Tackle and Lure Analysis

Hey Guys,

I am in the process of starting a YouTube page for Lure/Tackle Analysis. I’m talking videos showing a lure/bait’s action, sink rate, side by side analysis, action in regards to trolling speed, water flow, etc.

I know there are videos out there of certain lures created by manufacturers, and other personal videos made for 1 lure/bait or another, but I am looking to have a go to Youtube page for all lures/baits.

Would love to hear any other suggestions or thoughts on this. Would you find this helpful/beneficial? Also, if there is something out there like this, please let me know.

Thanks,

I think that would be a great idea. One thing I always wonder about baits is at what speeds do they work best (for trolling). How slow can I go and still have the correct lure action or fast before they blow out. Make sure you post a link. I look forward in viewing your videos.

Kyle Wills wrote:

Would love to hear any other suggestions or thoughts on this. Would you find this helpful/beneficial?

Dive curves have been beat to death. Not sure if you want to spend a ton of time re-doing them? Not unless you want to take a different spin like what cranks perform well right out of the box vs cranks that need to be tuned.

One topic that would interest me is overall quality. Are the right hooks being used is a big one. When I say “right”, I mean size, quality, ect. Does the crank need a light wire or heavy duty hook? Are the hooks cheap junk out of the box. Seems I am up-sizing the hooks on a lot of cranks these days. Or replacing pure, cheap junk right out of the box.

How does hook changes effect the performance of the stock hook? Better, worse, different?

Other quality things like durability. Test out a crank that has been left out in the baking hot sun for 5-6 days. (Like in a plano box laying on the dash of your truck.) Does the crank still perform like new? Or is it now junk? Of let the crank sit in a bucket of water for a week. Is it a rushed piece of junk? Waterlogged? Or does it still run like new.

Stuff like that. Be creative.

-J.

Jon Jordan wrote:

One topic that would interest me is overall quality. Are the right hooks being used is a big one. When I say “right”, I mean size, quality, ect. Does the crank need a light wire or heavy duty hook? Are the hooks cheap junk out of the box. Seems I am up-sizing the hooks on a lot of cranks these days. Or replacing pure, cheap junk right out of the box.

How does hook changes effect the performance of the stock hook? Better, worse, different?

Other quality things like durability. Test out a crank that has been left out in the baking hot sun for 5-6 days. (Like in a plano box laying on the dash of your truck.) Does the crank still perform like new? Or is it now junk? Of let the crank sit in a bucket of water for a week. Is it a rushed piece of junk? Waterlogged? Or does it still run like new.

Stuff like that. Be creative.

-J.

Thanks for the ideas Jon!

When it comes to quality and size of hook, that can be a subject that is more opinion than factual data. We all have our definition of quality hooks. What I am looking to produce videos that are data driven, and remove the opinion as much as possible.

With that said, I do like the idea of changing hooks in regards to putting heavier, lighter, etc on the lure to determine if it changes performance. Actually as I am writing this I just thought of a way that I may be able to use to test hook quality, in terms of amt of weight in which a hook can handle before it is no longer usable.

Thanks for the insight on some other ideas you posted. I’m hoping this helps everyone out in the long run.

but I am looking to have a go to Youtube page for all lures/baits

I would suggest that you target specific manufactures and very specific models they have and structure a organizational format for that much data. I think this is one of those projects that could start off as great intent, but can get over-whelming pretty fast.

I’m not trying to discourage you, but rather get you thinking about how to manage something of this magnitude.
Just think about how many SKUs each of these companies have….

Here is a short list of just a few key manufactures – I didn’t sort for crankbaits only
Updated September 14, 2012
Numbers:

3:16 Lure Company Makers of Swimbaits

A:

A.B.T. Lure Company Designer of the King Shad

A. C. Plugs Original Swimbaits

A. C. Shiner Ceder and Balsa Wood Hard Baits

Accent Fishing Products Hardbaits & Wire Baits

Ace Baits Muskie and Pike lures

Acme Tackle Company Manufacture of Spoons

Aiden James Lures Maker of “Spaz the Mouse”

Allen Lures Crankbaits, Topwaters, & More

Al’s Goldfish Lure Co. Spoons and More

Ambush Lures Crankbaits, Jerkbaits, & Topwaters

American Hardwood Lures Pike and Muskie Lures

Amma Bama Lures Pike and Musky Lures

Angler’s Republic Japanese Tackle Maker

Arbogast Lure Company Jitterbugs and Hula Poppers

Arcadia Reef Japanese Tackle Maker

Attic Hard Baits from Japan

AusSpin Lures Australian Wire Baits and More

Awesome Bait Company Wooden Crankbaits

Azuma New Hardbait Company
B:

