which do you prefer??

Depends on which one I think will catch more fish....sluggos will catch lots of fish but don't last long......storm shad catch fish and last longer but it depends on the spot I am fishing.:huh:

definitely something with a better action.

good points bigfish.

im thinking about jerkbaits... like the sluggo.

Defiantley softer with more action.:kewl: :kewl:

Some of each please

tougher for the rocks with turbulence or beach in heavier surf

softer for the rocks and open sandy beaches in calmer water

softer for me. I like the bass assassin.

Some of each please

tougher for the rocks with turbulence or beach in heavier surf

softer for the rocks and open sandy beaches in calmer water

interesting..:kewl:

"Defiantley softer with more action "
Dido :btu:

Harder or softer than what? Sluggos? Yums? Berkley? Storm?

I'm not so sure anything needs to be reinvented or revised with respect to the density/pliability of the bait. Action does not seem to be a major issue either, as its pretty apparent that the people who know how to work what's out there now are doing very well.

Indeed, to build in a defined action would probably be counter productive as the best baits act as a blank canvas, allowing the angler the highest degree of presention and control.

What people are looking for is:

1) A better deal on price for an equal product. Producing an equal product, that would prove to be the key factor. Claiming a lure or bait is better or equal is not enough. Sadly for the newcomer, established, successful companies often have it right.

2) More realistic imitating patterns

3) Better attracting patterns

joe thanks for the tips. :kewl:

one way to make it more durable without sacraficing action would be to add a length of dacron to the rubber in mold to reinforce it (i think tuff core does this). Just have to figure out a way to locate it such that it won't interfere with hook placement.

Per our conversation yesterday
I vote a bit harder.. but Joe is right...
I have had good luck with extra soft stuff (Yum worms) and fairly hard (Ledgerunner).. I think they both have their applications.. depends on the where/when and how....

I like them both since each has a "right situation" to fish with.

An interesting test I just did over the weekend was to insert some Lunker City Sluggo weights into some Ledgerunner plastic. Wow!!

Been messing w/ plastics myself and we've figured out how to have your cake and eat it too so to speak :hihi:.... I might leave the bucket at home all year this year :D

Some good stuff here. I do see room for some new products on the market though. How potential customers perceive this is key.

How a bait is rigged and manipulated is very very important. Those mad scientist/fisherman who are out there exploring and experimenting are the vanguard.

Would love to see some larger rubber/plastic eel type baits for the sand and surf that are a viable option and move well when rigged properly.
Big bait / big fish syndrome :huh:

or blah blah blah :yawn:

i prefer tougher stuff


ledgerunners were my favorite because of the durability, and the larger size one. its hard for me to guess how many fish ive caught one of these individual plastic baits, but im guessing probly around 20 then i tied on another.

from my experience a rigged sluggo can be destroyed by one fish, usually they were good for about half a dozen but after that they were done.

I like storm shads in the spring.

This poll really surprises me... softer wins by a longshot.

Thankyou for all of your input guys :D

This is an off year for me sadly, but I can comment from my own perspective. When I started pouring my own baits 15+ years ago, I obviously did a lot of experimenting. I still believe catching has more to do with the man holding the rod, then the bait at the end of the line. My gradual transition was away from super soft baits, which caught great, but lastest for only a fish or two. When I developed my own baits, my goal was to have baits that could be made to act very lively with the right rod-line manipulation; rather than relying souly on the baits softness. I wanted baits to last and I was counting on design and experience to do the rest.

When I started to pour on a limited basis commercially, again I wanted it to be "my signature" bait, which might not be the favorate softness for all people. To me it's a tradeoff, but I keep catching at a rate most would die for and my baits catch 20-30 fish at a crack, so the formula works for me.

If and when I get back at this commercially, I will offer a softer version when pouring larger orders. If I wanted to make more money, the easiest thing I could do would be to soften my baits up, because the shapes and actions are already proven. Still my trademark is durable baits, so I'll probably stay closer to that formula, maybe a tad softer; with a super soft option.

When the weather breaks, I will likely pour a very large batch of the 9 and 13" jerks, since the eel situation might mean people would be looking. I'm guessing black and it sounds like the masses might want them softer. Hey I can make them so soft a case of Viagra wouldn't stiffen them up:).

Tight lines.

Bob, keep your shads just the way they are :humpty: