Stringjam

Ken - not sure on the cedar question. There's a crank maker on the board here (aka Big M) who I'm sure could enlighten you. You might post in the "Tackle Making" board and see if anything comes up.

They cast well.....I never had any problems. I just don't like the action of Tapps....I know a lot of tournaments have been taken with them, and they're in the boxes of a lot of cranking pros, but I just don't care for them. They don't really have any "roll" or "wobble"......it's almost completely side-to-side movement (wiggle) - - really tight action.

Nope

I've used their Tapp copy with success. I just hate Tapps for some reason - even though I've caught fish on them... Nice quality crank - - I'd like to try their Poe's copy.

I saw a chocolate / pearl Wobbler on eBay the other day.....the auction only lasted about a day - - my guess is somebody contacted him and shot him a price to end it early. ; They're pretty cool baits - - tight wobbling action that looks very natural.

I despise SureSets.....I get hung up waaaaay to often with them (I fish cranks a lot in heavy cover). If you have any - I would recommend incinerating them before another hapless soul comes upon them and makes the same mistake I did.

Yes (still being made) and no (not the original company). They're under the Yakima Bait Co. line of lures. The "ORIGINAL" Poes, however - the company from California that put these now famous designs on the map - ended sometime around the early 90's when they were bought out and production was sent to Mexico. Here's a link. I can't vouch for the quality of current Poe's standard cranks - I know a few guys that say they've cleared up most of the QC issues. I do have quite a few of their "Competition Cedars" line of Poe's cranks, however. As I understand it (which may be wrong) - lure designer Tom Seward (who designed some cranks for Luhr-Jensen - like the Speed Trap, and Hot Lips Express) was brought in to "modify" the current Poe's into a more premium crank aimed at tournament fishermen who dug the original California-made Poe's of the late 80's. They rock hard!! But they still have finish cracking problems - - not nearly as bad as some of the Poe's I've gotten in times past - but it's still there. I have yet to have any lips loosen or pop out of these though - or have any lip misalignment issues. The 4400 is based on the Poe's 400 Plus - and is my favorite deep crankbait design thus far in life. The 4500 is a completely new design from Tom that hits 20 feet with relative ease - and it's the only crankbait I even bother with anymore for fishing that deep....it simply beats everything that I've tried, hands down. I've noticed a few custom carvers are making copies / improvements on the original 300 / 400 Poe's design. In know On-The-Line and Zoom WEC both make some (that I've yet to try). I remember when I starting using the RC3......I think the first trip out with that crank I caught a limit in an hour or so - I just had some killin' days with that crank, and it's still one of my favorites. It seems that you don't really hear much about Poe's anymore......probably since their big names are now with other companies (Rick Clunn, David Fritts, etc.). They don't seem to really do anything in the way of marketing anymore.

RC3's.

I haven't tried any of Brian's baits yet ($30 for the deep diver has kind kept me away for now - - since I'm so satisfied with my current baits). Which models are you using? Have you tried the Bee 18 or 22? His flatsides and wobblers look really nice.

Those Made in Mexico baits had some serious problems - - I bought about a dozen of them at one time and almost every one eventually had lip problems. I don't recall having any tuning issues, though.....I even caught the fire out of bass on many of them before the lip gave out. I guess I could have repaired them but I didn't really want to mess with it. The only Poe's I have now are the late 80's California baits and the Competition Cedars line.......neither of which I've had any problems with (other than finish cracking...but I can deal with that).

Sisson Slim Willie (both diving and shallow versions) Rapala Shad Raps (!) - - they don't navigate wood cover very well, but they'll kill in the rocky stuff. Rapala DT6 Frenzy Flicker Shad Bomber Flat A (both diving and shallow ver.) Norman's Crappie Crankbait Luhr-Jensen Speed Trap Storm Wiggle Wart Poe's 200, 1100, and RC3

The main reason or time that I tie a Rapala knot is when fishing very small, light cranks or topwaters. On certain baits the weight of the snap is a detriment, and the Rapala knot offers the best action. On the other hand, I simply do not trust the Rapala knot when fishing normal / larger cranks - especially around cover.......in this situation I believe the snap has every advantage over the Rapala knot - especially strength.

The double-line clinch knot is the savior of those who don't like to tie palomar knots. It is machine tested just as strong and you don't have to make any loops. Just double your line through the eye (as if you were tying a palomar) and then tie a clinch knot with that doubled line - only use about 5 or so twists - you don't want too many twists with all that doubled line. Take your tag through the bottom after the twists but DON'T come back up through the loop like if you were tying a single line clinch. The knot rocks with braid, fluorocarbon, and mono......just use more twists with braid. As for the snaps part - - expert crankbait designers have already done the hours of tank testing, and most will tell you to use a good SNAP. Tying directly to the lure severely inhibits lure action.....at least tie to a split ring if you're not going to use a snap.

Yes indeed - - btw, that "male gill" color is one of my favs!..... It is my understanding that Risebackers are out of production, however.

I've not gotten around to trying these out - - I've heard they have finish splitting problems similar to Poe's, however. How have yours held up? Any problems?

I wish Rapala would come out with a Trap more on their "old school" approach. I would be all over a foil-finished BALSA trap with a slow sink rate and no rattles. Perhaps it wouldn't sell all that great, since most people have a certain idea of how a "Rattle Trap" is supposed to function - - but one of my most successful lipless cranks (Air Viper Risebacker) has no rattles, and a very slow sink rate....making it great for throwing around shallow cover and during times when more finesse is required.

A big wide kicking crankbait - baby! They're noisy, displace a lot of water, etc.etc.....all things good in dirty water. Something like a firetiger Bagley B3. My current go-to is a H&T Balsa HT2......REALLY big wide wobble - lots of water displacement. They should have called it the H&T Attention Whor e. Yeah, black jigs work too......but they aren't as much fun.

I just buy frames and blades from Stamina. I can make whatever combination I want in about 2-3 minutes. That said - - my favorite all-around bait for the clearish water I fish is a 3/8 oz. with a single no.4 willow. Something small that I can burn and drop well.

Gambler Hibdon Series Flippin' Tube. Not even sure if they make it anymore (I bought a ton of them....hopefully enough to last a loooong time) - - superbly designed bait.

Poe's 400 Plus, 400, and 300 Lucky Craft Flat CB Jackall Muscle Deep 15+ Many others......but the Rapala DT's are a VERY good overall line of crankbaits - especially if you are just getting into fishing cranks. They are durable, fairly low maintenance, and relatively affordable - I would definitely recommend them!

They aren't the "only" lure that dives quickly - but they're pretty good cranks for sure. White or foil finished patterns are all great for shad patterns.

Similar - yes..........but the same?

Man - I love that thing too!!! ......only my favorite color is the SexyGhost Methiolate Ayu Explosion - with a red hook in front and one size smaller rear treble powdercoated in Yellow No.5

Why don't THEY just sell all their Basstrix stuff through eBay? That would instantly solve that problem - and they would profit the most, instead of the guys trying to control the "Basstrix Market." ;D

I use Devcon 2-ton epoxy - - available at Wal-Mart. FWIW it's the same stuff used by many of the top handcarvers for the clear coat. Get some little disposable brushes to apply it. BTW.....Don't get the 5-min Devcon