Bagley Bait Company Balsa Wood Baits

Baker Lures Hardbait Manufacture

Balzer German Lure Manufacture

Bandit Lures Crankbaits for Bass

Bass Assault Lures Wire Baits & Jigs

Bassday Japanese Hardbaits

BassHunters Custom Painted Crankbaits

Bay de Noc Lure Co. Spoons

Bayou Outdoors Buzzbaits and Spinnerbaits

Bayou Tackle Co. Buzzbaits and Spinnerbaits

BB Lures Custom Painted Crankbaits

Benntencourt Baits Makers of the Real Snake

Berkley Fishing Frenzy Hardbaits

Big Fork Lures Handcrafted Wood Lures

Bill Lewis Lures Maker of the Rat-L-Trap

Black Dog Baits Premium hardbaits & Swimbaits

Black Sheep Whiplash lures from Japan

Blackwater Bait Co. Premium Wood Topwater

Blakemore Lures Maker of the Road Runner

Blue Fox In-Line Spinners

Bobbie Bait Pike and Muskie Lures

Bomber Lures Model A & Fat Free Shads

Boone Bait Co. Saltwater Lures

BooYah! Spinnerbaits, Buzzbaits, & Jigs

Booze Bait Cork and Cap Topwater Lures

Brad’s Killer Fishing Gear Storm Style Hardbaits

Brian’s Bees Balsa Wood Crankbaits

Brost Bait Co. Hand Carved Wooden Lures

Buckeye Lures Custom Made Baits

Bumper Stumper Lures Spinnerbaits & Buzzbaits
C:

C.C. Baits Japanese Swim Baits

C.M. Wiggle Bait Company Lures and Fish Decoys

Carolina Custom Crankbaits Handmade Balsa Baits

Castiac Swim Baits Swim Baits

Catchem Caro Bait Co. Hand Made Wood Lures

Cavitron Buzzbaits Buzzbaits

Challenger Lures Lynx Minnows and More

Cormoran Japanese Hardbaits

Cotton Cordell Walleye and Bass Baits

Creek Chub Maker of the Unique Knuckle-Head

Creme Makers of Soft and Hard Baits

C’ultiva Hard Baits by Owner

Custom Bass Tackle Custom Painted Baits

Custom Lures By Sam Lures by Sam Griffin

Custom Lures Unlimited Custom Hard Baits
D:

D Baits Balsa Wood Foil- Finished Baits

Daiwa Lures Daiwa & Team Daiwa Lures

Dakota Lakes Tackle Custom Painted Lures & Bodies

Dale Sellers Custom Lures Just What it Says!

Davis Bait Company Spinnerbaits & Jigs

Dave’s KA-Boom Baits Plastic & Balsa Baits

Deps Topwater & Swimbaits from Japan

Dick Nite Spoons Spoons

Drifter Tackle Muskie Baits

Dow Luck Japanese Topwater Lures

Downriver Tackle Custom Painted Baits

Ducktail Musky Lures Hard Baits & Wire Baits

Dunwright Tackle Company Muskie & Pike Baits

Duo Hardbaits from Japan

Dutch Fork Custom Lures Custom Painted Baits
E:

Ecogear Hard & Soft Baits from Japan

Envision Lures Spinnerbaits and Buzzbaits

Eppinger Manufacturing Company Spoons

Erie Dearie Lures Spinners & Spoons

F:

Felmlee Lures Spinners & Soft Naturals

Fishmans Baits Custom Painted Lures

Fishnuts Soft Baits & Custom Painted Hard Baits

Fish Sense Lures Binsky Blade Baits

Fish Skin Lures Hand Carved Fish Skin Lures

FLT Flex Lure Technology Swim Baits from Japan

Foss Tackle Co. Muskie Spinners

Fox Creek Lures Unique Spinners & Spoons

Fury Lures Hardbaits
G:

Gator Lures Weedless Spoons

Germanbaits German Tackle Maker

Gilmore Tackle Company Wood Topwater Baits

Gopher Bait Company Muskie and Pike Lures

Grandma Lures Musky and Pike Jerkbaits

Guus Baits Jerkbaits from Guus Cornelissen

H:

H2O Muskie Tackle Company Muskie Lures

H2ybrid Lures Hardbaits from South Africa

Harry Lure Company Spoons

Hart Tackle Spinnerbaits and Buzzbaits

Harvo Musky Lures Musky and Pike Lures

Heddon Lure Company Classic Topwater Baits

H & H Lure Company Spinnerbaits, more

Hi-Finn Tackle Pike and Muskie baits

High Roller Lures Peacock Bass Lures, & More

Hiyoko Brand Baits from Japan

HMKL Hard Baits & Wire Baits from Japan

Hopkins Lures Stainless Steel Lures

Hughes Custom Painted Baits Custom Hard Baits
I:

