Retrieve:
The Bandit Series 100 gets down between 2-5ft. while the Series 200 dives down
between 4-8 feet and the longer lipped Series 300 is capable of diving between
8-12 feet. We were able to achieve the rated depth specs with these lures though
the maximum 12 feet diving depth with the Series 300 did require use of lighter
line. When at rest the Bandit lures all float up slowly, like Speed Traps these
lures can be fished with a stop and go retrieve. Because they float up you can
fish them right over grass or submerged wood and pause them in key ambush areas
allowing the lure to hold for a second or two longer in strike zones in an
effort to force feed them to fish.
Some of the patterns are very
detailed...
All of the baits exhibited
a slightly wider wobble than I expected from such a compact lure. Though small
in overall size these baits are able to displace a good amount of water and the
addition of the rattle is enough to entice big bass to come out and ambush this
lure. Of all the sizes I liked the Series 300 the best as I found I could work
it in the middle to deep water column.
...look closer and we can see the
finish is printed/painted in multiple layers
Out at Clear Lake I caught
many bass with a variety of patterns and I was surprised by the quality of the
fish the Bandit was able to crank up. These lures may be small in size and while
they do catch many single pounders they also drew strikes from four and five
pound bass. The key to drawing strikes from these larger fish was matching the
hatch. When I found the bait, for example silversides or bluegill, I chose the
pattern that best matched the hatch and ran it right through the schooling bait.
At times the lure would scare the bait into breaking the surface as it was
pulled through and right behind it would be a largemouth giving chase.
The red crawfish proved very good
in stained water on the California Delta
Durability:
When fishing Bandit crankbaits one of the most effective ways to fish this lure
is to deflect it off structure. Throughout our tests the Bandit multi-coated
paint finishes held up very well. There was some perceptible scratching on the
sides of the baits but the paint didn’t chip or flake off any of the patterns.
Even after the bill and sides of the lure were scratched they remained fully
effective. The Bandit cranks make use of somewhat thin hooks and while they were
good for most fish up to three pounds larger fish were able to bend the hooks,
we also notices some damage to the hookpoints after snagging with structure. If
you are concerned about the hooks not holding up to larger fish we recommend
switching them out before they ever get wet.
Though very good for boating a
quick limit these cranks are for more than just cookie cutter keepers
Price & Applications:
We have already established that these baits are fish catching machines but when
you factor in price the whole Bandit value proposition gets even better. The
Series 100, 200 and 300 crankbaits all can be bought online for $4.79 each which
is just 50 cents more than the aggressively priced Norman N series Crankbaits.
The Brown Craw pattern was great
in the clean water of Clear Lake
All of the Bandit lures
ran true right out of their packages, this consistency is rather rare in a crank
at this price point. After fishing the baits for extended periods a little
tuning helped keep them running true but for the most part these lures are
pretty maintenance free.
Big fish eat the Bandit Cranks,
the key is matching the hatch, which is easy with so many patterns to choose
from in the Bandit arsenal
Matching the hatch with
the Bandit crankbaits is pretty easy with so many colors/patterns to choose
from. The variety of finishes Bandit offers is impressive and some of the
patterns are easily recognizable popular patterns while others look like they
are hand painted custom colors….yet each and every one of them retails for the
same sub five dollar price.
Ratings: (We've re-calibrated our ratings standard for 2008 and have included a key at the bottom of the following matrix as a guide)
Bandit
Series 300 Crankbait
Ratings
(?/10) |
Construction/Quality |
A
quality constructed crankbait that is surprisingly detailed for a lure at
this price point |
8 |
Performance |
Very consistent performance, each lure swims true right out of the package,
no special tuning is required. The hooks are decent but upgraded hooks can
be swapped out to better handle the larger fish which this bait is capable
of targeting |
8.5 |
Price |
A
great value that rivals some of the most aggressively priced cranks on the
market |
9 |
Features |
A
straightforward design the Bandit cranks biggest feature is the variety of
finishes they are available in. There are a ton of patterns to choose from
and three different versions allow anglers to fish these baits in a wide
range of depths |
7 |
Design
(Ergonomics) |
Though somewhat of a no frills bait some of the patterns offered in the line
look very custom. These lures are easy to fish with lighter crankbait rods |
7.5 |
Application |
These lures are very durable and can be deflected off both soft and hard
cover. Great for both smallmouth and largemouth bass in clear and stained
water |
8 |
Total Score |
8.00 |
Ratings Key: 1 = terrible : 2 = poor : 3 = lacking : 4 = sub par : 5 = mediocre : 6 = fair : 7 = good : 8 = great : 9 = excellent : 10 = unbelievable!
For More
Details
of the
updated
rating
system
visit
our
explanation
here |
Pluses and Minuses:
Plus
Minus |
J
Three different diving styles |
L
Hooks could be upgraded to handle bigger
fish |
J
Plenty of patterns to choose from |
|
J
Durability is fantastic |
|
J
Excellent price/value |
|
Conclusion:
There is no shortage of crankbaits for anglers to choose from, so what makes
Bandit crankbaits so popular? Start with a clean and simple profile, paint it up
with a wide variety of patterns and make it available in three of the most used
diving depths and sell them for less than five dollars... that is exactly what
the Bandit cranks offer. It took me a long time to try these baits as they are
very similar in many respects to Norman Lures but now that I have tried them I
definitely will be fishing them more in the future. These baits are consistent
performers and are great for boating your limit, but don’t count them out when
targeting big fish either. Whatever lake or river you are fishing chances are
that Bandit has a pattern that will enable you to effectively match the hatch.
Looking for Bandit Crankbaits? Try
Tackle Warehouse