Cheap Online Imported Lures

[Aussie_fisher]

Hey all I’ve recently started to fish with some vibes, cranks etc: to expand my soft plastics horizon. However some of these lures cost upwards of 20 bucks each. So I was wondering how those cheaper lures from online sellers work. Are they really that crap or do they still catch fish? Some of them look like perfect imitations of their more expensive counterparts as well. Anyone have any experience with using these cheap hardbodies? Thanks

[lhan]

vibs/baldes are generally good enough. Crankbaits I find quality brands are more consistent. I use quite some crankbaits and honestly I see them swimming almost the same... But my jackall chubby just caught the most fish. Jerkbaits/topwater from my experience, those from well known brands are way better.

Berkley is not a bad choice to go - they copied a lot of good design and being a big brand their QA is actually in place. You can find their pro-tech range $10 - $15 during sales. Brimz/Twitcher/Bender/Slurp would be my picks to try first.

Good lures last a long time but it can be expensive when fishing in those snaggy areas. Still better than spending money on sth won't catch fish.

[bluefin]

I confess i'm a lure snob.  I put my faith into the R n D that big brands put into their lures. The vibration frequency is crucial. I have a couple of Cicada lures costing over $30 each. Their wings create the same frequency as a real cicada when pulled across the surface !  Samaki Vibelicious, Split tail and Thumper tail.  Both Vibe lures but very different Vibration. Cheep lures do work sometimes, But I need an edge !     If you find an inexpensive lure that works, Great!   I have a few Smiling Jack crayfish imitation lures that I love, Equal to the rebel Crawfish I have been addicted to for over 40 years.  Like the add says, When your on a good thing , Stick to it !  I remember Stewy liking Smiling Jacks ?

Edited November 28 by bluefin

[devoker]

32 minutes ago, bluefin said:

I confess i'm a lure snob.  I put my faith into the R n D that big brands put into their lures. The vibration frequency is crucial. I have a couple of Cicada lures costing over $30 each. Their wings create the same frequency as a real cicada when pulled across the surface !  Samaki Vibelicious, Split tail and Thumper tail.  Both Vibe lures but very different Vibration. Cheep lures do work sometimes, But I need an edge !     If you find an inexpensive lure that works, Great!   I have a few Smiling Jack crayfish imitation lures that I love, Equal to the rebel Crawfish I have been addicted to for over 40 years.  Like the add says, When your on a good thing , Stick to it !  I remember Stewy liking Smiling Jacks ?

Cheap lures are usually hit and miss. Some of the 2$ crankbaits I bought couldn't swim straight. None of the suspending lures I bought actually suspend either, they usually sink slowly.

I order a few different ones every month and if I think they are good enough I usually replace the trebles and split rings because they are almost always shit.

On the other hand, I caught more fish with the ecogear zx clones than the original itself. Also, I (possibly my wife 😀) lost one of the assist hooks of the original somehow at its knot.

 

[juicy233]

I've used some cheap online shop metals and vibes and have found that they work pretty well and the vibes have a good vibrating action, the biggest downside is the hooks. They suck. I've had hooks snap off on a fish, get bent and hooks snapping from the smallest things. In the case of metals it'd be worth buying them then putting high quality hooks however I do think that paying the extra for big companies vibe and crank lures is worth it.

[slowjigger]

The fish like the cheap online shop shrimp lures (Walkfish 61 mm). Also their (Ali Express) heavy casting minnow have a good action (I upgraded the hooks). I have purchased some 60g slow jigs but are yet to give them a try.

Edited November 30 by slowjigger

[Steve0]

On 11/28/2024 at 4:32 PM, juicy233 said:

I've used some cheap online shop metals and vibes and have found that they work pretty well and the vibes have a good vibrating action, the biggest downside is the hooks. They suck. I've had hooks snap off on a fish, get bent and hooks snapping from the smallest things. In the case of metals from temu it'd be worth buying them then putting high quality hooks however I do think that paying the extra for big companies vibe and crank lures is worth it.

I haven't tried the cheap online shop, but have good results with metal. Their hooks and rings are soft. Best value is bulk buy of metal WITHOUT HOOKS AND RINGS, then add quality rings and (single 3X) hooks from a trustworthy source. The end result is good. Hooks don't bend, rings don't straighten, and you don't cry as much when the cunje monster refuses to let go.

[dirvin21]

The cheap ones will catch fish but the better brands definitely outfish them

[faker]

I swear by allblue crazy shrimp, jerry blade surface lure, bearking crank, letoyo vib(jackall tapdancer), countbass crank 38mm ( similar to jackall), bearking mini crank ( cranka) ,jerry scout( atomic).

 

Also I have jigpara, palms slowblatt wide, metalmaru, and many other knock off 

@devoker @bluefin@bluefin @juicy233 @Aussie_fisher @lhan

 

 

Edited November 28 by faker

[faker]

On 11/28/2024 at 6:49 PM, Steve0 said:

I haven't tried cheap online shop, but have good results with metal. Their hooks and rings are soft. Best value is bulk buy of metal WITHOUT HOOKS AND RINGS, then add quality rings and (single 3X) hooks from a trustworthy source. The end result is good. Hooks don't bend, rings don't straighten, and you don't cry as much when the cunje monster refuses to let go.

Try wlure trebles, 4x is better then vmc