Rapala!

Ok, I know it won't break me, but I am having a HUGE issue with the
Rapala DT series of crankbaits, at least the DT10 anyway. I am getting
between 10 & 15 fish per crankbait before it is absolutely trashed. I
have had everything from broken lips (thought I pulled out on a fish the
other day, and when I reeled up my line I only had the lip of the
crankbait). I have bills just start sliding around, which can be fixed
with glue, I have come back without the bottom half of the crankbait. I
know it sounds like I abuse the heck out of them, but I don't slap weeds
off on the water, I actually pull them off. One thing I do is run a
deeper running bait in shallower water, like I will use a DT10 in 5' of
water so I can slam it along the bottom off the rocks. I don't know if
this is playing a role in it, but either way I have gone through about
10 DT10s now, and 3 dT6 cranksbait. I would just stop using them, but
they are very very effective! I went to the Rapala website, and there
is no contact information what so ever! I spend $6 per crankbait, I
think some kind of quality assurance would be in order! I guess I will
double check the packaging and see if there is something on there!

Anyone have any experience with this ?

Thanks

Chris

"Chris Rennert" wrote in message
. ..
Ok, I know it won't break me, but I am having a HUGE issue with the Rapala
DT series of crankbaits, at least the DT10 anyway. I am getting between
10 & 15 fish per crankbait before it is absolutely trashed. I have had
everything from broken lips (thought I pulled out on a fish the other day,
and when I reeled up my line I only had the lip of the crankbait). I have
bills just start sliding around, which can be fixed with glue, I have come
back without the bottom half of the crankbait. I know it sounds like I
abuse the heck out of them, but I don't slap weeds off on the water, I
actually pull them off. One thing I do is run a deeper running bait in
shallower water, like I will use a DT10 in 5' of water so I can slam it
along the bottom off the rocks. I don't know if this is playing a role in
it, but either way I have gone through about 10 DT10s now, and 3 dT6
cranksbait. I would just stop using them, but they are very very
effective! I went to the Rapala website, and there is no contact
information what so ever! I spend $6 per crankbait, I think some kind of
quality assurance would be in order! I guess I will double check the
packaging and see if there is something on there!

Anyone have any experience with this ?

Thanks

Chris

I ran across similar problems with the Excalibur version of the Shad-R.
Although mine all broke in the same place. The crank bait would break about
3/8" in front of the back hook. I think its just inherent in crank bait
ddesign that they use the cheapest method to make the most money. I fished
them into heavy grass, off cliff faces, and around deep (10-12') standing
trees.


--
Bob La Londe

Win a Spinnerbait Tackle Kit

Spinnerbait Tips & Tricks Contest
Through the Month of September 2005

http://www.YumaBassMan.com

I use the DT crankbaits alot and so far the only issue I have had is
loosing some to muskies. I have read on other sites where lots of
people were complaining about bills breaking off of them way to easy
but I haven't experienced it. I also don't fish rocks much so that may
be why I have been luckier up to now. I agree that they catch alot of
fish.

Rapala!

Group: rec.outdoors.fishing.bass Date: Tue, Sep 27, 2005, 8:56am From:
(Chris=A0Rennert)
Ok, I know it won't break me, but I am having a HUGE issue with the
Rapala DT series of crankbaits, at least the DT10 anyway. I am getting
between 10 & 15 fish per crankbait before it is absolutely trashed. I
have had everything from broken lips (thought I pulled out on a fish the
other day, and when I reeled up my line I only had the lip of the
crankbait). I have bills just start sliding around, which can be fixed
with glue, I have come back without the bottom half of the crankbait. I
know it sounds like I abuse the heck out of them, but I don't slap weeds
off on the water, I actually pull them off. One thing I do is run a
deeper running bait in shallower water, like I will use a DT10 in 5' of
water so I can slam it along the bottom off the rocks. I don't know if
this is playing a role in it, but either way I have gone through about
10 DT10s now, and 3 dT6 cranksbait. I would just stop using them, but
they are very very effective! I went to the Rapala website, and there is
no contact information what so ever! I spend $6 per crankbait, I think
some kind of quality assurance would be in order! I guess I will double
check the packaging and see if there is something on there!
Anyone have any experience with this ?
Thanks
Chris
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
Only about 20% of my fishing is with crankbaits...but when I do use
them, it's almost always a Rapala. Very few problems with them, in fact
I have some pretty old ones in my tackle box. But then again, I don't
really "wear" them out.

