Z man pricing - Went from best deal going to one of the worst (in some situations)

[Cgolf]

First off I know that Elaztech lasts longer than other baits for the most part. That said my style of fishing puts me into a position that I lose my fair share of baits. So baits like the goat and there new craw only including 3 in a pack doesn't do much for me because I am more likely to lose a bait before I wear one out. Anyone out there have the same issue?

 

The Zinkerz is probably one of the best deals going though as you get 12 Ned baits for 4 bucks. IMO a 1/2 Zinkerz is a better bait than the TRD. Guessing they are just capitalizing on there success, but it kept me from trying the goat for sure. To be fair the rising prices of Rage baits is pushing me to other baits as well. Thrifty angler by choice at this point in my life.

[Spankey]

I’ve never jumped in with both feet with Z Man. Big product line but I can’t find it on a local scale to see it and buy it. 
 

I’ve had success fishing the TRD Craws and the Baby Goats with and without using their NED Style jig heads. 
 

I have other baits I’d grab first. But not knocking them. Seem popular on here. 

[DitchPanda]

 I understand where your coming from. My style of fishing I don't lose a ton of baits so I still see the benefit. Take the goat for instance...the standard size is $5 for 4...my favorite swim jig trailer is a menace and it is $6 for 8. So if the goat lasted twice as many fish...since I don't lose many swim jigs...it would be cheaper. The thing that kept me from trying is I asked goat vs menace and it was unanimous the menace was better on a swim jig.

 I use the TRD exclusively for Neds, you use the zinkerz. The zinkerz is a better deal financially..my issue is  have so much confidence in the TRD that I haven't tried the zinkerz. Either way 8 or 12 durable baits for $4 bucks is a solid deal. I have a mud minnow TRD tied on now that has a dozen or more fish to its credit and looks brand new. Heck its just getting broke in enough to fish right! I will likely snag it before I wear it out.

 Don't get me wrong I look for deals to. They are still out there if you look in the right places. To save money I use slot of Yum products. My favorite worm is Mr Twister phenom...20pk for $3. Big bite baits 5in grubs and small creature are both in my arsenal...25pk $4-$5. Nothing wrong with being thrifty!

[TnRiver46]

1 hour ago, cgolf said:

First off I know that Elaztech lasts longer than other baits for the most part. That said my style of fishing puts me into a position that I lose my fair share of baits. So baits like the goat and there new craw only including 3 in a pack doesn't do much for me because I am more likely to lose a bait before I wear one out. Anyone out there have the same issue?

 

The Zinkerz is probably one of the best deals going though as you get 12 Ned baits for 4 bucks. IMO a 1/2 Zinkerz is a better bait than the TRD. Guessing they are just capitalizing on there success, but it kept me from trying the goat for sure. To be fair the rising prices of Rage baits is pushing me to other baits as well. Thrifty angler by choice at this point in my life.

I’ve never bought z man elaztech for two reasons and the first being price (second is they melt). I’m far more likely to lose the hook/plastic than rip the plastic 

[Black Hawk Basser]

I love Z Man baits for lake/pond fishing, but if I'm on the river, I'm way more likely to snag up and lose my jig than wear a bait out to the point of replacement.  If I want to Ned rig at the river, I'm slicing a Stik-O or a Dinger in half.

 

Regarding budget baits, I have had great success with the discontinued Berkley Havoc line.  Great value with those, especially the Pit Boss and Grass Pig.

[Boomstick]

5 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

I’ve never bought z man elaztech for two reasons and the first being price (second is they melt). I’m far more likely to lose the hook/plastic than rip the plastic 

I have left mine in the back of my truck most the summer and they haven't melted. I have melted some in the past, in 80 degree weather with the occasional 91-94 day here and there, they typically don't melt.

[TnRiver46]

2 minutes ago, Boomstick said:

I have left mine in the back of my truck most the summer and they haven't melted. I have melted some in the past, in 80 degree weather with the occasional 91-94 day here and there, they typically don't melt.

I dont even purchase them and they are melted onto my boat several times a year, even in winter. 

 

for a super durable bait, I sure do have a lot of friends with dozens and dozens of packs of them, you’d think they only need 2 or 3 

[Boomstick]

1 minute ago, TnRiver46 said:

for a super durable bait, I sure do have a lot of friends with dozens and dozens of packs of them, you’d think they only need 2 or 3

I have 4 packs of the X-Zone lures that have lasted me all year. Granted, I've been throwing more tubes lately.

[Cgolf]

54 minutes ago, DitchPanda said:

  I use the TRD exclusively for Neds, you use the zinkerz. The zinkerz is a better deal financially..my issue is  have so much confidence in the TRD that I haven't tried the zinkerz. Either way 8 or 12 durable baits for $4 bucks is a solid deal.

 

What I found with the Zinkerz is once stretched, they seem to have more action than a TRD. So  I prefer them for performance issues vs cost issues.

[Cgolf]

1 hour ago, Black Hawk Basser said:

I love Z Man baits for lake/pond fishing, but if I'm on the river, I'm way more likely to snag up and lose my jig than wear a bait out to the point of replacement.  If I want to Ned rig at the river, I'm slicing a Stik-O or a Dinger in half.

