The Bandit 100 series crankbaits were among the best produced cranks out there. That is until they began making them in China. I no longer buy them but I still have a good supply of the old ones. As far as the coffee tubes, I think they're a gimmick. However, there's a rumor going around that bass have been spotted at some of the area Starbucks.
I can't comment on the tubes b/c I don't fish them, but like Pointer, I hoard my original Bandits and refuse to buy any made within the past 3-4 years. The best mass produced crank is still Norman. If you want a Norman that will compare to the 100 Series, get a Thin N for clearer water and a Mad N for dirtier water.
at the breakfast (put on by the bassfishinghomepage guys) last jan in nashville, we sat with a couple of guys who said they had caught several good fish on the coffee tubes and i won a pack as a door prize i have thrown them some (not a lot) but haven't got a bite on them , it might have been the wrong time of year or wrong water temp but after throwing it a while i decided to put it back in the pack i decided to smell it to see if it was still as strong an aroma, but guess what NO COFFEE odor at all. I think you might catch a few on them but just because of the color and looking like a crawfish not for the smell.
I've got a few packs of coffee tubes & have caught fish on them, but no more than on Yum tubes I've used for awhile. Heck, I usually dip the tails in spike-it so it all ends up smelling like garlic. I think its just something a little different to try to get people to try them [yes, a gimmick!!]
In hunting some animals are attracted by curiosity scents. At best these scents provoke the curiosity of the fish. People have the tendecy to pick things up if they have interest provoked by it, people would be subject to being hooked in the hand. But fish need to put the object of interest in their mouth to explore it better. Then you set the hook. Just becaused you hooked him doesnt mean he was hungry.
I perdict the next big bait scent will be steak, seared on the grill.
