High Financial Risk Fishing

[KyAntares]

5 years ago I would not have paid $15 for the Lucky Craft baits. I had a friend give me one and it was alll downhill from there. I now have 60+ Lucky Craft crankbaits and a dozen Pointers. It's like anything, there is a time and place to use them. Still cheaper than all the plastics I use.

P.S. Send me all of your non-working baits. I'll be happy to fix them!

[RICHYD4U]

I got to thinking. Wondered how I'd feel fishing the Cumberland River throwing a $49.99 swim bait that looked like a Trout if one of those 40 pound monster Stripers hit it. I think I be more afraid of losing the lure than the fish. Could you fish with a lure that cost that much and not be scared half silly if something darn big hit it? Is this crazy? Do the lure folks really buy this stuff? If ya buy a lure for that much, are you really gonna fish with it, or put it in the safe with your savings bonds?

Bob-
I'm with ya on the outrageous prices on lures! If I ever bought one of those $50 swimbaits (I'd have to qualify for a loan first) I would make sure to fish with 50lb test! Maybe even 100lb! That thing would never have a chance of coming off! I was just at BPS in Clarksville last Thursday evening, and noticed the same thing. I came across the old XPS series of lures, and liked what I saw. Picked up a bunch of rattletraps, jerks, and cranks for $3.99 a piece! Now, that is a price I can live with! Going back to get some more this weekend. Got the big Guntersville trip coming up! Can't wait!

-Rich

[Chubminnow]

Lure prices kind of makes meal worms, crickets and minnows seem like a lot more fun

[the_donger]

Lure prices kind of makes meal worms, crickets and minnows seem like a lot more fun

All species of fish will eat a nightcrawler, literally.

[JUSTINHALL]

The problem with a $20.00 lucky craft live pointer is they are only good for a few days. I have 4 of them sitting on my desk that has no rear end with brand new looking heads. The bait looks awesome in the water but they come in half very easily. Never lost one from line braking but then again they don’t last long enough to do that. I use them on Lake St.Clair in the beautiful clear water and they work great all the way until boom they are done. I don’t know what they make the wire from but I think sewing thread would be stronger.
I stared long and hard at the $49.99 bait but could bring myself to do it. Although I must admit I did have it in my hands 3 times but I kept putting it back. Backwaters had some in the case that were $89.99, if I could pull my boat with a Honda civic than I could afford one maybe!

[demodan]

Went to Bass Pros in Clarksville In this Saturday. First time there for a while. Just about passed out when I saw what some fishing lures were selling for. Got into a whole section of Luscky Craft lures, most ran $14.99, clean up to $24.99 a piece, and a show stopper 5.5 inch Trout looking lure for $30.99. Was just about to recover from that when I happened into the Tru-Tungsten lures. Cheap one there was $19.99, a lot ran $29.99, and then my evye caught this 7 inch long 4 section Trout imitating lure that was......ready......$49.99!!!!!!. My knees got weak again, and I stumbled over to the the good ole Bandits and Cotton Cordells and Bandits in the $5-7 range.

I got to thinking. Wondered how I'd feel fishing the Cumberland River throwing a $49.99 swim bait that looked like a Trout if one of those 40 pound monster Stripers hit it. I think I be more afraid of losing the lure than the fish. Could you fish with a lure that cost that much and not be scared half silly if something darn big hit it? Is this crazy? Do the lure folks really buy this stuff? If ya buy a lure for that much, are you really gonna fish with it, or put it in the safe with your savings bonds?

Did you hear about the bait that caught the Largemouth world record in Japan? It's a "triple-broken back" shad (balsa wood swim bait;... I think it was balsa??)...that was about 12 inches long...bluegill color. The fella that caught the fish said that it's one of a kind, hand made of course...that particualr one ran him around $250.00 American dollars!!! Said that if he loses one....he will get it back with some type of bait retriever!!
One of my "coping skill" to the prices for bait these days......Is I get a "little at a time".
I have a rule...everytime I get paid...payday (every other week)...I go to BPS or A20 to look around; and I allways get one pack of tungsten weights (for t-rigs or 1 ounce c-rig weights)..one pack of hooks (could be t-rigs hooks or CB replacement hooks)...and one lure of choice (depending on my upcoming tounament sight for this choice..could be a lucky craft dd suspending jerkbait...or even a bandit 200...)..
Coping skill number 2 = I try to work about 2 hours OT at work for the week; 4 total...that will help off-set the coast. Just staying extra here and there at work...letting my supervisor know that I want to get all my work done before I leave.

[Fntsyfbgod]

Sweet more big swimbait fish for me. I got several swimbaits I paid $50-60 for and they are worth every penny. Most are in the 20-30 range. If your afraid of losing them you dont need to use them. And dont forget you will have to buy a new rod to throw those things. Some I have run up to 5oz. But expensive baits are nothing new I can remember a $30 square bill crankbait Basspro tried to sell for a while. Didnt last long.

Besides if you think $50 is outrageous check out the 3:16 lures site. The Born Again costs $175. Thats too high for me.

[Fntsyfbgod]

If you want to see high risk check out Megabass lures. Everything they make is $25 and up. Your throwing a $25 lure on 10lb line. At least with swimbaits you can use 25lb or more.

[rickhise]

thanks for the inspiration, I had been putting off rebuilding those live-bait cages.

[HURRICANEBOB]

Bob they didn't tell you? Those are not for fishing them is high $$$ ART for your pontoon

My boat is getting so old and worn out that if I put a $50 lure on it, it would double the rigs value.

Wait a minute, good idea.......putting lures on the boat to raise the resale value would be a lot easier than recarpeting the !@#$$%!@#$# thing.

[HURRICANEBOB]

Besides if you think $50 is outrageous check out the 3:16 lures site. The Born Again costs $175. Thats too high for me.

3:16 Born Again - Dark Trout = $185.00 USD

What did they do, pack the lures butt with diamonds? Did you buy one of them? You need somebody to shovel the snow at your house? I'll do it for $15,000 a sidewalk................................

[HURRICANEBOB]

Yes they are expensive, and then there is the insult of a small northern pike tearing up some of those soft baits.

Given the cost of Muskie and Pike baits, and the beating they take, I think I'll start using some of my body parts as lures. Pikes will totally blow up on a lilly while size 12 hanging in the water. I might just as well save the money on the lure and put my medical insurance premiums to good use. Mabye after 400 or 500 stitches, I'll earn emergency ward frequent flyer miles.

"You're not a real fisherman if you still have all your fingers and toes"