billmac Posted February 16, 2019 Share Posted February 16, 2019 What do you think are the lures or lure companies that are underrated, perhaps because they are less expensive than some of their counterparts? For example, I've found Cotton Cordell rattletrap type baits in Walmart for around $3 each. Does this mean they are somehow inferior? I love Rapala lures, but they are priced like they are made from platinum. Are their cheaper cousins really inferior, or are we paying for the name? There are a million soft plastic baits out there. Are they really all that different from each other? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nascar2428 Posted February 16, 2019 Share Posted February 16, 2019 Plenty of opinions on this one. I'm going to give you my simple answer to the questions you asked. No Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fin Posted February 16, 2019 Share Posted February 16, 2019 Like most things, it's not a simple answer. You get what you pay for, but you also pay a premium for some names. You're also paying for R&D, marketing, sponsorships, etc. too, so you can't always see that in the product. I've always been curious how some companies can can keep such a tight control on prices regardless of the retailer, like Shimano, their stuff is basically the same price everywhere until it goes to clearance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User scaleface Posted February 16, 2019 Super User Share Posted February 16, 2019 Bomber lures . 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User Catt Posted February 16, 2019 Super User Share Posted February 16, 2019 Years ago I attended a seminar & the guest speaker was Tom Mann. The question was asked why does he make so many different lures in so many different colors. He answer, " To catch the fisherman, a bass has never put a penny in my pocket." Developing a lure that catches bass is the easy part just look at Crème's Scoundrels, simple yet effective! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FCPhil Posted February 16, 2019 Share Posted February 16, 2019 I got a cotton Cordell lipless and was not that impressed. I feel like in general, you get what you pay for but there are definitely some cheap gems and some overpriced stuff. I feel like cheap soft plastics you can get away with but a lot of the cheap hardbaits have bad hardware so you end up swapping out hooks anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User WRB Posted February 16, 2019 Super User Share Posted February 16, 2019 49 minutes ago, Catt said: Years ago I attended a seminar & the guest speaker was Tom Mann. The question was asked why does he make so many different lures in so many different colors. He answer, " To catch the fisherman, a bass has never put a penny in my pocket." Developing a lure that catches bass is the easy part just look at Crème's Scoundrels, simple yet effective! Off topic, Tom Mann was special and after all these years he stands out from all the other pro's I have ever met as the friendliest man with a wonderful sense of humor. The time and effort to develop a new lure that will sell, catch fish and fishermen then getting it on the market is part of the original cost. Nick Creme developed soft plastic used today, took him years and was the first to market plastic worms successfully. Cheap hard lures are usually knock off's produced over seas with inferior components and rarely achieve the action the original had that made them successful. Finding original lures that have been forgotten and still work at a bargain price is a better option then buying knock off's. Upgrade the hooks and you see quickly why higher end lures cost more. Tom 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russ E Posted February 16, 2019 Share Posted February 16, 2019 Cotton Cordell lipless cranks are a low cost gem. They have a unique sound and action. Most of the time I throw a ratl trap or redeye shad, but on occasion the cotton Cordell is what the fish want. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User WRB Posted February 16, 2019 Super User Share Posted February 16, 2019 Cordell Spots are under $1.90 at most big box retailers. The Spot or Super Spot dates back to the Rattle Trap era, not a knock off lure. Cotton Cordell's Red Fin and Pencil Popper are preferred by striper anglers. Tom 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User Catt Posted February 16, 2019 Super User Share Posted February 16, 2019 (edited) Crème's Scoundrels, simple yet effective! Gary Yamamoto's Senko, simple yet effective! Johnson's Beatle Spin, simple yet effective! Bill Lewis's Rat-L-Trap, simple yet effective! Seeing a trend yet? We do a whole lot of research and development based on the idea of appealing to the bass. But the reality is if the lure doesn't appeal to angler, ya got nothing! Once that's accomplished you can charge what ya want ? Edited February 17, 2019 by Catt Operator Error 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JLBBass Posted February 16, 2019 Share Posted February 16, 2019 Some of Academy's H20 Xpress hardbaits 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User Mobasser Posted February 16, 2019 Super User Share Posted February 16, 2019 2 minutes ago, Catt said: Crème's Scoundrels, simple yet effective! Gary Yamamoto's