Quality vs Quantity

[rfrazier]

So I just started to REALLY get into bass fishing, and I'm building up my tackle. While fishing, I'm finding I'll immediately reach for a few select lures to tie on, and a fairly large amount of my tackle is being unfished. I'm primarily using braid as well, so I really havn't been losing any lures. Right now the glaring hole in my tackle is my lack of crankbaits. I havn't fished many standard cranks; mostly lipless/rattle traps.

This is my question and it dosn't apply to just crankbaits; When does quality trump quantity? Say you were going to spend $30 on crankbaits (or any other lure type), would you rather buy 6 ~$5 lures, or 3 more premium lures, such as lucky craft brand. As far as the question goes assume you won't lose any of them. Buying the six lures gives you the advantage of having a more diverse selection of models/patterns. The 3 lures gives you higher quality lures/better action (assuming your not paying for the brand)/ more confidence? Of course many people like a $2 lure more than any other lure and will swear by it, but if you havn't fished a wide variety of similar lures you aren't likely to come across that cheap confidence bait.

In a lot of the saltwater fishing I do there isn't as much competition between the brands. One company is known for a certain type of lure, and that's what people get.

"buy the best you can afford" dosn't pertain to the question!

[.dsaavedra.]

go with rapala!!!

very reasonably priced and d**n close to the best you can get. they offer a wide variety of baits also.

[Micro]

I have a lot of lures.  I've discovered the same thing you have, that I have some that are rarely fished, and some that are fished often.  Most of my lures will catch some fish.  Some seem to catch more than others.  

I'm not sure that price has much to do with effectiveness.  My most productive cranks are Rapalas DTs, which aren't particularly expensive.   But I have some Lews (a cheap brand sold at BPS) that seems to work well all out of proportion to their cheap cost.  I have a few expensive lures, like Lucky Crafts, that catch fewer fish, mainly because I fish them less because I am afraid to lose them.  Once I figure out what works particularly well, I usually buy a few more because I know sooner or later they will be worn out or lost.  

I like a diverse selection.  When something isn't working, I can try something else.  

[ww2farmer]

You don't have to break the bank to get quality crankbaits that produce fish. To "start" (lol that just what it will be is a start)a crankbait arsenal he is what I would buy:

Mann's baby 1- (shallow runner)

Bandit 100 series ( shallow-mid runner)

Bandit 200 series (mid depth)

Rapala Shad Rap (finnese/clearwater)

and add a few more Rat-L-Traps to your collection as they are great baits.

Those baits are all in the $5 range, give or take, and will catch fish.

Stick to natural colors, perch, bluegill,babybass,shad,and crawfish colors work every where. I would also avoid deep diving baits at first. If you don't have much exp. or confidence in crankbaits the best way to quickly hate this style of lures is to tie on a big lipped deep diving bait, hang it on the bottom, and having sore arms from cranking those things all day without any fish to show for it. Start by gaining confidence and exp. with shallow baits, then move on from there. Just my .02..........

[Micro]

Rapala Shad Rap (finnese/clearwater)

DITTO!

I forgot about these.  These work exceptionally well for me.   Not only do I catch bass on these, but they are killer baits for big pickerel.  

[.dsaavedra.]

You don't have to break the bank to get quality crankbaits that produce fish. To "start" (lol that just what it will be is a start)a crankbait arsenal he is what I would buy:

Mann's baby 1- (shallow runner)

Bandit 100 series ( shallow-mid runner)

Bandit 200 series (mid depth)

Rapala Shad Rap (finnese/clearwater)

and add a few more Rat-L-Traps to your collection as they are great baits.

Those baits are all in the $5 range, give or take, and will catch fish.

Stick to natural colors, perch, bluegill,babybass,shad,and crawfish colors work every where. I would also avoid deep diving baits at first. If you don't have much exp. or confidence in crankbaits the best way to quickly hate this style of lures is to tie on a big lipped deep diving bait, hang it on the bottom, and having sore arms from cranking those things all day without any fish to show for it. Start by gaining confidence and exp. with shallow baits, then move on from there. Just my .02..........

SO TRUE 8-)

[rfrazier]

Didn't really mean for this to be a suggestion thread, but thanks for the suggestions. I have a fairly good idea of what cranks I want to get. One question I do have, is how often can I expect to lose a crank. From what I've read, running/bumping them off wood/rocks is the thing to do.

[George Welcome]

I smile as I read responses that claim this is best or that is best. The reality is: only "you" can determine what is best for you because confidence is a strong factor in how much you use a particular bait.

There is a marked difference between baits which isn't always determined by price, but most often it is.