Imakatsu Lures from Japan

Ima Lures Japanese Hardbaits

J:

Jackall Bros. Japanese Hard Baits

Jarmo Lures Lures by Jarmo Rapala

JLV Lures Hardbaits and Spinnerbaits

Joe’s Custom Baits Custom Painted Baits

K:

Karikko Hard Baits from Finland

KaRu Lures Wire Baits and Jigs

Katanalures Hard Baits from France

K & E Tackle Swim Wizz Hard Baits

Keg Tackle Muskie and Pike Lures

Keystone Precision Lures Spinnerbaits & Buzzbaits

Kinami Baits Soft Baits & Hard Baits

Koppers Tackle Life Like Lures
L:

Lance Lures Muskie and Pike Lures

Laser Lures Laser Enhancement Technology

Lakeshore Lure Co. Muskie and Pike Jerkbaits

Lazy Ike Classic Old School Lures

Lee Sisson Lures Wooden Lures

Leo-Lures Handmade Ceder Musky Lures

Lindy Tackle Ice Fishing Jigs, Spoons, & Hardbaits

Lobina Lures Makers of the Rick Clunn Rico

Lock Lizard Topwater Lizard Baits

Lucky Craft Japan Japanese Site

Lucky Craft USA American Site

Lucky Strike Bait Works Plugs, Spinners, & Spoons

Luhr Jensen Hard Baits for Casting & Trolling

Lunker Lures Buzzbaits & Spinnerbaits

LW Luresmith Custom Baits Custom Lures
M:

Macatawa Bait Company Lures and Fish Decoys

Mann’s Bait Company Maker of the Baby Minus

Matt Lures Swimbaits for Bass

Matzuo Hardbaits and Swimbaits

Maxota Wounded Tail Baits

McGrath Lures Australia Australian Hard Baits

MCL Lures Custom Swimbaits from Germany

Meat and Potatoes Hardbaits & Wire Baits

Megabass USA Premium Japanese Baits

Mentzer Lures Replica Vamp Lures

Mepp’s / Sheldon’s In-Line Spinners

Mimic Lures Wooden Baits from Tennessee

MirrOlure Fresh and Saltwater Baits

MS Slammer Swimbaits for Bass

Muskie Catcher Lures Muskie & Pike Baits

Muskie Magnet Muskie & Pike Baits

Muskie Metal Lures Muskie & Pike Lures

Musky Mania Muskie & Pike Baits

Mystic Tackleworks Bio Pulse Lures
N:

Natural Edge Painting Custom Painted Hardbaits

Nemire Lures Weedless Spoons

Nichols Lures Spinnerbaits

Nories Tackle from Japan

Norman Lures American Made Crankbaits

Northamfishing Wire baits from Canada

Northland Fishing Tackle Pre-Rigged Soft Baits

Norwegian Wood Lures Wood Lures from Norway

O:

O.S.P. Hard Baits from Japan

Oar-Gee Lures Australian Hard Baits

Ohio Pro Lure Spinnerbaits, Buzzbaits, & Jigs

Optimum Baits Japanese Swimbaits

Oscar Custom Baits Custom Painted Lures
P:

Panther Martin In-Line Spinners & More

Persuader American Angling Spinnerbaits & Buzzbaits

Phantom Lures Muskie and Pike Baits

Phenix Rod & Bait Company Spinnerbaits & Jigs

PK Lures Ice Fishing Jigs ans Spoons

Pradco Outdoor Brands Bomber, Heddon, Smithwick…
Q:

R:

Rad Lures Maker of the Original Chatter Bait

Rapala Lures Maker of the Finish Minnow

Reaction Strike Hard Baits and Swim Baits

Rebel Lures Makers of the Wee-R and Wee Craw

Revenge Baits Spinnerbaits & Buzzbaits

Revere Maxx Fishing Rock Star Frogs

Revolution Lures Spinnerbaits & Buzzbaits

River2Sea Hard Baits and Wire Baits

River2Sea USA Hard Baits and Wire Baits

Rocky Ledge Bass Tackle Lead Free Lures
S:

Salmo Fishing Lures Baits from Poland

Savage-Gear Swimbaits and Muskie Lures

Sebile Lures Quality Saltwater Tackle

Secret Weapon Lures Spinnerbaits & Buzzbaits

Silver Buddy Blade Baits

Slammer Tackle Company Muskie & Pike Lures

Smithwick Lure Company Rogues and Devil’s Horses

Smity Bait Bass, Pike, & Muskie Plugs

Snag Proof Weedless Frogs

S.O.B. Lures Spinnerbaits & Buzzbaits

Southern Lure Company Weedless Frogs, & Rats

Spanky Baits Musky Spinners and Spinnerbaits

Spro Corp Weedless Frogs & Hard Baits

Stanford Cedar Lures Custom Cedar Bass Baits

Storm Lures Hard Baits & Hybrid Baits

Strike King Lures Spinnerbaits & Hard Baits

Strike Pro USA Crankbaits, Jerkbaits, & More

Strike Pro International Swimbaits, Jerkbaits…

Suddeth Crankbaits Polyurethane Foam Crankbaits

Suick Lure Manufacturing Muskie Baits

Sum Lures Hard Baits from Kyoto Japan
T:

