seems the p-10's work better in this colder water right now 36-37 degrees...when the water warms up a bit the dhj will go...I caught fish last weds on dhj in mich waters but the better bite was on p-10's... the water temp was 37.6...so they will work.

 

If your going to spend the money for DHJ's, spend it on Bandits. Just my opinion but the Bandits have been the better producer year around.

 

I'm a new dad so I'm on a budget and trying to cut some corners lol. Sounds like I'll keep my dhj's and slowly gain more bandits and p-10's. The regular colors are inexpensive but the top producing, custom colors are around $13 a piece. Just got to keep it hush hush so the Mrs don't kill me lol

 

Congrats on being a "NEW" dad!!You better buy your stuff now because the "budgeting" willll come sooner than you think!! Ex; Braces,tuitions,cars,weddings etc...Best to say I found was "it's cheaper to buy now than later when the baby grows up and will be joining me on my trips." LOL

 

just buy couple at a time at the bait shops when you go fishing so there's no big bill for wife to see... after a while you'll have a good selection

 

You don't need custom crankbaits to catch fish consistently. Customs are what you are hearing about the most because that is what guys are buying. I remember back when Reef Runner came out with the original Bare Naked 800 deep diver. Dave Mull (and I believe Stedke?) from Great Lakes Angler wrote a story about catching walleyes in the Central(?) basin on the new pattern. You couldn't find one on the shelves anywhere in northern Ohio for the remainder of the year.

Now...the original Bare Naked's are 5 deep on the rack everywhere you look. Newsflash: They still catch fish. They never stopped catching fish, and they never will stop catching fish.

Spend your money wisely....if you can get two stock color baits for the price of one custom, why not go that route? Congrats on the family too....our twins are 13 and their little brother is 5. Going by waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too fast.

 

Hey Fishaholic...I'm in the same boat...setting up a new boat racks up the bills quick. Don't know where you live but check out Fisherman's Central on Manchester Rd in Akron near Portage Lakes. I was in there on Sunday...huge walleye selection. Tons of colors, stock, custom, UV, you name it. I walked out of there with 7 baits (mix of Reefs, Bandits and DHJs) and with tax was $55.

 

I'm a lure hoarder by nature and love to have some of everything that might catch a fish. Each one of the lures called out previously (DHJ, Reefs, P-10's, T-20's, Bandits, Bayrats, Deep Bombers, Renosky's) have subtle differences in vibration, action, flash, body profile, diving depth, etc. and depending on the conditions, those subtle differences may be the reason for getting bit.

Unless I'm on a program that worked for me the day before, I'll run a mixture of baits and let the fish tell me what they want. I definitely have a group of baits that are my "confidence baits" that I consistently catch fish on and are always part of my initial set when I'm trying to define a program. I have a group of DHJ's and Reefs that I usually start with. I may tweak that set a little based on water temp and color, but I usually start out with that same group and make adjustments based on what the fish are telling me or if I hear from a trusted source that something else is connecting.

 

I trolled Erie for the first time two weekends ago, using 4 rods. I ran three P-10's and a pink DHJ. The P-10's caught the majority of the fish, but the two biggest fish came on the DHJ (20/20).

 

you can get a great price on all baits at OHIO SPORT FISHING on line

 

I've still got Long A bombers from the early 80's that catch fish. Probably should use some of those hot n tots I have too. But to answer the original question, I run DHJ's all summer long and they still catch plenty of fish.

 

They been catching fish all winter. Some days they have out perduced p-10 even. Last week I fished all huskeys.

 

I have been using DHJ 12 and have had no problems catching fish. Need to get them down to the fish using weights when needed.

 

I believe in stock colors but own some customs as well. If starting off I would go the route of getting two stock colors for almost the equal price of a single custom. Nothing is worse than having a hot color and having only one. So buy two each of the stock colors and when one is hot you have the other to break out. I would vary the belly color as much as you can as I think that is the most important color on the bait. Then work on the other colors. That's my opinion but if an orange belly for example is working and we do not have another of the same color, break out another orange belly as that can work alot of the times. I do find two customs that are hot for us but send some old colors that are not made anymore to the custom makers to have them duplicated so we can still have them at the ready.

 

Fishaholic I assume that you don't fish alone. Maybe you should have your friends that fish with you help out with a few baits. I know that if I didn't have a boat, I would be more then happy to buy a few baits to leave on the boat that I was fishing on.

 

every year my buddy would give me 50.00 and say buy whatever lures we need

 

Today, that would get you 4 custom cranks. I hope it was just you and him fishing.

 

Thanks for all the replies! I've got a handful of DHJ's now, just noticed on Erie Outfitter's and Ohio Sport Fishing's websites that the custom DHJs are a little cheaper than the rest. I'll probably just buy doubles of stock colors for bandits and p-10's/t-20's for now and move from there. I don't like tuning and making sure reefs run true so I never messed with them much. Hoping to get out for my first trip of 2017 in a couple weeks. I have a trip planned to stay at Magee East 4/22-4/23 for a jig bite trip. I CAN NOT WAIT!

 

Hookedup33, I often do just if I have a hot lure going. It's always well received. Good advise.

 

And I have been a happy recipient on more than one occasion. Problem is when he is not on the boat they dont work as well. Must take his mo-jo with him [emoji12]

 

Not sure if it's allowed, but Brad Jordan at one more cast fishing charters paints custom bandits, dhj's and other baits. Very reasonable on price and great colors.

 

Dern I've forgotten how I marked that one up James. Care to remind me ? Or was is just black squiggles on the sides?

 

Dern I've forgotten how I marked that one up James. Care to remind me ?

It's severely faded now but I will pull it out and take some pictures tomorrow.

 

4 > 0. 4 isn't much but most just say thanks.

 

Yes, in pink lemonade and 2 oz weight has been good in Huron !

 

Good luck.
Since you already have some DHJ, I would grab about dozen P10 to start. The DHJ you have are more similar to the bandits. Like Erierider said, buy in pairs. I would get 3 pairs of wild bright colors(marvin, pinks lemonade, perchase, or C-town) and three pairs of more natural colors or darker colors(shiner, AYU, etc) for clear water or after dark. Just my two cents.