i am looking to get into high end japanese hardbaits and was just wondering what ones would be the best to start out with. Right now i have mostly rapalas.

Lucky Crafts are easiest to find.  Jackall, Deps, Ima, Megabass quality is stellar.  

Which ones to start out with?  What do you want to fish?  (ie crank baits, wake baits, jerk baits, etc).   The choices are endless.

Peruse ***'s website.

Start out with LC, then move on from there.

I'd start with LC.  They are good and readily available.  Micro listed some good choices, too, and I'll add Evergreen to that list.

Don't give up on the Norman lures.  THey are cheap, made in america...and bottom line, they catch fish.  I bet you ever pro has a Norman in their boat.

Buy Megabass off ebay. IMO the coolest of the japanese manufacturers.

The Megabass Vision 110 is one that's in every enthusiasts tackle box. Once you research what you want, I would order from ichibantackle.com . They sell used lures that are priced according to their conditions and work great. You save about $5 per lure in the 10-20 dollar range. Shipping is $16 for orders up to 200 dollars so it is only worth it if you order more then a few.  

Maybe start with some topwaters so you won't be ticked losing expensive baits right away.

No need to order hard-to-get Japanese baits from overseas. My local tackle store carries the complete line of Megabass lures (and offers their rods, too). Prices are great and shipping is lower.

Megabass at Hooker Bait and Tackle

It's probably better to call and ask if an item is in stock. The website is currently under construction and he just opened another store so inventory has been moved and/or split. Some of the stuff is in stock that says out of stock.  And even if it's out of stock, he can get it quickly and get it too you sooner and cheaper than from Japan.  

I do agree with the posts, but the one thing I would put some tough into. You can get Lucky Craft at most any good tackle shop, but what you can't get is the Japanese version, the colors are not the same as you get in the U.S. As far as I'm concerned, that will make all the differences in the world. So you may just want to take a look at the hard to find colors, and pick out a few, and see what I'm talking about.

Don't just settle for a color that you think looks good, think about the body of water you will be using it on.Clear, Murky... They work equally as well on Larry's & Sally's. Well worth the $$$$$.

Hope this helps.

Keep me posted, Good Luck

-Tony

Infish, Welcome aboard!

________________

To start with, the two "must have" lures are the Lucky Craft Pointer

and Sammy. There are different sizes and colors, so by the time you

feel your collection is complete, you'll need a second job!

8-)  

Thanks for the the welcome!

That's hard to dispute. But, I do see two nice Sally"s on your board,

did you happen to catch them with a Pointer or Sammy? I totally agree

the must have is the Pointer & Sammy. You also need to know how to work them.

-Tony

No, but I have done well with these lures over the years.

There are other brands and models that appeal to collectors,

but for those that actually plan to fish the lures they buy, the

Sammy and Pointer are "go to" lures.

8-)

Imakatsu has some sick hard baits, I love the sledge escarda

I love Lucky Craft and Deps...

I love so much:

Lucky Craft: CB200, CB250, CB180, Real Bait and Real Bait Premium (or california)

Deps: Deathadder, Clapcraw, Deathadderhog, Basirisky (THE BEST FROG IN THE WORLD) and Buzzjet!!

Lot's of great recomendations so far, I'll add the Jackall Muscle deep cranks to this list.

Team Daiwa TD Minnow 1091.

Allen