T Clark Custom Custom Painted Hard Baits

Tennessee Tuffy Crankbaits Balsa Wood Crankbaits

Trophy Sticks Custom Hand Crafted Baits

Tyrant Tackle Muskie and Pike Lures

U:

V:

Vagabond Japanese Hard Baits

Vanndalizer Custom Baits Custom Balsa Baits & Painting

Varivas Tackle from Japan

Viking Fishing Hard Baits from Sweden

W:

Wally G Baits Wooden Handcafted Baits

Weedless Lures Weedless Spoons & Plugs

Williamson Lures Saltwater Lures
X:

Xcailbur Hi-Tech Tackle Pradco’s Premium Line

Xtreme Lure Creations Custom Painted Hardbaits
Y:

Yakima Bait Company Poe’s ,Hawg Boss & Timber Tigers

Yellow Magic Lures Japanese Topwater Baits

Yo-Zuri Maker of the Live Bait Series

Yum Maker of the Dancin’ Eel
Z:

Zed Lures Lures from Australia

Zip Baits New Concept Baits from Japan

I always like seeing lures in action underwater. Would be cool to see similar lures being used side by side in the water in order to compare their movement.

Sounds exciting and fun but also a ton of work. I assume you’re going to need some help and it’s going to take a good amount of video production.

Randy Wieland wrote:

but I am looking to have a go to Youtube page for all lures/baits

I would suggest that you target specific manufactures and very specific models they have and structure a organizational format for that much data. I think this is one of those projects that could start off as great intent, but can get over-whelming pretty fast.

Hey Randy,

I didn’t phrase that correctly. There is no way I will ever be able to keep up with all cranks, worms, jigs, creatures, etc.

I do agree, this is definitely going to be compartmentalized. This is all a side project for me, not a full time project. So, this type of thing will take time.

Ideally, I would like to get users input on what they would like to see tested. One video might consist of top 10 brands, deep diving cranks, or top 10 brands worms and their action, etc.

This could obviously be a very large undertaking, but the initial goal is to keep it simple for now.

In a lot of cases, guys just want to see what the action looks like underwater. There will likely be plenty of tests showing that.

I’ve been able to see a lot of test tanks over the years. A buddy of mine and I loved using his swimming pool for testing a lot of stuff.
But what i think would be awesome to show is setting up 6 to 10 cranks at a time on a set legnth line in an endless pool type rig where you can control the flow rate. Then you can compare a lot of cranks at once going from 1/2 mph to 4 mph

Another comparison that is cool to see is looking at suspending baits. Some suspend perfectly horizontal, some nose down, some nose up, some sink very slow, and some rise very slow. They all have very different buoyancy factors and have very different action

Randy Wieland wrote:

But what i think would be awesome to show is setting up 6 to 10 cranks at a time on a set legnth line in an endless pool type rig where you can control the flow rate. Then you can compare a lot of cranks at once going from 1/2 mph to 4 mph

X2

You’ve got some input on cranks, but I’d love to see the action of spinner rigs, slow death rigs, lindy rigs, etc at different speeds.

ET

Unless you have fish in tanks smacking lures, does it really matter what they do in the water?

Is this us anglers taking the smallest of details and making it a factor when it’s not?

I care about the lures action when it catches fish. Not how it compares to a lure just like it swimming in a chlorinated pool.

Not being a Debbie Downer, giving info on why this guy would simply skip your page when looking at vids online.

nhamm wrote:

I care about the lures action when it catches fish. Not how it compares to a lure just like it swimming in a chlorinated pool.

It could matter if you are at the store and wondering if I should by lure x vs the knock off version of lure x that is $ less. Or your buddy is catching all the fish with lure x and you don’t have that lure. But knowing that you have a lure that swims the same could get you a bite.

One thing I’d enjoy seeing is a comparison of a name brand lure like Livingston compared to an off brand or small/independent brand. I’d like to see if the more expensive ones are really worth it or not.

It doesn’t always have to be about price though. Some of the small/independent brand lures are still expensive but I’d like to know how good they are before buying. If they are just as good I’d love to support the guys making them in the US. Something like Doomsday Tackle, Nichols Lures, Power Team Lures or any number of other companies.