Senko, simple yet effective! Johnson's Beatle Spin, simple yet effective! Bill Lewis's Rat-L-Trap, simple yet effective! Seeing a trend yet? We do a whole lot of research and development based on the idea of appealing to the bass. But the reality is if the lure doesn't appeal to angler, ya got nothing! Once that's accomplished you can change what ya want ? I agree! Some of the best ones are not always the fanciest, or most expensive. Lots of lures made to appeal to a fisherman first, the bass second 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User A-Jay Posted February 16, 2019 Super User Share Posted February 16, 2019 Underrated baits ~ Rapala Subwalk Scrounger head Single Oklahoma Blade Spinnerbait Drop Shot Craw A-Jay 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoosierFisher Posted February 16, 2019 Share Posted February 16, 2019 It's like any other product, more marketing/fancier packaging means higher prices. I think if you want a mix of quality and lower prices, look at smaller companies like Siebert Outdoors. I could probably get by with just Zoom and Berkley plastics. A lot of plastics are very similar in presentation. Formulas will vary, different scents, ElaZtech, etc. but essentially they are all imitating the same things. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
microotter Posted February 16, 2019 Share Posted February 16, 2019 I’ve had pretty good success with a lot of the house brand lures. (BPS, Academy, Cabela’s) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JLBBass Posted February 16, 2019 Share Posted February 16, 2019 14 minutes ago, A-Jay said: Underrated baits ~ Rapala Subwalk Scrounger head Single Oklahoma Blade Spinnerbait Drop Shot Craw A-Jay Rapala Subwalk fished above shallow weedbeds in the spring! 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User Bankbeater Posted February 16, 2019 Super User Share Posted February 16, 2019 The components of the high priced baits may be better, but sometimes it's about how all those parts fit and work together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User Columbia Craw Posted February 16, 2019 Super User Share Posted February 16, 2019 There are plenty of baits that are affordable and have been around for decades. A couple of examples are the Cotton Cordell Ripplin Redfin, Smithwick Rogue and the Norman Deep Little N and other Norman baits. Here's something crazy. Did you know the Bandit 100-200 has been around for over thirty years? I'm old I guess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RB 77 Posted February 16, 2019 Share Posted February 16, 2019 Are the cheaper baits really inferior? No. The Cotton Cordell Super Spot is a proven fish catcher at $1.99. My favorite Lipless just happens to be the $15.99 LC LV 500, but that doesn't mean a $1.99 bait wont catch a fish or two. My buddy swears by those Super Spots. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allen Der Posted February 16, 2019 Share Posted February 16, 2019 Kalins is underrated in my opinion. I don't think they sponsor anyone other than some local Wisconsin guys and shows 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LonnieP Posted February 16, 2019 Share Posted February 16, 2019 A lot of cheap lures usually come with cheap quality hooks, by the time you change hooks,you’re not really saving money. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User WRB Posted February 16, 2019 Super User Share Posted February 16, 2019 Some "house brands" are actually name brands with less expensive hooks and specific limited colors for that store. Other "house brands" are low price imitation knock offs that lack the action needed. You should determine the difference before spending any money on them, better paying for 1 lure that works then 2 or 3 that don't work. Hard baits that date back 30 to 40 years like Bomber, Smithwick, Norman, Bagley, Arbogast, Creek Chub, Rapala, Storm, etc., no longer are independant companies, they have been bought out, most by Pure Fishing. What does this have to do with the lures? New multi cavity tooling for higher volume production that can change the original lures action negatively. Finding the "original" name brand lures can be a task because you are competing with other knowledgeable anglers hunting for the same lures. I like to shop at out of the way mom & pop tackle stores and look for older packaged lures that indicate the vintage of the lures. Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billmac Posted February 17, 2019 Author Share Posted February 17, 2019 I think Rapala is still its own company. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User MN Fisher Posted February 17, 2019 Super User Share Posted February 17, 2019 10 minutes ago, billmac said: I think Rapala is still its own company. Nope - they're owned by SOFINA, which is a holding company headquartered in Belgium. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
papajoe222 Posted February 17, 2019 Share Posted February 17, 2019 10 hours ago, A-Jay said: Underrated baits ~ Rapala Subwalk Scrounger head Single Oklahoma Blade Spinnerbait Drop Shot Craw A-Jay where can I find one of them A-Jay baits? I bet they are a killer on smallies. 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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