This is a mystery to me. Changes done to baits that make them less expensive to produce obviously makes financial sense, but it's the changes that I can't imagine would benefit the company that confuse me. I just purchased a few 1970's Bagley B1's and B2, and of course they are different than today's. They used to have brass hardware, but that wasn't the difference maker. The line tie came straight out of the nose on those old baits....totally different. Bagley more recently came out with the 'original series', which they claimed were the original molds, yet didn't put the line tie back where it should be. All they did was add brass hardware to the 'updated' design. The line tie is still lower than the original baits. If you have a classic bait like a Bagley's B....why would you move the line tie? It makes no sense....not even financially.

Here is Iaconelli's B2 that he credits with multiple tournament wins.  He recently had it restored because he literally wore it out.

Ike's lure makeover...

http://www.customluresunlimited.com/extreme_lure_makeover__ike

There are a lot of possible reasons.

It very well could be cheaper.

Its possible they feel this is an improvemnet.

It could also take less labor time

Its possible that they had issues with the way it was before

My guess is somehow they are saving time/money

my suggestion is if you realy like those baits buyup the ones you can find.

There are a lot of possible reasons.

It very well could be cheaper.

Its possible they feel this is an improvemnet.

It could also take less labor time

Its possible that they had issues with the way it was before

My guess is somehow they are saving time/money

my suggestion is if you realy like those baits buyup the ones you can find.

I buy them when I can, but the problem is you have to fight the lure collectors.  There seem to be a bunch of Bagley collectors out there, and they are willing to pay big bucks for older Bagley cranks.  Most of these guys don't even fish their baits; it's a crime I tell ya.  

I have seen your arsenal, You gonna claim you have fished all that stuff??? ;D ;D

Try going to yard and garage sales; my new # 1 source of older baits. A lot of folks sell old tackle boxes for 10 to 20 bucks; they have no idea whats in em

This is a mystery to me. Changes done to baits that make them less expensive to produce obviously makes financial sense, but it's the changes that I can't imagine would benefit the company that confuse me. I just purchased a few 1970's Bagley B1's and B2, and of course they are different than today's. They used to have brass hardware, but that wasn't the difference maker. The line tie came straight out of the nose on those old baits....totally different. Bagley more recently came out with the 'original series', which they claimed were the original molds, yet didn't put the line tie back where it should be. All they did was add brass hardware to the 'updated' design. The line tie is still lower than the original baits. If you have a classic bait like a Bagley's B....why would you move the line tie? It makes no sense....not even financially.

Here is Iaconelli's B2 that he credits with multiple tournament wins. He recently had it restored because he literally wore it out.

Ike's lure makeover...

http://www.customluresunlimited.com/extreme_lure_makeover__ike

Remember when Rapala bought out Storm and changed the Wiggle Wart from a one piece mold to a 1 piece with the lexan bills?

It was like "New Coke"  old Coke.

What were they thinking.  They eventually caved in when nobody bought the junk new baits and went back to the storm molds.  Original Storm Wiggle Warts are expensive, just like the Bagleys you're bidding against the collectors as well as original Wiggle wart junkies.  I've spent upwards of $25 for a single SV/SP special color wiggle wart.  crazy.  

Dude didn't you get the PM?

Today's anglers know more about designing lures than Jim, Fred, or Bill ever did.

Natural,

Could you take one of the originals to one of our crankbait makers and have them replicate a few for you?  I know the custom cranks are expensive but probably less than the collector value of the originals plus, you'll get new paint.

Has anyone found any custom cranks that give the old Bagleys a run for their money? I'm interested in purchasing a few of the B2 and B3 styles.

I know WEC has some nice replicas of the smaller Bagleys.

It's getting harder and harder to get a decent price for vintage stuff on eBay.  

Bagley's are pretty bad......just try to get ahold of an old 70's "Charlie-O."  

I paid what some people would consider a ridiculous price for these two rather beaten up examples:

The new-in-package Charlie's are going from $40-$70.  

If it looks familiar, it's because it's the basis for the Zoom Wobbler and a few other high-end custom round baits out there.

I'm not a big "bulky" round bait guy, so I haven't invested in any 70's Balsa B's, but I would assume with the higher line tie location comes a tighter action.

Perhaps a shift in thinking to "wider action is better" is what has been sold to the fishing public, and the companies followed suit(?)  Wider is most definitely not better, IMO, in many/most situations I fish.

