These things are ridiculous...

[Dan:]

But action and looks are inherent parts of a bait's ability to catch fish.

More than 1 lure has looked and behaved beautifully and hasn't worked for squat. More than 1 lure looked and behaved like crap (to us) and works wonderfully. I'm not buying a $50 lure because it looks and moves great, I'm buying it because it's going to catch fish in a manner well exceeding average baits (which are less expensive).

By no means am I saying Mattlures swimbaits do NOT work, I'm just saying people should be touting how well they catch fish, not how well they look to us. I haven't used them so I can't speak to that, but so many others here have used them that I would expect the fish stories to just roll in (like they do for the RageTail fans).

Yeah, I get what you're saying, the banjo minnow looked great too...but I do not think that a life-like paint job is ever a bad thing. The thing that most impresses me is the craftsmanship involved in making each bait so realistic. The finishes on his baits are probably the most realistic on the market. A bait that looks EXACTLY like what bass feed on (color/patterns) is ALWAYS a good thing.

[SPEEDBEAD.]

I know that if I am deadsticking a bait, there really is no action to speak of.

Especially in that instance, I want something that is as realistic as a living fish.  

The bottom line is this....try it or dont.  If you do try it and find that the bait is not for you, you can quickly sell it to someone else with little or no loss on your part.

Cant beat that IMO.

[Raul]

In my mind I don 't think of Matt Servant as a businessman, I think of him as one of the guys that took his hobby ( fishing ) into another level ( manufacturing ) first for him and then for his kind ( we fishermen ), in my mind I don 't view him as a dimes/nickles/dollars man, but as someone who is passionate about what he does and that is not going to try to sell me one of his baits if they have not have passed his quality control and his quality control is in him, the bait don 't work ---> he don 't make it and sells it.

I do sincerely hope that Matt grows his small company into a tackle emporium just like Gary Yamamoto did while mainitning the same commitment to excellence he already has. So far for me every single Matt 's bait I 've tried has worked one time or another.

So Matt, when are you going to manufacture them weedless baits I 've been asking for ?  >  I 'd better give my money to you than to Kenny.  

[fishinflip415]

Compared to other swimbait makers matts prices are a STEAL.....! When u buy a handcrafted bait that has so much work and research and developement put into it ur not paying for just the materials. Ur paying for all the hardwork put into it. I always thought that matts prices been really reasonable. I understand that some people say that $50 for a bait is just outrageous. But in the swimbait market for a custom bait like matts that is actually cheap. Some baits go for $200+. Swimbaiting isn't for everyone but for those that are into it know that matt just made a big statement with the quality and price of his new hard bass. So I have to give credit where credit is due and give matt a big WELL DONE.!!! 8-)

[Mottfia]

Beautiful baits, Matt. When i get out of college and get my income going I'm going in invest into your baits. Keep it up

Mottfia

[Mattlures]

Thanks again guys. I designed my swimbaits for targeting big bass, and I use them to target the biggest bass in the lake. Of course by doing this I do not catch tons of fish but I have caught monsters. If you want to catch numbers by all means buy some Ragetail baits.Actualy you should buy them anyways. They are awsome. I use them myself and I catch fish on them. For me I use my swimbaits to target trophies and use soft plastics to target a lot of bites. Yes they can get a big bite too but I use them to get me a lot of bites. Different tools for differnt jobs. Every single bait made will catch a fish if you fish it long enough. when I test my baits I make sure they get the right kind of bites, BIG bites. I will not sell a bait that does not do its job. I am not a salesman and I dont hype things up. I just make my baits and then offer them for sale. I do not advertise or spam websites, its just not my stlye.

Raul thanks for the props, however I dont want to grow my buisiness into a huge company. Too many headaches. Right now its just big enough that I am content. AS far as a weedless bait goes I will get to that. what would you like to see as far as stlye and species?

Lastley to some $50 is a good deal and to others its too much for a lure. I understand and this is a whole other subject that has been debated over and over. Quality vs quantity, you get what you pay for etc. I make specialized tools for specific aplications and they work.

I set my prices as low as I can and still make it worth my time. There have been times I could have gouged my customers for a little more $ but I would rather not do that. I try to make them affordable enough so that as many fisherman as possible can have them if they choose to.

PS. I seriously do recomend the rage baits. My favorites are the Shad and the Anaconda.  

[swimbait]

Keep em comin Matt!  

[Raul]

AS far as a weedless bait goes I will get to that. what would you like to see as far as stlye and species?

