I like using Norman Lures suspended crankbaits when cranking deeper than 10ft.  For shallow crankbaits, I like using Lucky Crafts RC 1.5.  I just bought the bigger RC 2.5 and look forward to using it later this year.  One thing I always do is replace the front hooks with red gamakatsu hooks.  Crankbait selection could be intimidating, but stick with the basics when it comes to color selection.  Since we have a lot of bluegill and perch in our area, I like using firetiger.  Deeper crankbaits in craw patterns work great too. 

The jerkbaits that I use are the Rapala Xrap in both perch and trout colors. 

Use these during the prespawn and spawn and you'll have full confidence in hard baits.

Stu,

I'll put a second vote in for Bandit crankbaits. I know Kirk would throw in a third vote, too.

For shallow runners, I really love Luhr-Jensen Speed Traps.

I think Luckycrafts are worth the price for jerkbaits, but I haven't tried any of their other models, just the staysee and pointers.

Chris

I use a lot of Rapala's and Bomber's crankbaits and have had good success.  For rattlin baits, I use the red eye shad.  I've had good luck with the same color patterns as basspro in crankbaits but I've also found on heavily pressured water, when using a rattle bait,  a chrome w/ blue back and chrome w/ black back sometimes gets me more bites that the color of the forage fish.  Can't explain why, other than it is different, but it seems to work for me.

Thanks for your advice guys.  I'll print this out and take it with me when I make my first major shopping run.

The rest of you guys, please feel free to add your comments, as well.

Stu

I fish a lot of hard jerk baits for post spawn and summer pattern smallies.  Two years ago I used a fair amount of Lucky Craft baits and good success.  Late in that year I got some Ima flits.  Since then I have not used my Lucky Crafts as much.. if at all.  Love the Imas and have bagged smallies over 5 and largies over 6 using them.  I do not fish many cranks, but do on occasion throw Jackall's MR jointed crank.  I like it because it is something different and pretty obnoxious.  Ima Roumbas made me a believer too in the last year.  You don't have to retrieve the line much to illicit good movement.  The Imas come already made with very good hardware and VERY needly share hooks.  I have not been disappointed with any of Ima's products so far.

Stu, you know me.  I'd rather use a crankbait more than any other bait!  I'm working on some articles for a website that I'm kicking around making - if you want I could send some to you to read. 

As to the brand names - I'm big on Rapala Shad Raps, (caught hundreds of smallies), X-Raps, and Fat Free Shads (deep divers) - but if they aren;t available I'll use most any brand and fish it with confidence.

The truth is this: It costs a fortune to create a mold to produce a plastic crankbait or tool up to make a wood one - and no one now a days is going to spend all that money in such a competitive market if it wasn't first tested and it caught fish.  What I'm trying to say is, almost, (I repeat - almost) all cranks will catch fish - and I recommend you spend more time learning techniques etc.. rather than wondering if you have the right crankbait brands.  Most brands survive today because they catch fish when used properly.  In other words, if you can't catch fish on a 4-6 dollar crank, the 15-30 dollar crank isn't going to bail you out.  I believe that if you have confidence in crankbaits, and are well versed as to "where" and "when" and "how" to throw them, you can use use baits from any of your fishing buddy's tackle boxes and catch fish, even if they aren't your preferred brand.

A lot of good name brands have been mentioned above, and what makes them work is the CONFIDENCE the anglers have in them.  Pick a crankbait from any well established brand manufacturer, and fish it until you know everything it can and can't do.  Then you will have the confidence too.  Remember, stick to just a few basic colors - (natural colors) - and focus on having enough to cover all depth ranges.  Cranks generally move faster than most other techniques and the fish don't have a lot of time to judge the artistic qualities of the finish - if it looks like natural prey, and acts like natural prey - the fish is going to have to make a quick decision to strike or not.  And when it does - it's a blast.

Stu,

Another good Brand/make is the Jackall Aragon in Spring Craw medium diver. Stuck 3 4+ smallies on this last weekend at Potholes. Its a jointed 2 piece crankbait that catches me a lot of fish.

Russ