I have never used many of the typical "fat" crankbaits.(I love thin cranks like rapalas)  I just don't like the look of them.  Silly I know, although most of my fishing has been for river smallmouth.  Bucktail jigs too.  They just seem like tying a rock on the end of my line.

There's a whole host of them advertised on TV!

41 minutes ago, billmac said:

I have never used many of the typical "fat" crankbaits.(I love thin cranks like rapalas)  I just don't like the look of them.  Silly I know, although most of my fishing has been for river smallmouth.  Bucktail jigs too.  They just seem like tying a rock on the end of my line.

I find it funny that you don't fish a fat crank being a river smallmouth angler. One of the all time greats for river smallmouth is the Rapala Fat Rap and I have a lot of success with the Rapala DT Fat 3. I fish the Susquehanna river and I use a lot of Rapala baits and the Fat 3 is killer and I wonder if it is so good because there aren't many throwing it

I just looked up the Fat 3 and it appears to be about $8 apiece, so that could be the reason ;).

 

I do have one of the old Fat Raps, but I never used it much.  Like I said, it's a silly notion, but I think fishing is much more about confidence than lure selection, and because I don't like the looks of a lure, I don't use it much.  I've caught everything from panfish to bass to pike to walleye to musky on Mister Twister Meeney Spins, so I think that is one of the greatest lures ever.

 

I have no evidence that jointed baits like Rapalas or Rebels are more effective than their stick cousins, but I think they look awesome coming through the water, so I have much more confidence in them than the unjointed ones.

22 hours ago, smalljaw67 said:

I find it funny that you don't fish a fat crank being a river smallmouth angler. One of the all time greats for river smallmouth is the Rapala Fat Rap and I have a lot of success with the Rapala DT Fat 3. I fish the Susquehanna river and I use a lot of Rapala baits and the Fat 3 is killer and I wonder if it is so good because there aren't many throwing it

Not trying to sell you on any lures. I’m a Rappy fan from way back to. Try a couple of Bagley Balsas also. You won’t be disappointed either. 

 

Bandits are another good river lure also. I’m lucky to have some good patterns of them. Bandit took a nose dive the last few years. Bought out I believe. 

I'm not throwing anything that looks like a rodent, duck, or belongs on Robin's utility belt. I'm also not throwing anything that should come as a toy in a Burger King Happy Meal. And it goes with out saying " I ain't casting no umbrella".

1 hour ago, Spankey said:

Not trying to sell you on any lures. I’m a Rappy fan from way back to. Try a couple of Bagley Balsas also. You won’t be disappointed either. 

 

Bandits are another good river lure also. I’m lucky to have some good patterns of them. Bandit took a nose dive the last few years. Bought out I believe. 

If there was a nose dive, it started before Pradco, and the only thing I noticed being different was the hooks. The 100 is my number 1 river crank and pretty much the only one that is a consistent producer. Haven't noticed a difference between late bandit bandits and the new pradco bandits. One thing Pradco may be doing is cutting down on colors, which for bass folks not a big deal, but could suck for crappie folks could be depending on the colors.

1 hour ago, cgolf said:

If there was a nose dive, it started before Pradco, and the only thing I noticed being different was the hooks. The 100 is my number 1 river crank and pretty much the only one that is a consistent producer. Haven't noticed a difference between late bandit bandits and the new pradco bandits. One thing Pradco may be doing is cutting down on colors, which for bass folks not a big deal, but could suck for crappie folks could be depending on the colors.

The old triple grips were great hooks. But they are easy to find and swap out.

 

I’ll have to take a pic of some of the old patterns that they don’t put out anymore. Really just basic bass colors. To each his own I guess. But you try to find a 200 Series Firetiger Craw, Black w/ Chart. Belly, Baby Bass.  You won’t find it. 

 

They’ll (Bandit) probably get a bit better. Bomber took a bit of a nose dive and they seem to have gotten better with the selection of 7a’s and 8a’s. 

I have a prejudice against the hooks on Megabass lures.  I don't like the barb on the outside of the hook and immediately replace them.

 

My other prejudice would be against live bait.  It's not really the bait, it's the fisherman using it and their approach.  Too many of them cast it and let it sit too long without monitoring the rod and inevitably the fish swallows the hook and then they yank it out killing the fish...but still try to throw it back.  For this reason I would see live bait banned for the most part...

 

I'd rather stick fork in my eye than fish a Carolina Rig.  It's complicated to rig up, it's boring to fish, and it might be one of the more disconnected feeling rig in fishing.

1 minute ago, J Francho said:

I'd rather stick fork in my eye than fish a Carolina Rig.  It's complicated to rig up, it's boring to fish, and it might be one of the more disconnected feeling rig in fishing.

Me too ~

And this is the face I make . . .

A-Jay

 

I don't have any prejudices against lures. Some just don't appeal to me but I won't try a Carolina rig cause I don't want to deal with all the knots.

Use a Carolina keeper or bobber stopper and bypass the knots

I'm the opposite of th OP with crankbaits, haha. I'll throw flat sided crankbaits but the minnow shape ones like the Rapalas just don't click with my brain for some reason.

20 minutes ago, Arobb2012 said:

but I won't try a Carolina rig cause I don't want to deal with all the knots.

I'm not a huge fan of a Carolina rig, but having to tie 2 additional knots isn't the reason.

No! ... Until I go to choose one over another to tie on!

Drop Shot

Whopper Plopper

 

I know they work, but I'm not a fan. 

I will not use War Eagle baits!  I don’t care if they catch fish or not.  It’s a very poorly named company in my opinion. ?

No love for the old ball and chain..it's probably my #1 producer this year although the Texas rig has to be close now. For some reason I do prefer a lighter (1/4 oz) C-Rig on Spinning gear with a Carolina Keeper...one knot, very simple.

 

 

I hate throwing a Buzzbait (aka wood chopper as my old fishing buddy used to call it).  I just don't get many blow ups (and even fewer hookups) on it.

 

5 hours ago, Tennessee Boy said:

I will not use War Eagle baits!...It’s a very poorly named company in my opinion. ?

Yeah, cause The Eagle hasn't warred with everyone including itself...

46 minutes ago, BassWhole! said:

Yeah, cause The Eagle hasn't warred with everyone including itself...

You’re not from the South are you?

2 minutes ago, Tennessee Boy said:

You’re not from the South are you?

No, but I'm stuck in Southern MD for a couple of more years, that's bad enough. Is TN considered the South? cause it's mostly west of here...

A rig, never have never will

And any tackle that has Ike's name on it

I have to admit I'm not a big fan of "pro named" lures.  I'll buy them if they are cheap enough but I would never pay extra because of the name.  I simply don't believe that these guys have enough design expertise to make a jerkbait or curly tail grub better than the thousand or so other offerings already out there.