The author shows off a smallie that struck a Rebel Pop-R
My name is Bob and I'm addicted to fishing lures. I was "hooked" on fishing lures at the age of 7 and I remember exactly when it happened. I don't recall the store's name, but it was the Toledo, Ohio equivalent of Fleet Farm. I was on a fishing gear road trip with my uncles, Bruce & Mike. In addition to their lure hauls, they each bought me my very own Rapala (a gold & black original floater along with an orange & gold Shad Rap). I've been a fishing lure addict ever since. I love everything about fishing lures; their creative names, innovative designs, realistic looks and vibrant colors. Lures are collectibles, artistic, and usually prove effective in catching fish. Until recently, fishing lures have also been pretty affordable. Over the last year, I've noticed a disturbing trend - fishing lures leaping toward the $20 mark. While I've reluctantly accepted spending more than twenty bucks for a jumbo musky lure in the past, I've always justified their expense with the size of the product and the logical cost of additional materials. However, over the last year I've seen a variety of "more realistic" crank baits featuring hefty price tags. Check out a couple of these examples: · Laser Lures Medium Diver Crankbait - $19.99 at Bass Pro Shops: "features a water-activated, computer-controlled laser beam that drives fish wild, turning neutral fish into intensely focused hunting machines." · Rapala Max Rap - $17.99 at Cabela's: "everything about the MaxRap shouts premium, right down to its laser-engraved scales." · Koppers Live Target Pumpkinseed - $11.49 at Bass Pro Shops: "is so lifelike and realistic looking that real live pumpkinseed sunfish may actually try to school or spawn with it." Seriously? Lures with laser beams and laser-engraved scales so real that living fish will actually want to mate? Come one! Anglers have a line and I declare that it has been crossed. I don't know about you all, but if I lose a $17.99 lure on a snagged log or in a northern's toothy mouth, I'm getting wet after it. In other words, I ain't ever putting that $19.99 laser beam lure on the end of my line. As for lures I will be putting on the end of my line, here are a couple crankers I've found successful this season. · Rapala Flat Rap - $8.99 at Cabela's: It may not have laser-engraved scales, but it does have a unique design and offers a ton of underwater flash. So far this year, bass and pike have come out of the weeds to attack this shallow runner. · Rebel's Pop-R - $4.99 at Bass Pro Shops: A topwater classic for bass and aggressive northern pike. · Arbogast's Jitterbug - $5.69 at Bass Pro Shops: My all-time favorite lure will be on the end of my line for Saturday's Minnesota musky opener. Are you a lure junky too? Have you ever spent more than $20? Did that lure produce fish?