Wow ! I can 't believe my eyes  , I 'm actually reading Matt is gonna try make us weedless baits for us guys that thankfully but unfortunately have to deal with them mesquite trees ( where throwing ax exposed hook bait is asking for trubble ).

Ok Matt, for some time I 've fished you Mattlures Minnow ( cuz I can fish it with a weedless rig    ) problem is that 4 inches is too small, any self respecting 1 pound bass not only feels encouraged by it but also is capable of swallowing it, a bigger version ( 5-6" ) would be nice; why would I purchase a Yum Money Minnow if I can purchase with a Mattlures Minnow made by my good friend Matt ?  

I 'm not going to say, go ahead and make hollow baits like Kenny 's weedless trout cuz I know making thoese needs a big investment, but I don 't know .... maybe adding a weedguard to the BG and BB can do the trick of making it weedless enough for us who fish heavy cover.

Unfortunately I don 't fish those two baits much because of that ( heavy cover ), I wish I could fish them a lot more, I know they produce because I 've fished with them where cover is not a problem with good results, but then, I only go to those places infrequently so the BG and the BB are kept dry for months.

[dan1942]

I think I might have to order one.  The detail is amazing!

[repper]

As an owner of a Mattlures hard bluegill(floating) I would like to say that this lure catches fish! And a bass does not have to be a monster to think it can eat this lure. so don't think you are fishing for only 7 or 8 pounders and bigger with this lure because I've had 3 pounders hit it many times. And as for the price: lure-$50.00 Look on my 25 year old son's face when a 7lb bass blew up on his deadsticked bluegill-priceless. That was at clearlake this last July. Awesome.

[Randall]

I can tell you the Hard Bass catches fish. I have been throwing it and Triton Mike's Bull Shad almost every day for the past couple of months. Most days I am catching five to twenty swimbait fish a day. Best five going twenty five to thirty pounds on many days. I don 't post too often about it and post as many photos as I could because I fish small lakes that fill up real quick with guys throwing the same baits when the bite is as good as it is.

[rubba bubba]

Thanks again guys. I designed my swimbaits for targeting big bass, and I use them to target the biggest bass in the lake. Of course by doing this I do not catch tons of fish but I have caught monsters. If you want to catch numbers by all means buy some Ragetail baits.Actualy you should buy them anyways. They are awsome. I use them myself and I catch fish on them.

Sigh.

I'm going to say this in a different way - when someone questioned the price thinking that it was high, the only replies supporting the price tag were those posts saying the detail and action are second to none. That will never work with 98% of the people who fish because what's important is how well it catches fish. Not 1 person on the entire 1st page of posts responded to how well it catches fish.

The comparison to RageTail wasn't about Mattlures vs. RageTail fish catching ability, it was comparing the differences between the people who post in support of each product as both products are considered pricey in their market. However the RageTail posters frequently point out what's most important - how well they catch fish; and in particular compared against the other plastics that are cheaper.

I'd plop $50, $100, or $200 if the lure caught fish in an exceptional manner. I'm not plopping down $10 or $1 if it's just a beautiful lure.

One more time: it's not about the Mattlures vs. RageTail lures. The comparison had NOTHING to do with the lures but the posters. Look at the posts by Randall and Repper - those are the posts that people debating whether it's worth $50 need to see; it just took 3 pages of posts to get to them.

[VAfishin4me]

Man if I lost one of those I would have to break out the scuba gear!

Haha, these look so realistic a bass might swallow it before you can find it ;D

[Mattlures]

rubba bubba Ok there is a differnce between real swimbaits and other baits when it comes to correct detail, color and action. The guys that fish with swimbait and catch fish understand this and that is why they would buy an expencie bait based on what they see. Let me explain.