JK

Chris Rennert wrote:
I am getting between 10 & 15 fish per crankbait... ...I spend $6 per crankbait


Rapala's legendary quality ain't what it once was. X-Raps are infamous
for breaking just behind the lip. Suspending Shad Raps for the paint
peeling off the reflective finish, and DTs for lips breaking and hook
wires wobbling.


That having been said, at the figures you quoted, it still sounds like
$0.40 to $0.60 per fish. A bargain compared to what people pay for live
alewives around here. Heck, it's right in the ballpark with Senkos.

I was thinking the same thing. To beat up the rocks with a crankbait and
get 15 fish? Not too bad for the price of a bag of Senkos that might boat
you half that many fish around here. They get destroyed just casting into
open water!

Rich P



"RichZ" wrote in message
...
Chris Rennert wrote:
I am getting between 10 & 15 fish per crankbait... ...I spend $6 per
crankbait


Rapala's legendary quality ain't what it once was. X-Raps are infamous
for breaking just behind the lip. Suspending Shad Raps for the paint
peeling off the reflective finish, and DTs for lips breaking and hook
wires wobbling.


That having been said, at the figures you quoted, it still sounds like
$0.40 to $0.60 per fish. A bargain compared to what people pay for live
alewives around here. Heck, it's right in the ballpark with Senkos.

Chris, the only think I can offer is, to check your bait as often as you
check your line. I am forever coating my wood crankbaits with clear
fingernail polish to keep them sealed. As soon as I detect it I lay
them on the deck in a corner to dry and seal them when I get a chance.
If they can soak up any water, balsa baits will come apart.

I also do a seal job on the hook eyes with super glue when brand new.
It's the only way to get them to last.

Carlos

Carlos wrote:
Chris, the only think I can offer is, to check your bait as often as you
check your line. I am forever coating my wood crankbaits with clear
fingernail polish to keep them sealed. As soon as I detect it I lay
them on the deck in a corner to dry and seal them when I get a chance.
If they can soak up any water, balsa baits will come apart.

I also do a seal job on the hook eyes with super glue when brand new.
It's the only way to get them to last.

Carlos
Thanks for the input guys, I guess if I really sat down and thought
about it, as much as I throw them, and as harsh as zebra mussels and
rocks are on them, maybe I am getting optimal use. With that said,
Carlos, you are right on, I have to retie about every 10th cast. I have
lost 3 or 4 crankbaits to fish when I set the hook the line breaks from
me not retying. I guess it really hit me because I have lost 6 DT
crankbaits in the last week (including tonight).

Hopefully they go on sale soon :-)! Then again, restocking my box over
the winter will probably cost me over $100 for just crankbaits :-).

Also, John, I have some #13 black/silver rapalas that I bought when i
was 13 living in San Diego. Still have them, and use them today, only
thing I have had to change is the hooks. Twitching those things on top
just never gets old :-).

Chris

I don't own any DTs, but I understand that the thin bill is what allows it
to do its thing, i.e., stay at the depth longer. I've been told the package
has some sort of statement on it to that effect, but I haven't seen it
myself.

"Chris Rennert" wrote in message
. ..
Ok, I know it won't break me, but I am having a HUGE issue with the Rapala
DT series of crankbaits, at least the DT10 anyway. I am getting between
10 & 15 fish per crankbait before it is absolutely trashed. I have had
everything from broken lips (thought I pulled out on a fish the other day,
and when I reeled up my line I only had the lip of the crankbait). I have
bills just start sliding around, which can be fixed with glue, I have come
back without the bottom half of the crankbait. I know it sounds like I
abuse the heck out of them, but I don't slap weeds off on the water, I
actually pull them off. One thing I do is run a deeper running bait in
shallower water, like I will use a DT10 in 5' of water so I can slam it
along the bottom off the rocks. I don't know if this is playing a role in
it, but either way I have gone through about 10 DT10s now, and 3 dT6
cranksbait. I would just stop using them, but they are very very
effective! I went to the Rapala website, and there is no contact
information what so ever! I spend $6 per crankbait, I think some kind of
quality assurance would be in order! I guess I will double check the
packaging and see if there is something on there!

Anyone have any experience with this ?

Thanks

Chris