Does anyone have any info on the new Zoom crankbaits?

Zoom (WEC) cranks have been around a while.  The founder of Zoom, William Edward Chambers, hand paints every bait, and is known as one of the best painters of all time.  Each bait has Ed's signature engraved in the bill, along with the model and date it was made.  He makes them in batches, with no schedule of what he will produce or when he will stop making it.  The baits he hasn't made in a while...baits that were made as late as '05 (Z-flat, Z1, Wobbler, etc.) will fetch $30-$60 on ebay.  I purchase mine from Peepers Baits... www.peepersbaits.com

Pretty much what Natural said (he would know.....he has a stash of some of the most valuable and sought after Zoom's ever made.....the Z-Flats and Wobblers).  

Ed has quite the catalog of designs - - I've never been disappointed with anything I've gotten from them - - but they aren't the ONLY high-end hand carved cranks out there, they just get the most attention.  

If Peepers has any Hickeys left - - I would recommend you try one to see what all the fuss is about.    

Pretty much what Natural said (he would know.....he has a stash of some of the most valuable and sought after Zoom's ever made.....the Z-Flats and Wobblers).  

Ed has quite the catalog of designs - - I've never been disappointed with anything I've gotten from them - - but they aren't the ONLY high-end hand carved cranks out there, they just get the most attention.  

If Peepers has any Hickeys left - - I would recommend you try one to see what all the fuss is about.    

I've got two Hickey's on the way...but it will be a while before I fish them.  My reels are 'winterized' until it warms up.  The Hickey looks like it has the identical lip angle and bill as the wobbler...only in a flat design.  We'll see...you know I'll take pics when they arrive  .  True to what Stringjam said...their are custom bait manufacturers that are as good...but the WEC's with Ed's signature and date just earn a collectible badge that others don't have.  I told Craig at BlackJack to start doing the same...why not create a legacy and some collectability out of your baits?!  That is what Ed Chambers does...it's his unpredictability and innovation as well that gets attention.  They do catch fish...we know that...but I honestly think the kid in us comes out when it comes to some of the WEC's and their scarcity.  I'm sure you collected baseball cards as a kid  

Zoom (WEC) cranks have been around a while. The founder of Zoom, William Edward Chambers, hand paints every bait, and is known as one of the best painters of all time. Each bait has Ed's signature engraved in the bill, along with the model and date it was made. He makes them in batches, with no schedule of what he will produce or when he will stop making it. The baits he hasn't made in a while...baits that were made as late as '05 (Z-flat, Z1, Wobbler, etc.) will fetch $30-$60 on ebay. I purchase mine from Peepers Baits... www.peepersbaits.com

I checked up on the peepers cite and saw the jewel jigs- I love them and found a color that I had to get- peanut butter and smoke!  I can tell you the smallmouth here in the NW well love that-

The above photo shows one beautiful bait.

If all of his baits are like this one then they are truely outstanding.

May check out the site.

For now, Bandit 100s and 200s do the trick for me.

For now, Bandit 100s and 200s do the trick for me.

Flatsided cranks like the one above have a trick all of their own - when they're on, nothing else will come close.    

Check out Marty Burn's baits as well (he's posted several in the Tacklemaking section).   I have about several of his flatsided cranks and they rock.  

Most of his have a little more backroll than the Zooms - which I prefer in a lot of situations - - it's a beautiful action.  

Some others to check out:

Blackjack

Buckeye Lake (the LUV plug is one of my favorites)

FlatShad

D-Bait (definitely)

Brians Bees (the Little Flat B is great)

Gulp

O.S.P. (HPF Spec 2)