An expensive crankbait with a beautiful and possibly realistic finish is not realistic. It doesnt swim like a real fish and in most cases it isnt shapped like a real fish. They dont have fins and other details that fool the bass into thinking they are eating a reay prey fish. Bass eat them out of a reaction. This is the same thing with just about all hard baits. The difference with a good (ususly expencive) swimbait is that it actualy looks like a real fish, swims like a real fish and the color patern is accuratley represnting the prey species that it is supossed to be. SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO when you see a good swimbait that looks like a real fish and swims like a real fish with the proper coloration it will get bit. It will produce. The guys who consistantly catch fish on swimbait know this. This is why they can look at pics and see some video and have instant confidence knowing the bait catches fish. The first time I saw a Hudd and threw it out I knew it was going to be a great producer. I just knew PERIOD! Big bass are fish eaters. If they are feeding on trout or gills or shad and you give them a bait that REALY matches those prey species you will get bit. Again a crankbait painted like a trout doesnt even come close to matching a trout. A spinnerbait, or jig, or crankbait, or plastic worm in "bluegill" color, doesnt even come close to matching a real gill. You can take the best photo finish and put it on a crank bait but its still a reaction bait. Most swimbaits are fished slowly. they fish get a real good look at the bait before they eat it. The more realistic it is the better chance that fish is going to eat it. I have caught several GIANT bass deadsticking a floating swimbait. I do nothing but moniter my slack. The baits sit and bob and swim in the slightest ripple. I have wittnesses huge bass come right up under the baits and sink back down several times only to absolutly crush it after another 5 minutes of it sitting there doing nothing. The realism of the bait caught those fish.

rubba bubba when you make a comparrison between real swimbaits and other types of baits you are comparring apples to oranges. It doesnt work the same.

now the general argument is well, I caught a 5lber on a storm bait or paddle tube so matt's realism theory is wrong. Of course this is just stupid. Its like saying I dont need a hammer to hit in these nails, I can do it with a rock. Yes a rock will hit in the nails but the hammer will do a much better job.

[rubba bubba]

rubba bubba when you make a comparrison between real swimbaits and other types of baits you are comparring apples to oranges. It doesnt work the same.

This is where we keep getting disconnected. I was not comparing *anything*. I was suggesting that the posters who were supporting your lure and your price speak to it's ability to catch fish, not it's appearance. That is ALL that I was saying. I'm not sure why this is so hard to grasp?

I think your lures rock, but I'm not going to convince my buds to get one because it's beautiful, I'm going to sell them on how well it produces and thus justifies the (perceived) high cost. Why do you keep reading my posts and think I'm comparing your lure to other lures?

The great irony help is I was trying to help defend the product and it's pricing.

[-HAWK-]

rubba bubba when you make a comparrison between real swimbaits and other types of baits you are comparring apples to oranges. It doesnt work the same.

This is where we keep getting disconnected. I was not comparing *anything*. I was suggesting that the posters who were supporting your lure and your price speak to it's ability to catch fish, not it's appearance. That is ALL that I was saying. I'm not sure why this is so hard to grasp?

I think your lures rock, but I'm not going to convince my buds to get one because it's beautiful, I'm going to sell them on how well it produces and thus justifies the (perceived) high cost. Why do you keep reading my posts and think I'm comparing your lure to other lures?

Rubba Bubba.. You are missing the point here. When people are justifying the cost of these lures by commenting on its incredible action and realistic looks. Those are some of the MOST important things swimbaiters are looking for in a swimbait. If a bait excels in those areas then it WILL catch fish.

[rubba bubba]

Rubba Bubba.. You are missing the point here. When people are justifying the cost of these lures by commenting on its incredible action and realistic looks. Those are some of the MOST important things swimbaiters are looking for in a swimbait. If a bait excels in those areas then it WILL catch fish.

I can't disagree with this more. There are more than a few posters on here who do indeed focus on the action and it's looks as a selling point, however the VAST majority of anglers do not fall into that category. The people questioning the $50 price aren't people who know swimbaits inside and out, and are focusing on the realism. Those are people who have never fished a high end swimbait before and so have yet to be convinced that it will outperform in relation to its higher price.

You look at any one poster questioning the price and you find 1, just 1, who is clearly a hard swimbait skilled angler. You can't. These are people who are inexperienced to high end swimbaits and so they need to be approached on what's important to them.

Those who are skilled swimbait anglers are already on board with Matt, his products and his pricing.

[SPEEDBEAD.]

Sooooo, in summation.... ;D

Matt's baits catch fish.

If you dont want to buy one, find a buddy that has one and take it while he isnt looking.

When I have the baits in hand (and then fish on the line), I will get pics up.  There are a couple more weekends before hunting season starts, so I will have some time to throw them this year.

Rubba bubba, it's all good man.   8-)

[tyrius.]

This is where we keep getting disconnected. I was not comparing *anything*. I was suggesting that the posters who were supporting your lure and your price speak to it's ability to catch fish, not it's appearance. That is ALL that I was saying. I'm not sure why this is so hard to grasp?

