Crank Baits made in America is back

Im all for the Made in America label – and really like some of the older baits and actions that weve lost over the years. Surprised Storm didnt bring back the original if its that easy to do profitably. I do however have an issue with Lucky Strike doing knock offs of the MB Visions and calling them a Rick Clunn Jerkbait. They werent American classics, nor are they a new design. Theyre a direct rip off from a successful company with a great product that we like to buy. The Vision 110s are well designed and phenomenally painted Japanese baits. Pricey – you betcha – but work like a dream. Those outbarb hooks are awesome. Lucky Strike is copying them and putting an inferior paint job on them for approx. $8. Line up a Vision 110 Pro Blue with the LS knockoff Pro Blue – hands down, detail and finish goes to the Vision. If Lucky Strike wants to bring back the classics and made in America – Im all for it. Doing this at the same time theyre doing low cost copy cats of the higher end products in the marketplace is disingenuous and manipulative. No different than a “cheap chinese” ripoff – difference is geography.Want to make Made in America mean something. Come up with an original design – a better mousetrap if you will – make it here with American craftsmanship and superior finish and beat the imports at their own game. Come up with the next Vision 110, Lucky Craft 1.5, Pointer, or a Yamamoto Senko – and outperform the imports. Then Made in America will be an object of pride. Until then its just a marketing ploy. JMHO

I agree with Jstew. Rick got mad at Lucky Craft and now we have 1.5s from Luck E Strike..$30 for a vision 110- now we have Luck E strike jerkbaits….Actually kinda sad to assign the phrase American made to a copy…Used to be that China copied US things didnt it?But alas I do own two of the jerkbaits… C.O.D. Jr. III

If there is a USA company using USA employers to make USA product and they are not infringing on patents Ill consider them as long as there is a cost savings and equal quality. Ive never owned Luck E Strike but Ill consider them. My main jerkbaits are Pointers 78 and 100s so LS doesnt interest me. You can play this copy game all day long all the way down to shakey head jigs and football jigs, arkie jigs if want as well. Structure scan to Side Imaging? Lucky Craft to Luck E STrike? SS props? It comes down to your dime and time and purchase what you want. Im not here to judge purchasing publics morality in a free market that is capitalistic and part of our DNA.

Well, in light of the success of the Alabama Rig its been proven we can chunk wood with coat hangers attached tied to a rope. I for one am going to go with Luck E Strike and see what happens. I am really anxious to see there new deep cranks the article mentioned. I also applaud Rick Clunn for making his bait more affordable. Im sure that hit him in his own pocket.

I guess the debate centers on the merits of patriotism vs plagarism. Interesting debate!C.O.D. Jr. III