I like the concept of these baits anyone use them?  I'm mostly interested in the squarebills and jerkbaits, but all others are welcome.  

 

Let me know how they have fared for you.  Thanks!

 

Matt

Retail cost and lack of favorable reviews led me to steer clear.  However, I received a popper in one of the monthly tackle subscription boxes and I have been extremely happy with it....so far it outperforms my Pop R's and my Pop X's.  I doubt it has much to do with the baitball so much as the action or shape...or maybe it does...maybe sitting still a lot allows the image trickery more time to work on the bass...I suspect the cranks are usually moving fast enough that action is more important than the baitball aspect

Save your money unless you  really like the looks of them. I tried a jerkbait  and have not caught a fish on it. 

Retail cost and lack of favorable reviews led me to steer clear.  However, I received a popper in one of the monthly tackle subscription boxes and I have been extremely happy with it....so far it outperforms my Pop R's and my Pop X's.  I doubt it has much to do with the baitball so much as the action or shape...or maybe it does...maybe sitting still a lot allows the image trickery more time to work on the bass...I suspect the cranks are usually moving fast enough that action is more important than the baitball aspect

 

Good to know, yes I saw alot of negative reviews especially regarding the bill breaking.  I think you're right,m it probably has much more to do with the shape/pop/splash it gives than the baitball.

Save your money unless you  really like the looks of them. I tried a jerkbait  and have not caught a fish on it. 

Dwight, I think its save to say that if you can't catch a fish on this jerkbait - no one can.

I haven't caught anything on that jerkbait, either. I used it quite a bit at first, but quickly lost confidence and now it just sits there.

I have one setting there, but don't think it's seen water yet. I just like lures that look cool. Good decoration.

Josh

I have a squarebill and haven't noticed any benefit to it over my other squarebills. Now it just sits in my extra lure box in my garage.

Makes a great Christmas ornament

I've got the 10'-diving baitball crankbait -- also from a subscription box. I have only used it a few times and haven't caught anything with it. Although it looks great in the water and I'm sure it catches fish just as well as any other crank of similar size and depth. I can't imagine myself choosing to buy one, though, given I can get 2 Shad Raps or DTs for about the same price.

I used the lipless crank version this Sunday and caught 2 LM bass and a couple of Crappies.

The bass were small though less than 2 pounds each.

My last 2 weekend fishing trips I didn't catch anything using other lures.

(I will admit, I bought it because I thought it looked cool)

Here in PA we're restricted to three lure umbrella rigs, so I started putting the lipless cranks, and the medium diving crankbaits on my three wire rigs. Season for the rigs is just getting started, so I will update after I've put some hours in with them.

they are very cool looking indeed. I don't know if this is some type of promotional stuff but I watched a video of Dave Mercer saying that bass often think crankbaits are a little school of baitfish and they take the bait in the side of the mouth to try and "separate the fish" which makes the baitball better. I don't know if there's any truth to that, but the coloration of those baits do seem to give off quite a shimmer when the light hits them.

They are junk, serves them right to steal a poor mans idea and mass produce it. I won't buy a live target product for that reason.

They are junk, serves them right to steal a poor mans idea and mass produce it. I won't buy a live target product for that reason.

 

I'm not familiar with what you are referring to - care to elaborate?

I bought an assortment of them and caught nothing. More Christmas ornaments just cut the hooks off.

There were some $20+ crankbaits that caught nothing too I can't remember the name they were suppose to be the hottest thing with there paint jobs. More ornaments for the tree.

My affordable bomber crankbaits still rule.

I'm not familiar with what you are referring to - care to elaborate?

The bait ball crank bait was originally created by a guy who is or was a member of this site. Basically live target saw his original, and mass produced it before he could, and now he gets nothing. I believe the only real difference is that his was a painted lure.

I would rather fish a Rapala....

I haven't fished them personally but I frequently fish with my bro-in-law and he has two, a crankbait and a rattle-trap like one, and he hasn't caught a thing on them in 4 outings.  They look kind of creepy to me.