Xcalibur is done

[abkeenan]

This is somewhat old news. Been almost 6 months probably since Excalibur announced that they would cease to make baits anymore and their line was being transferred over to the Booyah line. Same deal on the pork baits. There was a RAMPAGE to get the lipless One Knockers in any size XRK 25, 50, 75 or 100. Especially a run to snatch up them in some of the colors like the Rayburn Red, Royal Shad and Foxy Shad. Guys were paying $20-40 bucks for a Rayburn Red XRK model. People are still paying about $20 each for them now. I always thought Xcalibur made pretty nice baits but I guess their marketing strategies and pricing just didn't work. They were more expensive than the Strike King, Bandit, etc and just slightly less than Lucky Craft. Guess anglers either went down to get the $5 baits or up to get the $15 baits and ignored Xcalibur in the $10 range.

[Guest]

41 minutes ago, Ham said:

If you are going to scrounge, now is the time. I like their square bills a bunch because I've caught fish on them and got most of them on markdown at Bass Pro Shops. I still have some new in package square bills if you want them. I'd make you a kinfolk deal. I have too much stuff.

Last time I looked, Land Big Fish still had pork and those hard baits.

I would like the kinfolk deal on your square bills, can trade you or pay cash. whichever you like.

[Guest]

3 minutes ago, abkeenan said:

This is somewhat old news. Been almost 6 months probably since Excalibur announced that they would cease to make baits anymore and their line was being transferred over to the Booyah line. Same deal on the pork baits. There was a RAMPAGE to get the lipless One Knockers in any size XRK 25, 50, 75 or 100. Especially a run to snatch up them in some of the colors like the Rayburn Red, Royal Shad and Foxy Shad. Guys were paying $20-40 bucks for a Rayburn Red XRK model. People are still paying about $20 each for them now. I always thought Xcalibur made pretty nice baits but I guess their marketing strategies and pricing just didn't work. They were more expensive than the Strike King, Bandit, etc and just slightly less than Lucky Craft. Guess anglers either went down to get the $5 baits or up to get the $15 baits and ignored Xcalibur in the $10 range.

You're exactly right, however the square bills didn't make the team. I guess they couldn't compete with KVD. 

[Ham]

Lots of pretty good square bills out there that are inexpensive.

[Guest]

6 minutes ago, Ham said:

Lots of pretty good square bills out there that are inexpensive.

I ordered a bunch of the predator bass bait blanks. the quality control on them was pretty bad. So, I might need to try the barlow's blanks or buy clearance rack square bills. 

[abkeenan]

I have both bandit and the SK KVD squarebills. For $5 you really can't beat them. The KVD's you can really bang the crap out of and they keep on ticking. I have some Spro little John's that are pretty nice as well and you can run them faster since they have a tighter wiggle. They are double the price though and not sure they are worth the price tag.

[Ham]

SK's, Bandits, Lucky Strike, Academy H2O all good options.

[mjk86]

Darn!  I have 10 xr50s and i repainted every single one!   Wish i would have left them, guess they woulda been worth some money!  Good thing i found out old warts were valuable before i ruined all those too lol.

[abkeenan]

23 minutes ago, Ham said:

SK's, Bandits, Lucky Strike, Academy H2O all good options.

Wish they had an Academy up here in Saint Louis. They not only have those nice house brand affordable H20 baits but also carry some brands like Lew's that outlets around here just don't. They also have nice online sales sometimes and I hear of people getting steals on nice gear on clearance. Meanwhile we are stuck with crappy overpriced Dick's and underwhelming Sports Authority that I have no clue how are still in business.

Went to Bass Pro yesterday just to fool around and they just don't have crap either as far as rods are concerned. They do a good job with tackle and reels for the most part but if you want to check out rods that aren't the BPS lines then you are probably screwed. Only Shimano rods they had on the shelf was the Crucial's. No Compre's, Clarus' or Zodiak's. Had only the older model of Mojo rods in the St.Croix lineup. No Legends, Triumps, Avids, Premiers, nada. Had ONE Lew's rod that was their older model as well. Besides there house brands only rods they had in the store that had most of the models available was Ducket Micro Magic (and Pro) and their Ghost model. Also had Abu Garcia Vertias and "Ike's" Signature line in abundance. That was really about it. Not ONE single Falcon rod...no Cara, BuCoo, Lowrider.....ZIPPO. This location has never been that great as far as having a nice stock of the newest rods but man it's worse than ever right now. I know Falcon came out with a full line of BuCoo rods that match their Cara series as far as tapers and models. Not sure WHY I would have thought BPS might have them in to fondle. Wishful thinking. I know some are not big on the Falcon BuCoo's but I happen to really like them. Sorry for the rant.

[abkeenan]

8 minutes ago, mjk86 said:

Darn!  I have 10 xr50s and i repainted every single one!   Wish i would have left them, guess they woulda been worth some money!  Good thing i found out old warts were valuable before i ruined all those too lol.

The XRK (one knocker) models are the ones people want. Just FYI.