 

Regarding budget baits, I have had great success with the discontinued Berkley Havoc line.  Great value with those, especially the Pit Boss and Grass Pig.

 

I am with you on the river thing. I river fish from shore 3-4 times a week and there can be stretches where it feels like the bait monkey resides in the river. I have a fairly large stash of Bandit cranks bought on sale because they work great, but I know I will lose many a year.

[gim]

I like the zman elaztechs.  They are more durable than almost any other soft plastic which is why I use them in several colors.  The buoyancy factor is also something they've mastered better than other plastics.

 

That being said, they don't play nice with other plastics and they can be sensitive to hot temps/direct sunlight.  Although its never happened to me personally, I've heard of them melting into one big gooey mess.  I do not keep mine in direct sunlight unless I'm using them and I only store them in their original packaging, either in my basement or in the compartment of my boat.

[Cgolf]

5 minutes ago, DitchPanda said:

I should just buy a bag and see for myself. Maybe ill like them more. If not I can go back to the TRD. Worst case scenario I'm out 4 bucks.

 

Another trick with them is to put them in a jar of water for a day or two after they are stretched and cut to help dissolve the salt. Only thing I can figure that is different between the two is maybe the salt content is higher in the Zinkerz which means it will be more porous once the salt disolves and that is why it moves more. I have also had the TRD's tear where the hook comes out after they are used a bit. Must be a slight tweak in the plastic formulation, which for me saw the TRDs last a shorter amount of time than the Zinkerz. 

[GetFishorDieTryin]

Zman baits can be a pain, but in a few cases I think the performance of the bait warrants the extra care.  Ive taken so many fish on that palmetto bug from places that have literally just been worked over.  Most creature baits dont last more then a few fish where the palmetto bugs can last more then a dozen good fish which makes them a great value.  

My biggest issue with is that you cant straighten kinked appendages very well without risking ruining the bait.  That makes me hesitant to buy them in bulk online.   

[GetFishorDieTryin]

16 minutes ago, cgolf said:

 

Another trick with them is to put them in a jar of water for a day or two after they are stretched and cut to help dissolve the salt. Only thing I can figure that is different between the two is maybe the salt content is higher in the Zinkerz which means it will be more porous once the salt disolves and that is why it moves more. I have also had the TRD's tear where the hook comes out after they are used a bit. Must be a slight tweak in the plastic formulation, which for me saw the TRDs last a shorter amount of time than the Zinkerz. 

Yeah, I just stretch the TRD and soak them in water overnight and they're good to go. The zinkers have a higher salt content then the TRDs which makes them softer and more prone to tearing.  

[throttleplate]

8 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

I dont even purchase them and they are melted onto my boat several times a year, even in winter. 

 

for a super durable bait, I sure do have a lot of friends with dozens and dozens of packs of them, you’d think they only need 2 or 3 

[Jmilburn76]

I like zman but had to throw away half a pack of trd craws just yesterday. I forgot and left them in my plastics bag on the back of my kayak seat, melted mess. Tennessee get a little bit hot in the summer!

[desmobob]

I buy ZinkerZ and cut them in half to save money vs. buying TRDs.  The last pack of ZinkerZ I opened, which had been in a mesh tackle bag hanging on my leaning post, looked fine but they were all fused together and felt like foam.  There was no saving them.  So much for saving money!  ?

[TnRiver46]

54 minutes ago, desmobob said:

I buy ZinkerZ and cut them in half to save money vs. buying TRDs.  The last pack of ZinkerZ I opened, which had been in a mesh tackle bag hanging on my leaning post, looked fine but they were all fused together and felt like foam.  There was no saving them.  So much for saving money!  ?

A worm is a worm, just buy plastisol! 

[Cgolf]

49 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

A worm is a worm, just buy plastisol! 

 

I do understand for some that the durability of Zman baits has it advantages. Having bass fished for 20 years and getting at least 1-2 orders a year along with trips to tackle shops, I need to lose some plastics and crankbaits lol. So for me if a Ned bait lasts 20 fish vs 50 I don't care and might lean towards the bait that lasts less. I also have many bags of TRDs and Zinkerz stocked away too. The tackle shortage due to the pandemic really didn't impact me at all;)

[MGF]

The only thing I really like about elaztech is the buoyancy which I think is important when fishing a ned in the river. However, my current favorite ned type presentation is the so called "tiny child" and I'm not sure the buoyancy is doing anything for me...hook in one end and a weight in the other. also getting a nail weight or a screw-in weight into elaztech is a real pita.

 

I finally started saving worn out plastics that might make a good "tiny child" but I haven't really started using them yet. We'll see.

[desmobob]

On 8/27/2021 at 12:22 PM, TnRiver46 said:

A worm is a worm, just buy plastisol! 

The buoyancy and durability make Z-Man TRD baits a value purchase for me.  I just have to remember to store them in their own packaging and out of the sun.  Not that big of a deal...

[TnRiver46]

They make non elaztech worms that float

[Biglittle8]

On 8/26/2021 at 10:51 AM, TnRiver46 said:

I’ve never bought z man elaztech for two reasons and the first being price (second is they melt).

Bingo! I'm ok with the cost to have a few around, but I tend to throw a bunch of plastics in a bag when I go pond fishing... That didn't work out to well! I went from swimbait to blob... My bad, I never read the bags?