Bass Pro Shops XPS Lazer Eye The Egg

[NorthernBasser]

I have a BPS gift card that's burning a hole in my pocket. I remember seeing some people mention this bait in the past. I have no experience with this bait. For those who have fished it, do you have a preference between the 2" and 2.5" version? 

[ghost]

Both sizes, get both sizes! I had small and big bass hit the Egg. Versatile that it can be waked, cranked to about 1' and I've actually caught bass as popper and twitch bait. The 2" is perfect for medium action casting or spinning rod. the 2.5" is 3/4oz and casts way far and loud! Perfect to wake back slow to medium action.

 

Change out the stock hooks, they suck. Use short shank treble hooks from VMC or Mustad KVD. Size 4 short shank for the 2" and size 3 short shank or you can get away with size 2 short shank on the 2.5" Egg. Since the Egg has a short body, the treble hooks at times do tend to tangle together. Just be aware of this before you cast it out again.  

 

The Bass Pro Shops, The Egg shallow crankbait has been my most productive lure for many years. I really shouldn't need to buy any other shallow crankbaits, it's that productive. 

[NorthernBasser]

30 minutes ago, ghost said:

Both sizes, get both sizes! I had small and big bass hit the Egg. Versatile that it can be waked, cranked to about 1' and I've actually caught bass as popper and twitch bait. The 2" is perfect for medium action casting or spinning rod. the 2.5" is 3/4oz and casts way far and loud! Perfect to wake back slow to medium action.

 

Change out the stock hooks, they suck. Use short shank treble hooks from VMC or Mustad KVD. Size 4 short shank for the 2" and size 3 short shank or you can get away with size 2 short shank on the 2.5" Egg. Since the Egg has a short body, the treble hooks at times do tend to tangle together. Just be aware of this before you cast it out again.  

 

The Bass Pro Shops, The Egg shallow crankbait has been my most productive lure for many years. I really shouldn't need to buy any other shallow crankbaits, it's that productive. 

Thanks for the reply! I'll definitely get both sizes then.

[Happybeerbuzz]

If I recall correctly, they are only about $5. Get both.

[TheSwearingAngler]

I found one this year, threw it a bunch with no luck… previous owner had already put red hooks on it. All that said I love the castability and the action. I may have just thrown it where there weren’t any fish. I plan to throw it again more next season.

[PressuredFishing]

Imo the colors are rubbish, hooks are fine, doesn't blow out at faster retrieves. I have the 2 inch, the other one looked a little too big in store but haven't used it. 

 

P.S (if your not in a rush wait until sales bps discounts their products often)

[Bankbeater]

Those baits seem to be heavy for their size.  I like the 2" bait and that one runs 7/16 ounce.

[volzfan59]

6 hours ago, PressuredFishing said:

Imo the colors are rubbish, hooks are fine, doesn't blow out at faster retrieves. I have the 2 inch, the other one looked a little too big in store but haven't used it. 

 

P.S (if your not in a rush wait until sales bps discounts their products often)

What he said. If you can hold off for a couple of months, the BPS Spring Fishing Classic sale will be going on. The always discount all of their lures.

[NorthernBasser]

5 minutes ago, volzfan59 said:

What he said. If you can hold off for a couple of months, the BPS Spring Fishing Classic sale will be going on. The always discount all of their lures.

The baits are reg. $5. What kind of discount are we talking? 

[TheSwearingAngler]

45 minutes ago, volzfan59 said:

What he said. If you can hold off for a couple of months, the BPS Spring Fishing Classic sale will be going on. The always discount all of their lures.

How about trolling motors, you think there are any discounts coming on those? I got some gift cards for Xmas and that’s what I’m after but I don’t know BPS sale cycles.

[gim]

2 hours ago, NorthernBasser said:

The baits are reg. $5. What kind of discount are we talking? 

They are usually $4.99 but during the Spring Sale they’re $3.99.

 

The XPS Super Shallow Crank is essentially the same lure. It’s the closest lure to the discontinued Storm Subwart I have found. The trebles that come with it are good quality too.

 

These small, shallow running cranks are my top producer in rivers for smallmouth. And since they float, I also use them as a topwater. Cast, twitch, twitch, then reel in. My best color has been orange craw.

[NorthernBasser]

1 hour ago, gimruis said:

They are usually $4.99 but during the Spring Sale they’re $3.99.

 

The XPS Super Shallow Crank is essentially the same lure. It’s the closest lure to the discontinued Storm Subwart I have found. The trebles that come with it are good quality too.

 

These small, shallow running cranks are my top producer in rivers for smallmouth. And since they float, I also use them as a topwater. Cast, twitch, twitch, then reel in. My best color has been orange craw.

How do they compare to the SPRO Fat John 50? (if you've used it) Obviously the SPRO is a flatter profile. Also the Fat John is silent, so I guess there's that. 

[volzfan59]

3 hours ago, TheSwearingAngler said:

How about trolling motors, you think there are any discounts coming on those? I got some gift cards for Xmas and that’s what I’m after but I don’t know BPS sale cycles.

There are usually T/M's and electronics included in the BPS Spring Fishing Classic sale. Which one's and how much remain to be seen.

[PressuredFishing]

14 hours ago, NorthernBasser said:

The baits are reg. $5. What kind of discount are we talking? 

2.50$-3.50, sometimes buy one get one free. Sometimes only a buck off

[Deleted account]

12 hours ago, gimruis said:

The XPS Super Shallow Crank is essentially the same lure.

Hey! cut that out! 

