Anybody have experience with the newer ones? I heard the old ones are great then they stopped making them and just started back up a few years ago. All I've heard is complaints about quality issues. Have they rectified those issues? How are these?

I think Rapala owns bagleys now and look what they did to the wiggle wart. I love balsa baits and as much as I like the old Bagley's I think there are better options I'd look at the Black Labels for a reasonably priced option.

If you can find them ,Jimmy Etters makes  great bait as does Dave's custom baits here in Missouri.

Well if Rapala owns bagleys then I'd be down to at least try them...I feel like rapala makes good balsa baits. As far as what they did to the wiggle wart I understand that they didn't perform well when they retooled them but have since made changes and they are fish catchers again. 

That said I will look into the black labels..thats Cliff Paces company correct?

3 hours ago, rangerjockey said:

I think Rapala owns bagleys now

 

33 minutes ago, DitchPanda said:

Well if Rapala owns bagleys

Rapala does NOT own Bagley Baits

 

"Jermo Rapala and Bill Cullerton now own and run the Bagley Bait Company."

"The corporate name of the company is “First Cast”"

"Jermo Rapala, a celebrated lure designer and the grandson of Rapala founder Lauri Rapala, but is no longer associated with Rapala lures."

https://www.theledger.com/news/20110714/remembering-bagley-baits-ownership-changes/1

 

 

10 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

 

Rapala does NOT own Bagley Baits

 

"Jermo Rapala and Bill Cullerton now own and run the Bagley Bait Company."

"The corporate name of the company is “First Cast”"

"Jermo Rapala, a celebrated lure designer and the grandson of Rapala founder Lauri Rapala, but is no longer associated with Rapala lures."

https://www.theledger.com/news/20110714/remembering-bagley-baits-ownership-changes/1

 

 

Thanks for the info I had no idea. Either way if there is Rapala bloodline id think the baits should be at the very least decent. Alot of the issues I read about with the Bagleys was the bills pulling out...I remember when the rapala DT series had that reputation which I've heard has been fixed. So I'm hoping the Bagley issue has been resolved the same way. Another thing with bad reviews on balsa baits is I wonder how much is caused by user error like people beating the crud out of the baits like you would a plastic bait and then blaming the bait when it fails.

I am wanting to get into Bagley lures but I don't know anything about them. I think I have maybe 20 but mostly Bang o's. Do we have any knowledgeable members here on Bagley cranks?

I have the new versions as well as the old and I don't see much difference in performance. There are a lot of people that get hung up on the fact the hardware isn't brass like the old version but it makes no difference. The B2 hunts and is super buoyant and catches fish like my old B2s. I was down to my last 2 original B2s and decided to try the new version and I'm really happy, they catch fish. In fact I like most of what Bagley is offering now, the rattling kill'r B square bill is a really good bait that does well in rocks without getting beat up as bad as balsa. The sunny B is right up there with a Rapala DT-6 which is one of my favorite cranks and the balsa shad is as good as the Rapala shad rap, no other bait came close until that one. 

Close enough.. There are better choices but seems lots of folks up north have a thing for Rapala..

Whatever works..

TK customs in Alabama has more original bagleys than I've ever seen . I traded him 4 this spring and they guy knows his stuff.. He has been on the smallmouth crush you tube channel if you want a good tutorial on old vs new and balsa baits in general.

Yes, Cliff Pace owns Black Label, It's my understanding he purchased the equipment Ed Chambers (WEC) used after he passed away.

4 hours ago, rangerjockey said:

Close enough.. There are better choices but seems lots of folks up north have a thing for Rapala..

Whatever works..

TK customs in Alabama has more original bagleys than I've ever seen . I traded him 4 this spring and they guy knows his stuff.. He has been on the smallmouth crush you tube channel if you want a good tutorial on old vs new and balsa baits in general.

Yes, Cliff Pace owns Black Label, It's my understanding he purchased the equipment Ed Chambers (WEC) used after he passed away.

I think the Rapala thing comes down to two factors 1) it's the first hard bait a lot of us throw up here so there is some loyalty and nostalgia tied to it.2)for the money they are about as consistent as it gets. While many of us would pay two or three times as much that's not a reality for lots of people..rapala is budget balsa with a proven track record.

As far as these I've been looking at the Bagley B1 and also considering the small size Rapala Brat. Anybody have experience with the brat?

1 minute ago, DitchPanda said:

As far as these I've been looking at the Bagley B1 and also considering the small size Rapala Brat. Anybody have experience with the brat?

This guy gave the Brat his seal of approval.

Nice fish!

31 minutes ago, roadwarrior said:

Nice fish!

Thank you sir. 4 lbs 1 oz, a very dense fish. I was out of answers when I caught it, just throwing a crankbait to cover water...

11 hours ago, smalljaw67 said:

I have the new versions as well as the old and I don't see much difference in performance. There are a lot of people that get hung up on the fact the hardware isn't brass like the old version but it makes no difference. The B2 hunts and is super buoyant and catches fish like my old B2s. I was down to my last 2 original B2s and decided to try the new version and I'm really happy, they catch fish. In fact I like most of what Bagley is offering now, the rattling kill'r B square bill is a really good bait that does well in rocks without getting beat up as bad as balsa. The sunny B is right up there with a Rapala DT-6 which is one of my favorite cranks and the balsa shad is as good as the Rapala shad rap, no other bait came close until that one. 

Looks like I'm gonna have to try some. I have a couple of the plastic killr b your talking about that I havent thrown a lot but they seem like quality baits. Run true.

New Bagley are hit or miss. Quality isn't great and the adage "buy 10 only 1 runs correct" is fairly true /w them. If you're wanting to try the B1, try the Black Label "wreck" that cliff makes. I'm not a big black label fan but the wreck is one heck of a bait at it's price. Better alternatives are the WEC E-1, Jawjacker J1, Brians bees bee1. E-1 will the most expensive. The J1 will be hard to come by until rob makes more stock. The Bee1 you can find on TW oddly enough. Fragile bait though but it's good. 

 

i like the brat for smallmouth.