SkilletSizeBass.

Thanks Raul. Imakastu makes more than I realized. I'll have to find more info on their diff. cranks. I'll search thru Ebay stuff since Ichiban is out of stock.

Thanks T-Rig and Stringjam, I'm looking on ebay for them. I also seen Imakatsu has a IK-500 that runs like 17', but, I may try the IK250 and IK-400 first. Ichiban tackle is "out of stock" on most colors. I tried searching ebay on some of the other japanese cranks Stringjam listed as hard to get, nothing came up on them.

The Imakatsu IK-250 is one I been looking at, and the Evergreen combat crank 250 and Mo-Do wild hunch. Yea, they are expensive, and hard to get.

Do you guys fish any of the harder to get Japanese crankbaits ? I've had some sucess on the Evergreen combat crank mr (pre-spawn color), and ordered a couple of Junior D recently. I've been looking at some Imakatsu crank250 and Evergreen mo-Do wild hunch. Just curious if you guys have tried any of the Japanese cranks.Thanks

Bomber 6a redfire craw Bomber 6a brown craw Lucky Craft Moonsault chart/shad Bandit series 200 Tenn. shad But, I got a bunch of new ones to try out this spring ;D some custom cranks and some Japanese models

Maybe 15 years ago, my brother and a close friend and I were fishing a local watershed. We wasn't catching much for awhile, so my brother had us drop him off on the bank to do some squirrel hunting in the surrounding hills. My buddy and I continued to lazily work our way up our favorite cove. All of a sudden, it was like Mother nature flipped the switch ! My buddy and I started catching one bass after another, many times we'd both have fish on, and my brother was shooting one squirrel after another. I had a huge bass, est. 7lb., hit my black/chart. worm and come up and bust the top of the water, shake his head, and threw my worm. I was so disguisted with myself.Ive caught bigger bass since then, but I'll never forget that bass busting the water and tail dancing before spitting out my worm. This lasted maybe 20-30 mins., and stopped as fast as it started. At the time I was really disguisted with myself for losing the fish, but, looking back, man what a great day !

I use a lure retriever to attempt to retrieve my lures, most of the time it works.

I live about 15 mins. from the BPS is Clarksville,In., its huge, suppose to be one of the biggest. I go at least a couple times a week, if for nothing else to look around. Its awesome! The 09 fishing classic is Feb. 27 - March 15, and it will be packed. Get there early if you go then. As far as prices compared to on-line retailers, it depends on what your buying. Most of the time its a wash, not much differance. Most of the time I order on-line is when BPS doesn't have the item or color I'm looking for.

Stringjam, as always, great pics man

I've got quite a few Bandits, but, 2 that I've done the best on are: Series 200 : Spring craw and Tenn. shad

I got a bunch of lures that I've never caught a fish on, but its probably more of a confidence thing with me than the lure itself. :-[

You got to wonder about the "honesty" of any pro when he says what he won on, he has sponsers to answer to. Anyway, I've never used the DT series, what type action does it have? ( Is that the bait monkey biting me on the back of the neck? Or, is the "pro's " endorsement working? )

I've been reading how Roadwarrior said he really likes the xr-50 chrome/blue/orange lately, and I went to BPS to pick one up yesterday, but got distracted by the Pearl Melon color instead. ;D

I use swivel snaps on my hardbaits and if anything it seems to add a little action. Its easier for me to use them w/o wearing my glasses to see to re-tie my line. I direct tie any plastics, but, the bad part is, I throw most my plastics on my spinning outfit, which is where line twist is worst, worms...etc..on a spinning reel. This is where I have more problems.

The old Jitterbug will always be in my box, although I rarely fish it like I use to, I'm not sure why...... because I use to do fairly good on it and man was it fun watching em hit it ;D I guess part of it is I don't do much night fishing anymore. Run that Jitterbug parallel and close to the bank at night time and hang on

Great post RW, I think you hit the nail on the head with other baits besides the traps also.... We tear em up at times on a local watershed with Bomber 6a brown craw or red-fire craw w/yellow belly, and there is times one lure won't catch em and another exact same lure does. I think its a defect in these Bombers at times, it seems maybe the rattle gets "stuck" or maybe the lure takes in water or some type of production defect. Hang onto the good ones and pitch the bad ones.

... I look in my fishing closet at 3 big full tackle boxes and wonder how in the world I'll ever pick the worst/dumbest purchase ... and the worst part is CRANKBAITS ! .. I must have 100 that I've never caught a fish on, and probably never threw em once or twice .. But, I do have a big selection and ever once in awhile, I get one out of my " retirement box" and give a reprieve or a 2'nd. try. ;D

I did good on the smaller fat free shad, not sure of size, similar to the 6a, in brown craw color.

Thanks Roadwarrior, I'll order me a couple of them and try it out this spring.

Roadwarrior, I followed a link to this previous post and have a question you might be able to help with. A local lake I fish has lots of bottom growing weeds, not the snot-grass type, but heavy in some areas. I've considered trying a floating worm with maybe a real small weight, to get the bait just under the surface, or in the upper part of the weeds, not in the thicker weeds on the bottom. Do you think this Kreature bait would work in this situation? This Kreature bait looks neat and nice and chunky.

I think the guy who started Jackall actually worked at Lucky Craft and started his own co. They can be found on-line, but are expensive. Like most Japan made lures. I have got a couple of Jackall lures, but haven't done much good on them, but, that may be because I haven't used them much. :

Use some dynamite and blow a big hole in the dam, stand beside the hole with your dip net and catch the big bass as they fly by. ;D Just kidding. I mostly sit at home and order too many lures on line. I can't take the real cold weather fishing. :'(

I've got a couple of the lucky craft lipless and one Yo-zuri, Ihaven't done much good on them, but maybe haven't gave them an honest effort yet. The lipless I've done the best on is a Rattlin Rapala, I think the color is firecraw, red/w yellow belly.

;D Sounds like the majority agree the bait is way too expensive anyway. I agree, although I've bought some that even cost more, I seem to do just as good on $4.00 Bombers. I did just get 2 new crankbait off ebay , Sebile magic swimmer and a Junior D.

Just curious if anybody has ever tried one. I seen an article in FLW on it and another site stocks them. Decent looking finishes, made of wood in the USA. C Flash crankbaits http://www.cflashbaits.com/colors.html :-/