I need yall to look at this neuralyzer now...

[gim]

12 hours ago, NorthernBasser said:

How do they compare to the SPRO Fat John 50?

I haven't used that one.

 

When Storm discontinued their Subwart years ago (rapala bought out storm, d**n them), I tried a bunch of those super shallow running short cranks.  Mann's, Rebel, Rapala.  None of them were very good at imitating that tight consistent wobble that the subwart is really good at until I tried the XPS Super Shallow Crank.  I still have about 5 or 6 subwarts, including one in the original packaging, but as we both know, sometimes they tend to disappear in the jaws of a pike.  With the Super Shallow Crank only being $4.99 each, I can swallow losing them too.  Hard to swallow losing a discontinued storm subwart that can only be found nowadays on ebay for like 40 bucks.

 

These are the 3 I bought last year during Bass Pro's annual Spring Sale.  As previously stated, they were $3.99 each.  The orange craw was my best color last season.

[NorthernBasser]

28 minutes ago, gimruis said:

I haven't used that one.

 

When Storm discontinued their Subwart years ago (rapala bought out storm, d**n them), I tried a bunch of those super shallow running short cranks.  Mann's, Rebel, Rapala.  None of them were very good at imitating that tight consistent wobble that the subwart is really good at until I tried the XPS Super Shallow Crank.  I still have about 5 or 6 subwarts, including one in the original packaging, but as we both know, sometimes they tend to disappear in the jaws of a pike.  With the Super Shallow Crank only being $4.99 each, I can swallow losing them too.  Hard to swallow losing a discontinued storm subwart that can only be found nowadays on ebay for like 40 bucks.

 

These are the 3 I bought last year during Bass Pro's annual Spring Sale.  As previously stated, they were $3.99 each.  The orange craw was my best color last season.

I did place a small order late last night. Got both sizes in The Egg (Fire Crawdad and Chart. Black Back) and 2 of the Super Shallow Cranks (Peral and Chart. Perch).

 

Thanks again everyone. It has been years since I really bought any BPS baits. I think the last thing I bought from them was the Tornado spinnerbait. 

[Tatulatard]

These are good too.  Throw them over shallow grass.  The bill deflects off clumps of grass without catching on it.  There are others with this same bill shape but these are poorly made adaptation of their deep diver mold to create an L-bill crank and blow out easily on the retrieve.  This also means that if you slow down a bit the bait will hunt and search like crazy without blowing out. That veering off of center this bait does triggers fish to strike. These are some serious fish catchers but you have to know what you are working with.  They are hard to keep deep because they are always trying to blow out but that erratic action is what makes them special.  A moderate to slow retrieve on a 6 gear ratio is what is needed.  

[NorthernBasser]

8 minutes ago, Tatulatard said:

These are good too.  Throw them over shallow grass.  The bill deflects off clumps of grass without catching on it.  There are others with this same bill shape but these are poorly made adaptation of their deep diver mold to create an L-bill crank and blow out easily on the retrieve.  This also means that if you slow down a bit the bait will hunt and search like crazy without blowing out. That veering off of center this bait does triggers fish to strike. These are some serious fish catchers but you have to know what you are working with.  They are hard to keep deep because they are always trying to blow out but that erratic action is what makes them special.  A moderate to slow retrieve on a 6 gear ratio is what is needed.  

I do like the Strike King and 6th Sense version of these. Now Strike King just came out with a shallow Hybrid Hunter that runs 1-3'. 

[NorthernBasser]

On 1/11/2023 at 12:37 AM, ghost said:

 

 

Change out the stock hooks, they suck. Use short shank treble hooks from VMC or Mustad KVD. Size 4 short shank for the 2" and size 3 short shank or you can get away with size 2 short shank on the 2.5" Egg. Since the Egg has a short body, the treble hooks at times do tend to tangle together. Just be aware of this before you cast it out again.  

 

 

You weren't kidding about the stock hooks being junk. They even came bent in the package. 

 

I put some size 4 KVD's on the 2" like you said. I can definitely see them getting hung up from time to time. You don't have any issues with the added weight affecting the buoyancy/action? I also notice out of the box the rear hook is larger than the front. 

 

Also, can confirm the triple-grips are sharp. ?

 

 

 

[ghost]

Ouch! You can also go size 4 KVD in front and Size 6 KVD trebles. They will still at times tangle up. I like the better hook up ratio with same size 4 hooks. No issues with Bouyancy or action with replacement trebles. 

 

Good luck with the Egg! 

[ghost]

BTW, the stock front treble hook on the Egg is supposed to be like that. It's supposed to help keep the hooks from fouling and have the front hook close to the body to lessen picking up weeds/grass. Good concept, not my thing.

[NorthernBasser]

25 minutes ago, ghost said:

BTW, the stock front treble hook on the Egg is supposed to be like that. It's supposed to help keep the hooks from fouling and have the front hook close to the body to lessen picking up weeds/grass. Good concept, not my thing.

Oh really? That's...interesting. That explains why both of the baits were like that. 

[ghost]

Yup. BPS has that treble hook on some of their crankbaits.

[ChrisD46]

On 1/11/2023 at 11:34 AM, PressuredFishing said:

Imo the colors are rubbish, hooks are fine, doesn't blow out at faster retrieves. I have the 2 inch, the other one looked a little too big in store but haven't used it. 

 

P.S (if your not in a rush wait until sales bps discounts their products often)

I agree the colors are not great , I'd probably start with the sexy shad color or the chartreuse / black back (depending on water color) .