Original 70s DB3's have the tightest action of any deep crank made, and at some point during the early 80's Bagley decided to angle the lip and widen the action on that design as well.  

I do have a B1 and B3 from Hughes & Thompson that I would be interested in comparing to original Bagleys, but I think these have a much wider action than the originals.      

Below's an example of a nice looking bait from Mimic that I believe resembles a B3. It's got a high line tie, but not quite as high as the classic Bagleys. I haven't been able to get it wet, yet...

I haven't been too highly motivated to get involved in any bidding wars for beat up Bagleys with the high line tie on ebay, but I would like to pick up a few in the near future. I really want to fish these lures too, so I'd figure it would be well worth it to find a custom job with a similar design and brand new paint for around the same price.

Big M (Marty Burns) has some nice looking B3 remakes posted-

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1251061305

It's getting harder and harder to get a decent price for vintage stuff on eBay.

Bagley's are pretty bad......just try to get ahold of an old 70's "Charlie-O."

I paid what some people would consider a ridiculous price for these two rather beaten up examples:

The new-in-package Charlie's are going from $40-$70.

If it looks familiar, it's because it's the basis for the Zoom Wobbler and a few other high-end custom round baits out there.

I'm not a big "bulky" round bait guy, so I haven't invested in any 70's Balsa B's, but I would assume with the higher line tie location comes a tighter action.

Perhaps a shift in thinking to "wider action is better" is what has been sold to the fishing public, and the companies followed suit(?) Wider is most definitely not better, IMO, in many/most situations I fish.

Original 70s DB3's have the tightest action of any deep crank made, and at some point during the early 80's Bagley decided to angle the lip and widen the action on that design as well.

I do have a B1 and B3 from Hughes & Thompson that I would be interested in comparing to original Bagleys, but I think these have a much wider action than the originals.      

Are you freakin' kiddin me?  I'm ashamed I didn't know about the Charlie-O and apparently it just cost me.  I was searching Ebay for balsa big-O's and ran into a pair of Charlie O's.  They were in pristine condition, and I was perplexed as to why bidding was up around $12 for a pair of plastic cranks.  I meant to search and see if they were 'special', but didn't.  The pair went for $16.  

Below's an example of a nice looking bait from Mimic that I believe resembles a B3. It's got a high line tie, but not quite as high as the classic Bagleys. I haven't been able to get it wet, yet...

I haven't been too highly motivated to get involved in any bidding wars for beat up Bagleys with the high line tie on ebay, but I would like to pick up a few in the near future. I really want to fish these lures too, so I'd figure it would be well worth it to find a custom job with a similar design and brand new paint for around the same price.

Big M (Marty Burns) has some nice looking B3 remakes posted-

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1251061305

I've got some of those Mimic B3's...nice baits.  They run with a tight action, which is rather rare for a large and bulbous bait. After receiving and fishing the Mimic B3, I urged Kelly to do a B2. We'll just have to see if he comes through. Reproductions can be great....I feel Zoom's E2 is every bit as good as the original Bagley B2, and is a secret weapon in several pro's boxes.  The Zoom E2 has recorded two elite wins in the past two years.  However, they will run you $25...not much of a savings over an old B2 that will run you $35-$50.

I hate to ruin my game, but I'm buying a lot of beat up bagleys on ebay. The collectors aren't interested in beat up bagley's, which makes them available for $10-$13. I just bought two B1's and a B2 for a great price. They are missing paint, but will repaint well. The cues I look for are a high line tie (right out of the nose) and I look for an aggressively arched back on the B1's. I will post my repaints when Dwain Batey sends them back to me. He is a master....

Are you freakin' kiddin me? I'm ashamed I didn't know about the Charlie-O and apparently it just cost me. I was searching Ebay for balsa big-O's and ran into a pair of Charlie O's. They were in pristine condition, and I was perplexed as to why bidding was up around $12 for a pair of plastic cranks. I meant to search and see if they were 'special', but didn't. The pair went for $16.

......that's how the bidding game goes sometimes, I guess.  

FWIW, Charlie-O's are urethane foamies.  

I've got a few of the older Bagley cranks and they are fer superior to today's. I am very reluctant to throw them on my lake for fear of a pike or musky taking it with him.

Hang on to your stash and keep looking. They're out there.

I check ebay several times a day.

Agree with cart on the Wiggle Wart.