheap lures catch fish but I can’t ignore all the input from the guys that buy more expensive ones. So I buy what I like, but I like them all ? 

My approach to buying lures is I set a limit of what I’ll spend. I keep it $30 to $40 per shopping trip. So sometimes that’s 3 or 4 $10 lures or it was a vision one ten and a bag of Senkos the other day. 
The only way I’ve found to ignore the sting of losing lures and you will lose many, is it hurts a lot less when you have a dozen of a lure rather than 1 or 2. and when you lose 1 buy 2 or 3 back to replace the 1. Bait monkey approves!! ?  ? 

[Spankey]

I fish a variety of hard baits. Probably could be called a middle grounder when it comes to price. But do fish a few pricier baits. 
 

But I could probably do all my hardbait fishing with only Rapala if I chose to. Their products cover the full line. And they have colors that are time proven. Rapala products flat out work. 

[WRB]

Cheap as in poorly constructed or inexpensive? 

Why would anyone buy a lure that is poorly constructed with unreliable performance?

Inexpensive is another topic, buying brand name proven lures on sale or from the Flea Market forum reduces the cost. 

Soft plastics are your inexpensive bass lure that catches bass everywhere but require premium hooks to increase catch per hour ratings. Cheap hooks are just that cheap. Cheap lures always have cheap hooks.

If the OP makes a list of lure types like top water, jerk baits, crank baits, lipless crank baits, soft plastics and hook it’s easier to suggest p less expensive lures and hooks.

Tom

 

[ajschn06]

I need to be efficient with my time on the water- so I'll pay more for certain things.  Does it help me catch more fish?  Probably not, but it gives me confidence and I know for a fact that I'm not missing out on anything.  When I say that I'm referring to a Jackhammer over an original chatterbait, or strike king/keitech soft plastics over other offerings.  I saw it mentioned a couple times but I won't do it for frogs- all I need is a horny toad or poppin pad crasher.

[garroyo130]

I would probably buy more cheap lures if my money weren't going directly to China with them. 

I realize its still going to China but at least a portion of it is staying here with other companies. 

This is the biggest thing that keeps me from buying the cheap imitations that are out there. I'm sure they catch fish just as well ... 

[Happybeerbuzz]

19 minutes ago, garroyo130 said:

I would probably buy more cheap lures if my money weren't going directly to China with them. 

I realize its still going to China but at least a portion of it is staying here with other companies. 

This is the biggest thing that keeps me from buying the cheap imitations that are out there. I'm sure they catch fish just as well ... 

 

If that is your concern, not all cheap lures are made in China.  Some come from South/Central America while others come from other parts of South East Asia.  However, it does take some effort to confirm the country of origin since most online sites do not list it.  

[roadwarrior]

Here is some advice for the younger guys that are building their collection:

 

Just buy an couple of lures once and awhile. Be specific, not general. For example,

I would suggest a PopMax, Sammy and Cavitron and that's all to start my topwater

stash. Over time you can add a zillion other options, but this will get you started and

these lures are rarely lost.  

[Cgolf]

The definition of too expensive, I can live with it, cheap, and won’t touch that varies by region. I live where I have seen Musky stroll away with 2 jerkbaits in 2 trips and countless other lures over the years. 
 

Topwaters I am a little bit more open to spending more with maybe a 15 max. I have some Jackall ReRanges I paid like 10 for on sale. I will definitely buy more expensive lures on sale though, I look only at out of pocket cost. Ranges below for hardbaits. No idea how to rank softbaits, just glad Senkos don’t suit my fishing style. 

 

 With exception of topwater too expensive is 12 and up

I can live with it 8 to 12

Cheap (cotton cordell baits and bandits, and other known brands) 4 to 8

I won’t touch this price isn’t the issue here, but the ozark trail, BPS house brand lures and unbranded stuff on Amazon or other sites. 

[MAN]

Soft plastics : No

 

Hardbaits: Depends...deep rabbit hole.  

[Hammer 4]

I'll always opt for quality baits. Especially baits like spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, and glide type baits. Had to many skirts just fall off cheap spinnerbaits and some jigs, plus sub par hooks.

 

I've owned some pretty spendy baits, some in the $ 200.00 range, did they catch more fish ? nope, so I stopped buying those that cost more than say 60.00.

[soflabasser]

Most of us here agree that we prefer to buy American made lures but they tend to be expensive. This can be solved by the USA moving production back here and lowering the cost of lures since more people will be buying American made lures. The more the USA makes its own products the better it will be for us in the long run. Besides a lot of overseas products are of inferior quality when compared to made in the USA products.

[Spankey]

9 hours ago, soflabasser said:

Most of us here agree that we prefer to buy American made lures but they tend to be expensive. This can be solved by the USA moving production back here and lowering the cost of lures since more people will be buying American made lures. The more the USA makes its own products the better it will be for us in the long run. Besides a lot of overseas products are of inferior quality when compared to made in the USA products.

I won’t put Bandits in the expensive category. Overall a good half decent crankbait. 
 

When they were built here in the US the quality and good color patterns were available. They were sold off to Pradco? some El Salvatore place and their baits took a big nose dive. 
 

Many moon ago when I jumped on the Bandit bandwagon the US factory would send me colors I wanted. (Paid for them of course) I did have a rep that we sort of got to know each other. Could not buy them local. Their Special Run colors have always been best producers. I have a big Bandit Collection and I believe I’ve caught a smallie on everyone. This is the truth. Majority I guess are vintage now. 
 

When they cut out of the country and stopped producing basic all around bass catching patterns I stopped buying anything branded Bandit. They were bought out, moved, some third world, and prices went up for lesser all around quality. 

[Bankc]

The cheaper the lure, the more likely I am to throw it into cover.  And the more time it spends trying to get hung up in the cover, the more time it spends inside a fish's mouth.  So I actually find cheaper lure more productive.