Hey alll....

Anyone here frequently use balsa baits?

Pros and or cons??? Comments????

Alan

I think that balsa cranks are the best but if you look in the tackle making forum you'll see why ;D

IMHO, balsa has the best action in the water.  It is not as durable as plastic and usually more expensive, those are the downsides to balsa.

a majority of my cranking is with balsa baits (rapalas).

pros:

amazing action in the water

very bouyant (rises off cover quickly)

very nice wobble

much nicer in appearance than plastic cranks (imo)

cons:

can be light to cast

colors are limited

doesnt rattle very well

hard to find a suspending balsa bait

I love em. I mostly prefer the Rapala's. Paint last long, hook are decent, most run true outta the box and NO RATTLES, which I feel are over rated.

At one time all I fished were wooden plugs top water, minnows and cranks. Now I fish a combo of plastics and wood, both have their time and place to use.

yeah i like a silent crank too....i just inclued the rattle thing because alot of ppl like rattles. the hooks shaking around are loud enough for me :-/

Balsawood has remarkable buoyancy and unique action, but is not without disadvantages:

> Balsawood is expensive, but is worth the price.

> Balsawood does not hold up as well as plastic lures when dealing with toothed critters like pike and pickerel.

> Since balsa is so light it doesn't cast as far as plastic.

TIP

The 4 3/8" F-11 Original Rapala weighs only 3/16 oz.

The "Jointed" J-11 Floating Rapala weighs 5/16 oz due to the metal hinges (2/3 more in weight).

Roger

I am starting to see many advantages of balsa versus plastic. All of the cranks I have been buying lately have been balsa. I blame this on The Natural, Stringjam, Big M, Munkin, and Fivebasslimit. They have peaked my interest in the cranking world. Never realized before that cranking a place I would normally be fishing a jig could be so productive.

Shame on you guys.

Shame on you guys.  

It's addictive.    

As far as the balsa vs. plastic issue - - I think more factors come into play than just lure material.   Good design = a good crankbait. Buoyancy is part of the design.   A Zoom Z-Flat (balsa) has very low buoyancy, while an OSP HPF (plastic) has relatively high buoyancy (just the opposite of what you might expect).  It just depends on what you're wanting the bait to do - you don't always want a crankbait that pops up like a cork, and sometimes you do.      

I'm a huge fan of wooden cranks - one reason is because of the individuality of the baits, and the variety of designs available.  Just look at the variety of baits Marty (Big M) kicks out.   If he wants to create a new design or try something different to meet a certain customer's needs, he has the freedom to do so.  He's made some of the best cranks in my box.  

........but I'm also a big fan of plastic......and even foam......If it looks like a fish and has a lip, I'll try it!   8-)  

Each balsa bait is unique, there are no two alike.

I have never fished balsa before. I bought a few off "a guy" and can't wait to use them.

Alan

I became addicted this yearto Balsa cranks.  I tried to find that elusive 'hunting' bait, still looking...

I bought a ton of different baits on ebay mostly, Bagleys, Thunder Shads, and some custom wooden baits.  Sometimes you can get a $10 bait for just a couple of bucks on ebay if you are patient (and now we have all winter to be patient).  

I love the action, and contrary to another post, love the color selections on Bagleys and Thundershads.  Some of the cooler colors are harder to find, but I enjoy the hunt for the bait as much as plunking that fat bait down in the water...

I love the DT Series as well as the other two mentioned, but am not all that fond of the colors Rapala has.

If you get into it enough, you'll want one of each lure to fish with, one of each to mount in a display case...

My only problem with some baits is their durability.  One whack on a rock and that Bagley is toast.  Thundershads are more durable, but not as pretty.  Rapalas are the most durable of all balsa baits.  

They can also be expensive to replace.  I went swimming a few times to get a bait I couldn't afford to break off...

I went swimming a few times to get a bait I couldn't afford to break off...

Actually, price of replacement for me is not an issue, like I said, each bait is unique and there are not two alike, when you happen to get one of those "magical" balsa baits, that one of a kind bait that catches fish like no other even in the tuffest conditions replacing it if you happen to loose it can be an ordeal, when I happen to get one of those you bet I go swimming for it, I just can 't afford to loose THAT one.

when I happen to get one of those you bet I go swimming for it, I just can 't afford to loose THAT one.

Here's My Question:

How come THAT one, is always in my wife's tackle box? >

Roger

when I happen to get one of those you bet I go swimming for it, I just can 't afford to loose THAT one.

Here's My Question:

How come THAT one, is always in my wife's tackle box? >

Roger

Karma ?

Glad my wife don 't feesh.  

Glad my wife don 't feesh.

I heard that

Believe me, it's tough on the ego ;D

Roger

I  I tried to find that elusive 'hunting' bait, still looking...

I tend to think that the hunting phenomenon may be a bit overrated.  You can get good cranks to do all sorts of stuff with just minute rod movement - especially with flatsided cranks - - even Pointer-style maneuvers - - in my view that kind of makes a crankbait that kicks out by itself at times "unique"......but more effective?   I'm not convinced - - if I can pull off the same moves with my hands, I'm not going to be all that concerned with finding one that does it by itself.    

BTW......if you want to end your search for a crank that hunts, just track down a Lucky Craft Flat CB SR.   I have about a dozen - - every single one of them hunts.     And by hunts, I use the definition of a crank that randomly kicks out of its normal action during the retrieve.    

I use the Rapalas and like the action of them, the new DT7s are sweet.

BTW......if you want to end your search for a crank that hunts, just track down a Lucky Craft Flat CB SR.  

You just made LC some more money... You are a minion of the bait monkey.

To get a crankbait that will hunt on it's own, something has to be wrong with the bait.  What I mean is something is out of line or off balance and the bait is running a thin line of starting the dreaded death roll.   In 5 yrs of making baits, I've made 1 that has a true hunting action and I've never been able to do it again.

For the guys looking for the hunting bait, I wish you lots of luck.

BTW......if you want to end your search for a crank that hunts, just track down a Lucky Craft Flat CB SR.  

You just made LC some more money... You are a minion of the bait monkey.

Unfortunately, LC discontinued making this crank some time ago - which is a shame....I think it was a very good design.    

Well, in that case, Ebay here I come...

Bagaleys are half off on bass pro shops website right now. I think there like $4.88 or $4.98 which is a great deal bageleys are my favorite balsa baits.