Stcoking the Crankbait Box

Hey guys I need some help on the best way to build up my crankbait selection. I am still some what new to Bass fishing so right now it is limited. It is actually so limited it hurts me. Like today, I had two colors that were working for me and lost both and I had no backups, oh my lure retriever is on the bottom of the lake too. I have been buying a few custom baits here and there normally spending 15.00 or so each on them. I am not sure this not a bad way to go because the guy fishing with me could not get a bite and I got two decent keepers on a tough day like today. I have confidence the ones I have been buying will catch fish. I also have confidence I could go broke buying them http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/roll.gif .

My thought is that it may be best to buy some cheaper crankbaits like Bomber and Rapala then try to get more custom baits. What are some good lower price crankbaits anyway? I am interested in all opinions

I really like the Bandits and Bombers ModelA

Beware of newer Bandits. They are crap!!!! Go with DT's and Ed chambers baits!!

DTs http://xs-s.com/zf/images/smile/emthup.gif

Normans, FF shad, Bombers and Rapala Cranks are my most used.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by simoniz &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Beware of newer Bandits. They are crap!!!! </TD></TR></TABLE>

What's up with the new Bandits? I have been using them for years and really like them... Inquiring minds want to know... http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/Laugh.gif http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/stirthepot.gif

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Buggs Islander &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

What's up with the new Bandits? I have been using them for years and really like them... Inquiring minds want to know... http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/Laugh.gif http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/stirthepot.gif

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Paint, plastic, and thin hooks that you can straighten with your hands! Old Bandits are great. I'm talking about the newer ones made in China.

If you buy Bandits, most of the older ones you will find in tackle shops will have the mustad triple grip trebles, those are the best ones you will find now.
They may have started putting Mustads on the new ones, don't know as I haven't bought any in a while. I would say that one of the best all purpose baits bandit makes is the 200. It has a wobble that fish find attractive all year long. And if you can't find it in a color you like, it probably doesn't exist!

Chris

Love the Bandits. I could throw the "Mistake" color all year long on the River! I've had TREMENDOUS success with Mann's Minus-1's too. If you're looking for good deals on Cranks though. Keep an eye on the Swap & Sell forums near the bottom of the main page. Lots of baits being sold everyday there! http://xs-s.com/zf/images/smile/emthup.gif

Stock the box

Norman Deep little N at least two ( I really love spring craw and lavendar shad) a blue chartruse is money too.
Norman DD 22 - at least one deep diving crank.

Bomber Long A in craw -

Shallow running crank - 2-3 I like speed traps and the LC pro

Rattle Trap type bait - Chrom Blue and Red Craw

I think you could go most places with those baits and be able to work deep to shallow and have some good standard tools. Why go custom when building a crank bait box when you can get two normans for the price of one custom?

colors you can start basic,shad imitating and chartreuse variations for off colored water.from there its your wimsy.
brands, styles,shapes, are limitless but every one has its place.
im not into the hi dollar foreign baits.when the u.s. baits quit catchin fish then i'll consider payin $15.00+ for a crank.
bomber,bandit,and normans are a must.each has different characteristics and illicit strikes in different conditions.thats not to say the d.t's or shad raps are to be slighted as well as many other brands,but those 3 will get you started.
my #1 factor for choosing baits is depth and then shape(wobble)but its really hard to not buy a bait because of color.

IMO dont waste your dollars on the 15.00 baits. so your new to cranking?

get your self a variety of shad raps, bombers, and 200 bandits.

as was said, the new bandits arent as good as the old ones (crappy hooks, and they dont run as true as the old ones)

buy natural colores (shad,chrome-blue,craw,etc)
keep it simple.

ill stop now to keep this short. but could go on for pages about cranks.

keep in mind a crank is a reaction bait, a3$ bait can have just as much action as a 15$bait its all in how you work the the rod that gives the bait its action to cause a strike. http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/wink.gif

A crank to try if you don,t have cash for high dollars ones, is the Kinami Crank.

I runs about same depth ranges as 200 Bandit and 6-A Bomber. I have caught a lot of bass in the White AYU color last couple years. The bait sells for around four bucks and is made a good plastic that takes a beating. you had to order the bait a on-line in the past , For better of Worse Wally World is selling them this year.
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z...67/kc5-432.jpg

I got a couple of those last year, did well at Pomme and Truman with the Watermelon and the Ayu. I've got some minnows and poppers but haven't used them yet. http://xs-s.com/zf/images/smile/emthup.gif

dont waste your money on there lucky krafts, for as high as they are i have paint , eyes and chit come off from bein in box and min. of use, if thats onna happen i want THE FISH TO DO IT TO THE BAITS, but hey man , its really what you have confidence in, i have a large selection of bandits (old ones) bombers, fat free`s, normans, strike kings, rapalas, in various sizes and colors in every brand, and they all work, just pickin the one that applies to your application for that day, and for the water color

KEEP IT SIMPLE . http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/USA1.gif Get you a few 6a and 7a bombers, strike king 1, and a few dd22s all in shad , firetiger, and crawfish. If they are wanting a crankbait, these will catch them.

Get some DT 10. I do real well on the Bagleys DB3's also.

go with the dts or normans

Now you see why there are 5 asiles in the Bass Pro Shop with nothing but crankbaits. Everybody's got a favorite and they're all the best. As time goes on you will accumulate more than enough crankbaits for every condition...some of them may never get wet.

I have more crankbaits that have never been used than have been used.

I have caught more fish on shad raps and rattle traps (in cooler water) and rootbeer colored bandits in mid spring and in early fall.