I know this is a tough question, but which company do you gravitate to?  I know each company has their special bait, but which one does the bait monkey consistently push you to?

Factors to consider: Variety, Quality, Cost, Availability (ease of finding)

I typically gravitate to 3 companies: Zoom, Yum, and GYCB.  Zoom has been a dominant purchase for me but Yum has been coming along lately.  I like GYCB a lot but cost typically tempers the bait monkey.

Im a big fan of berkley baits ever since they started producing them although I buy alot of zoom and lately some smaller bait producing companys like reaction innovations and *** company I still think powerbaits have a advantage when it comes to fish holding on to the baits.

Strike King and Berkley are my favorites

Here's my Powerbait story.  Last summer, I went camping with my son and his Cub Scout Pack.  I had a cheap rod that I bought to learn how to freshwater fish on.  Well, there was a small fishing tournament over the 5 days and I was in 2nd place with a 17 inch bass (length not weight was the contest).  On the last day of fishing, I cast a Tequila Sunrise Powerbait Worm around a rock while in a rowboat.

Well, I thought I got snagged up on some rocks and my son starts laughing that I lost yet another lure.  I keep reeling and, lo and behold, there's about a 20 inch bass on that I am dragging.  I never set the hook and the bass eventually opened its mouth and spit out the worm.  My son laughs that the Mr. Bass didn't like the fake worm I gave him.  I cast around that rock and, on 2 more occassions, a bass hit the worm, I dragged it to my rowboat, and the hook was never set (I only had small hooks left in my box).   I had the 3 winning bass on the last day but couldn't bring it in.

I got home and the bait monkey took over.  I went to Cabelas, bought a new spinning reel, 2 new rods, and ton of hooks.  Ever since, I have been hooked on fishing.   This story reminds me that I need to give Powerbait another look.  

Zoom, zoom!!!!

Culprit.

Ronnie

I voted manns hard to find aroudn here but i bought all i could 3 yrs ago when walmart had um on clearance i have over 300 bags of manns jellys worms and auger tails  thing is i caught my biggest bass ever in 1985 on a 8 inch purple jelly worm 10-4 i live in maryland and thats a big basss the yr before that i caught a 9 -4  on a augertail manns  i have many zooms and a few berkleys also i never know where ill be at in the USA so im stocked

Id be a Manns also because they have quality soft baits, and this small tackle shop in Maine that i go to always seems to have old mann soft plastics that ive never ever seen before, i purchase them and they always seem to work

Gycb makes great designs,  the senko, hula grub, and fat ika, are brilliant.

But the fact is that the knockoffs have improved to the point where paying the price for a bag of senko doesn't make sense.  The good knockoffs are just as good and so much cheaper.

Where is Wave Worm on the list?

Where is Wave Worm on the list?

Unfortunately, I only could put 10 companies in the poll.  

Gycb makes great designs, the senko, hula grub, and fat ika, are brilliant.

But the fact is that the knockoffs have improved to the point where paying the price for a bag of senko doesn't make sense. The good knockoffs are just as good and so much cheaper.

Well, let's not get into to that again...

I fish GYCB, almost exclusively.

The exceptions are a couple of tubes, the El Gordo from Micro Munch Tackle and 3 1/2" Mizmo (Kent's Classic).

I use a lot of reaction inovation products so I have to put them at number one

2. gycb

3. Robo worm

4. Zoom

Eric

My top favorites

Zoom

Gary Yamamoto Custom Baits

Berkley

dont like yum and mann's soft plastics

I voted Yum, Zoom would be a close second, then it's a toss up..........I like some stuff from this company..some from that.  Culprit, BPS GYCB, Mizmo, Syzmic, Berkley,Strike King,Mann's, are all well represented in my "collection"

the one and only GYCB

Those companies make some good baits but why limit yourself to the mass produced brands knowing that the guy in the next boat can throw the same thing you are. I learned early on to be different is to be successful. Go explore some lesser known manufacturers, better yet a garage hand pour operation.

Those companies make some good baits but why limit yourself to the mass produced brands knowing that the guy in the next boat can throw the same thing you are. I learned early on to be different is to be successful. Go explore some lesser known manufacturers, better yet a garage hand pour operation.

I 2nd Earthworms post.  Alot of handpour's small business make better baits and usually reasonably priced.  The main benifit is custom colors and softness

Those companies make some good baits but why limit yourself to the mass produced brands knowing that the guy in the next boat can throw the same thing you are. I learned early on to be different is to be successful. Go explore some lesser known manufacturers, better yet a garage hand pour operation.

I 2nd Earthworms post. Alot of handpour's small business make better baits and usually reasonably priced. The main benifit is custom colors and softness

You guys want to share some of those mom and pop shops that we should try?  Links would be nice.

GYCB all the way!  ;D ;D ;D

Zoom would be 2nd........

Lardbass,

Here are a few I have delt with and had great sucess on their lures.

Micromunch tackle

Joesjigtrailers

Ghostbaits

I was thinking more about this topic and I figured out that last year I doubt I bought 5 packs of off the shelf plastics.  Every thing I ordered/bought were from the three previously mentioned people.  

Side note: I do not get anything for free from any of those companies.  I buy it just like everyone else.

DO I HAVE TO PICK JUST ONE!!!!????

Have to admit that I do not throw a lot of plastics but when I do, Micromunch and Creekcritters get the nod. Like EW77, give them something that they don't see 25 a day.

GULP GULP GULP

I LOVE YUM SOFTBAITS!!!  I always fish with another person in my boat and secretly used yum while they use another soft bait. Often the exact color and size, i seemed to catch atleast twice as many fish as the other guy, and often bigger. I finally had to tell them my secret. I especially love the YUM Big Claw or Ribon tail worm.