[roadwarrior]

I think you will be surprised how many, or actually how few lures you will actually "use". More than 75% of the lures I own have never been fished! For example, fishing jerkbaits is my favorite technique and I have a fairly large collection of Lucky Craft Pointers, Rapala Husky Jerks, X-Raps and Smithwick Rogues. I fish a couple most of the time, but I'm sure I haven't fished six different lures!

Anyhow, my general suggestion to those starting out is to buy ONLY those lures that are HIGHLY recommended by people you know or trust. You will save a ton of money over time and you will still accumulate more lures than you will ever need.

This is an old thread that you might find useful:

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1143177139

Good luck!

8-)

[Raul]

Rapala Shad Rap in all it 's versions.

[ABC123]

If you put a limit on the amount of money spent on lures, then the answer is easy. Buy mid priced lures that have been used by others with success. A couple high priced lures will not boat the same amount of fish as a selection of different colors, sizes, actions, and running depths. Money's no object, buy the fancy ones too.

[Maxximus Redneckus]

this is one case where used would be perfect aside from broken lips or cracked bodies i think a well used crakbait outfishes new ones especially rat-l-traps

[Matt Fly]

I want both!!!!!  Quanity and Quality.     Quanity because if you are on a pattern and lose the one crank, your done, and if its a tournament, it could cost you a possible check.   Also, having at least 3, if team tourney fishing, you have one for your partner and a spare.

No way I only by a quanity of one of anything.    Maybe one to increase current stock from 2 to 3.

Quality is not only in finish, but terminal tackle and hooks.     We all have little things we like to see on certain baits.   Some like a color to be exact, some like the red hooks, some of us like red on cranks around the gills, some like suspending models only.    

Me, if I can find a crank that dives deep and is Tenn. shad colored, I can and will change hooks and split rings if needed.    With a crank that costs over 10 dollars, I shouldn't have to change anything in my book.

I buy cranks that I have confidence in.    I have never been one to buy a bunch of 15-30.oo  cranks.    But will pay that price for the ones I know that produce.  

Matt

 

[bassmaster8100]

I want both!!!!! Quanity and Quality.

me too, im not gonna buy a bunch of cheap baits so i can say i have a bunch of tackle but i will stock up on those that i have to be productive and that is usually a quality bait, ive got some of both that ive found productive but the quality baits are usually the ones that i do find most productive except when it comes to soft plastics. Zoom which is not expensive, pretty cheap has outperformed all other soft plastic brands ive used by a long shot. But then when it comes to something like a crankbait, Lucky Craft has been most productive by a long shot for me.

[gatrboy53]

i fish and old brush pile that over the yrs. has scattered to a 50yd. radius.that most of the times holds fish.i lose at least one crank and if there is fish there more every time i fish it.some cranks no matter how much they cost will catch fish. ive lost $2.00 favorite fish catchin cranks that has made me sick as a dog.several times after not being able to retrive em i was going to dive down and get em.but at 10-12' deep i couldnt do it.i dont know why but i hate losin cranks worse than any other baits,especially if its one of my favorites.personally i dont buy foreign cranks.it doesnt cost them any more to make them as american made baits.(i dont want to get into the pros and cons )but i do buy some custom painted american cranks w/ upgraded hooks and i have lost some in tx.'s that has ruined my day.

my take is if your a tx. fisherman fishin for bucks then invest in some hi dollar baits and be willin to lose them .if your a just fishin and work hard for your dollar and care about if its worth losin a $15.00+ bait then invest in some good name american cranks and be happy.

[Micro]

Quantity has a quality all its own

-Joseph Stalin

[bmadd]

Norman makes very good crankbaits in my opionion and with every model being around $5 or less, they are very easy to get quantity if needed.

[Bud]

                              I smile as I read responses that claim this is best or that is best. The reality is: only "you" can determine what is best for you because confidence is a strong factor in how much you use a particular bait.  

There is a marked difference between baits which isn't always determined by price, but most often it is.                            

X2

[Avalonjohn44]

I just get one of everything. And Five of everything that works.  

My most productive baits are the cheap ol bandit 100s, and riverside/Yum rejects...But I'm directly related to the bait monkey, and I love collecting rare lures, Bagley, Megabass, and Rapala lures, old ones, new ones, whatever.  I don't use the more expensive baits as much, but I do use them, and they produce.  I have considered mounting some baits in wall plaques, but haven't gone that far...yet...

Either way, I figure it is my hobby, it makes me happy, and it is more satisfying to me to know that one day my son will inherit my fishing collection, rather than a cold bank account that the government gets a chunk of.