earthworm77 Posted December 20, 2004 Posted December 20, 2004 Question: I use crankbaits sparingly because I mostly fish soft plastics, Spinnerbaits and jigs. I use cranks in the spring and fall only. I like Balsa cranks such as the Bagley Killr B1 and Honey B as well as the ThunderShad from Awesome tackle. Has anyone ever used Brian's Bee Crankbaits. These are balse and custom painted but are they worth the $18 to $22 pricetag?
JT Bagwell Posted December 20, 2004 Posted December 20, 2004 Sorry, I have never heard of them. JT Bagwell
John Cullum Posted December 20, 2004 Posted December 20, 2004 I have a few Bee 2 for sure and I believe the others are Bee 5s? I bought them used at a fishing show a few years back and have done decent with them. They are alot better than the Thunder Shad which I wasted $100.00 on 2 years ago. I don't fish them much because I fish mostly Bagleys when I fish balsas but they aren't bad baits.
Super User Marty Posted December 20, 2004 Super User Posted December 20, 2004 I've used a lot of cranks over the years, but never any expensive ones, let's say none over $6 or $7. I'm very skeptical about reports I read about expensive baits. I think the people are sincere, but I view it as a confidence thing. The vast majority of anglers are unable to draw definitive conclusions about such things because they cannot catch enough fish, over a long enough period of time, under controlled conditions. I could be 100% wrong, but I believe that the available selection of modestly-priced baits will suffice to produce top results. Of course, that's just my personal belief; since I can't prove anything, I base my theories on what my gut tells me and what seems to make sense.
earthworm77 Posted December 20, 2004 Author Posted December 20, 2004 Skipper, what's your opinion about the Bee's compared to the Bagley's baits? Should I just stick with Bagley's? Maybe swap out the hooks and custom paint a few myself?
John Cullum Posted December 21, 2004 Posted December 21, 2004 Brians crankbaits fish more like ThunderShads or Tennessee Killers or Poes than a Bagley. There nice baits but I still prefer Bagleys. Tim Hughs makes a bait that is very similiar to the 1970s Bagley brass B series and they are supposed to be awesome. They say it has the same brass harness and same weights as the old Bagleys even the same lure dimentions. I have never tried them but they look nice. Be careful on getting them painted if they are old. You need to strip them down and then re-paint them if you got them to hunt. By adding another coat of paint and some clear coat to a smaller Honey Bee will mess up the action and you might not get it to hunt again. I always change the hooks on my Bagleys. I use a size#4 on front and back on ALL of my BB 2-4. Nothing on the market today fishes like an old Balsa Bagleys. Nothing hunts like they do, nothing walks thru wood like they do and no crankbait in my opinion will produce more fish big fish on a natural lake than a Balsa Bagley. I'm not sponsored in anyway from Bagley and Bagley hasn't made a single penny off me EVER. I buy all of my Bagleys from e-bay. Yes they are expensive, sometimes around 35-50 bucks a pop but I'll gladly pay if it's a good color and it has brass. If you have a lake with blow downs or flooded timber get one of these and give it a try. Take them out at a local pond and work on getting them to hunt. Then take them to the normal lakes you fish and give it a try around wood. You'll boat more fish off the spots then you normally do and it'll catch some pigs you didn't know were there.
Chris Posted December 21, 2004 Posted December 21, 2004 There is a guy who was one of the people who invented most of the older Bagley lures he has now come out with the same old style Bagley baits if you are interested look up Lee Sisson lures i only mentioned it because you like to throw Bagleys. Its the same style that was thrown to win the 2004 classic.
Nick Posted December 21, 2004 Posted December 21, 2004 For Skipper and Chris, Skipper, I have some brass Bagleys in near new condition that I will photo and mail to you if you are willing to pay that kind of $ for them. The lure that won the Classic in '04 was not a Bagley. It was a very similar bait crafted by a fellow in Kentucky and painted by Tim Hughes. Hughes will be selling them thru Bass Pro for about $25 each. Omori would have gladly paid that much no doubt! LOL
Super User roadwarrior Posted December 21, 2004 Super User Posted December 21, 2004 Well Nick I'll have to do a little research but I know I read somewhere ( either Bassmaster or Inside Line) that Omori did in fact win with a Bagley B II. The article went on to say he modified the lure with red Gammie hooks. I'll find the article and give you the post but what I recall so specifically was Omori complimenting his sponsor, Lucky Craft, for allowing him to use what ever brand of lure he want's in competition.
Super User roadwarrior Posted December 21, 2004 Super User Posted December 21, 2004 "Omori's Last Minute Victory" Bassmaster Oct. '04. Balsa Bagley B II, charteuse/ black back. Also, "Takahiro Wins Bassmaster Classic Title" Inside Line Sept/Oct "I stayed with the crankbait the rest of the day. The B-II runs shallow, but it bounces off cover very well, which is why everyone likes it. The last year or so on the Bassmaster Tour it's been a key bait for a lot of fishermen."
Chris Posted December 25, 2004 Posted December 25, 2004 Have you tried that Balsa Boogie from bass pro? I think they are a great bait but the paint kinda stinks. That Thundershad isn't a bad bait either I own 2 one catches fish the other don't. I like the hooks and the "D" split rings. The DT series work great I like them in clear water. I like balsa baits that have a rattle because i fish alot of dirty water. The thing about it is that you spend a bunch on one lure but it can become money wasted if the lure doesn't produce. The good thing about wood baits is that each runs different so you can feel like your using a lure different than what others are throwing.
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