Is there really a big difference between the brand name plastics and the ones made by Bass pro, Cabela's, or Gander mtn? specifically the stick baits and finesse worms.

Sure there is a difference how important is that difference or when will that difference will matter is stil subject to debate. For example I do have GYCB Senkos, really good baits but I just can´t tell if they are better than other stickbaits for a simple reason, in my experience at 1 or 2 fish per bait you can´t make a fair comparison, I do own Stikos and one may last me 8-10 fish until there´s no place to hook it again, heck, they are even repairable, senkos ? how can you repare something that you don´t have anymore ?

 

So at least one of the big differences is durability.

I found one cheap pack of Gander Mt. frogs on Ebay awhile ago. I caught lots of fish with them and liked them a lot. I haven't tried any other frogs yet though so I don't have much to compare them too.

Depends on the softbait product.  I prefer Stick-Os over Senkos for both their action and durability.  As much as I like the Skinny Dipper the BPS Sassy Sally has a very similar action with a more durable soft plastic formulation.

 

The trend with the name brands seems to be great fish catching designs/action made from a terrible, self destructing soft plastic while the house brands have questionable designs/action made from very durable plastic.  When you can get the excellent action/design paired to a durable plastic is when you have real winner on your hands,

It's like comparing oranges. A navel orange is not better than a seeded orange. They look and taste very similar, but most will opt for the navel, even though it may be more expensive.

Personally, I don't feel a mass produced plastic bait can come close to a hand poured one or a bait that is marketed heavily can compete price wise with a store brand.

The closest I've seen in a mass produced bait mirroring a hand poured version is the RageTail line of plastics from StrikeKing and the best store brand............well, I can't give an opinion, I don't use any.

The BPS plastics I have used are very good, most of their lures period are.

Is there really a big difference between the brand name plastics and the ones made by Bass pro, Cabela's, or Gander mtn? specifically the stick baits and finesse worms.

 

Probably not. I know Gander brand baits used to be made by Big Bite Bait Co. I am sure another big name manufacturer bulk supplies BPS and Cabelas...

WHEN FISHING HOUSE SOFT BAITS, YOU MAY JUST BE FISHING THE SAME BAIT YOU  PAID ALOT MORE MONEY FOR ONLY IN A DIFFERENT PACKAGE. BIG BITE-GANDER-LOOK FOR MORE SIMILARITIES TO THE OTHER BAITS AND START TO WONDER, HOWEVER, SOME NAME BRANDS ARE BETTER DUE TO DESIGN, AND SOME HOUSE BRANDS ARE BETTER FOR SAME REASON...

 

BASS PRO BAITS ARE NOT CHEAP, AND  SOME CHEAP BAITS LIKE BIG BITE I ACTUALLY REALLY LIKE..CANE STICKS ARE AWESOME AND INEXENSPIVE, SO IT IS ALL PREFERENCE..EVERY COMPANY COPIES EACH OTHER BUT THAT SHOWS HOW GOOD THE ORIGINAL INVENTION WAS......ONCE A CERTAIN CREATURE BAIT GETS HOT, EVERY COMPANY HAS A SIMILAR BAIT, MAYBE ITS SAME, MAYBE NOT, WHO KNOWS, BUT I LIKE TO OWN ALOT OF CHOICES, AND LIKE INNOVATION AND LOVE TO ORDER NEW STUFF EACH YEAR, SO I WILL PAY FOR ODDBALL BRANDS ETC.