What you're not getting is that this lure is BRAND NEW!!!  Not many people have even had an opportunity to fish it.  Matt's other baits are great (soft gills, hard gills, soft baby bass, etc), therefore one can expect that this new bait will perform as well as all of Matt's other baits.

Many of the people posting on this thread have likely already ordered one and will fish it as soon as they get it.

[Mattlures]

Rubba Bubba your not getting it. I get what your saying loud and clear.

My point and many others point which you keep missing is that with a swimbait especialy, and even other baits to, is that you CAN judge a bait by its realism and action. ANYBODY who is seasoned in a certian technique can look at a wall of lures and pick out good ones even if he hasnt fished them yet. I gauantee KVD can judge a spinnerbait based on itc components. I am sure a ggod jig man can look at a bunch of jigs and tell you why one is better than another.

This new unproven to you swimbait incorperates proven designs. The 2 joint lippless swimbait is a proven fish catcher. The bait being realisticly correct only enhances it. AND the last point that you keep forgetting is that even though YOU dont know it will catch fish, I DO KNOW that it already has. Plus my customers know that I take the time to make sure my baits get bit and get the right bites. If I make something and I cant catch big fish on it then it dies. If my my friends cant get bit on it then I change it untill they do.

Your entire point was that you and others would not be willing to pay a premium bassed on the cosmetcs and action of a bait. You want to hear from guys who have fished it. WELL if I release something then it has been tested and it does its job.

tyrius is also absolutley correct. I just released this bait. I only have about 5 of these out there being tested so your not going to hear much about them catching fish yet.

Look I understad being scepticle. I am also that way. I do not buy gimmiks and there are definatley things I will not buy untill I have heard that they perfrom like they are supossed to. But when it comes to fishing lures I can pick out a lure based on how it looks in the hand and in the water and know it will produce. Maybe its because I have been fishing for 30 years ? I can honestly say that I have not been wrong when I thought a bait would produce in the last 10 years. Now I have been wrong a couple times when I thought something wouldnt work and it did. For me thats when I rely on reveiws from others.

[SPEEDBEAD.]

This seems like one of those discussions that would be more easily understood (on both sides) in a face to face conversation.

There is so much lost in communication through typed messages.  Points and tone are often misconstrued, as seems to be the case here.

Like I said before.  Buy it or not.  Those are the two choices that every fisherman has to make.

Hopefully mine come sooner rather than later...  

[Mattlures]

SPEEDBEAD. you are totaly right. I am not upset or defensive but you might not know that from reading my posts. I understand Rubba's point and it is a valid point. However I do disagree with it in this instance. If it was some completly new unproven idea then I would agree with him.

[.ghoti.]

If I selected lures based on what appeals to ME, I'd only carry two or three lures in my box.

But I'm such a terrible judge of fish-appeal, that I need to carry a wide variety of lures :-[

Roger

Ah, Roger. I knew you were a sharp guy. You just diagnosed my illness from 2000 miles away. ;D ;D

Now, about the long-term prognosis; is there any hope for a cure?

[fishfordollars]

Sick!

Reaching for the debit card!

[rubba bubba]

Let me summarize:

- I, myself, do not need any justification for your price tag. I get why they cost what they cost and why they work.

- Those who are experienced with high end swimbaits also get the $50 price tag and why action and detail and translate to the price.

- Those who are inexperienced with high end swimbaits are the ones questioning the price. You can give them 1 and 2 line posts all day speaking about the detail and action and you aren't going to get any traction with them. You need to translate that into fish catching ability.

You said it best yourself:

My point and many others point which you keep missing is that with a swimbait especialy, and even other baits to, is that you CAN judge a bait by its realism and action. ANYBODY who is seasoned in a certian technique can look at a wall of lures and pick out good ones even if he hasnt fished them yet.

Those who are asking are NOT seasoned. You have to explain to them in a different way if you are going to make any inroads into them accepting such a price for your lure. They don't know what they don't know, but they do know that what's important is can it catch fish.

The newness of the lure is irrelevant. This isn't your first $50 swimbait. The question from those posters isn't for those new swimbaits in particular, they are having a hard time comprehending *any* lure costing $50 (in general). If you haven't noticed, every time there's a Mattlures thread, this cost issue comes up.

If you think the best way to answer to that group of people is the detail/action, and expect them to make the connection to actual fish catching ability, then we are simply going to have to agree to disagree. As you said, seasoned people will get it but seasoned people aren't the ones asking the question.

I am only making a recommendation; use it or not.  I have no vested interest nor do I have any pride equity at stake on this.