New Storm Wiggle Warts?

[kjackson]

I was wondering if anyone has tried those new "old" Wiggle Warts...not the ones that were "improved" when Rapala bought the company and fixed the WW, but the latest version. They are made using the old Storm molds and processes and sport the original colors.

I've got a few to try, and the only real difference I notice between the originals I have and the latest version is the hooks--they are round-bend VMC trebles rather than the beaked hooks used back when. I have yet to throw mine, so I have no comparison between the originals, the MadFlash versions and the new/old WWs. Anyone given them a shot?

[Guest]

I was wondering if anyone has tried those new "old" Wiggle Warts...not the ones that were "improved" when Rapala bought the company and fixed the WW, but the latest version. They are made using the old Storm molds and processes and sport the original colors.

I've got a few to try, and the only real difference I notice between the originals I have and the latest version is the hooks--they are round-bend VMC trebles rather than the beaked hooks used back when. I have yet to throw mine, so I have no comparison between the originals, the MadFlash versions and the new/old WWs. Anyone given them a shot?

The mold is the same as the older ones.

They fixed that a couple of years ago.

They're basically the same baits.

The plastic used back in the 80's was different than todays plastic.

The older ones are slightly more dense, causing them to rise slower.

but there are ways to make up for that.

suspend dots, florocarbon line, thicker hooks, etc.

They will both catch fish, unless they run off to one side.

I throw them in the junk pile and keep buying them until I get plenty that run true.

Most of them have to be tuned, some of them cannot be tuned. Lemons

There was a box of 6 old pre-rapala wiggle warts on ebay.

It was the sought after brown craw.

the final auction price was $203!!! for 6 baits

so there must be something about the old ones, right?

[Mitch f]

I think I've come up with a way to modify the new wiggle warts. To be continued................

[Guest]

I think I've come up with a way to modify the new wiggle warts. To be continued................

Im going to modify one to be a silent runner,

drill a hole and add gorilla glue.

But, I betcha it throws off the balance of the lure.

Theyre pretty dang fickle as it is.

[405z06]

The Wiggle Wart is my favortie crankbait by far, but I have almost completely stopped using them on the rivers....I'm lucky to get 10 casts before having to break off. And in a canoe it can be especailly tough to retrieve a stuck bait.

As a side note, about 10+ years ago I was on LOZ and was tearing up with a funky looking Wart: Blue, chrome, and red lip. I had been going through all my Warts trying to find one that would run true and finally happened upon this ugly blue one that ran correct, even though I wasnt crazy about the way it looked. I was with my step father and he was throwing a wart, too, but couldn't compete with my color combo for whatever reason. In the years since I have never seen that color of Wart anywhere, not Bass Pro, Cabela's, Denny Dennis, Dunn's, nowhere. Well last week I was at Denny Dennis getting some line and just happend by the crankbait isle and was excited to find some more of these colors. I left a few behind for the rest of y'all, but it was a nice haul

I still have this original one, too. I have probably lost 50 (easy) Wiggle Warts since that time, but this guy never breaks off.

[405z06]

That pic is about 7 years old, but I just noticed that there is a split ring on that Wart, then the snap. DId they used to come this way? I know I didn't do that, and they don't come that way now.

[kjackson]

That color is known as "blue pirate" in steelhead circles, and it's a killer. There is also green pirate that is gold with a green back and red bill. It's also deadly. I have a bunch of the originals in steelhead colors but only six or so in crawdad colors. Maybe I should give some of the old steelhead WWs a try.

[Quillback]

Wow, $200 for 6 of the originals, that is insane. I know they're good, but are they that good? I think sometimes people biidng on Ebay get caught up in a "I gotta win" bidding frenzy and pay way too much sometimes. It's more about "winning" that getting something they want.

I remembered the other night that I had a WW in my old high school tacklebox, dug it out and it is one of the orginals. Kind of a green craw color with orange. Now that I see people paying close to $35 for one, I'm afraid to throw it in case I snag it in a brush pile where even the lure retriever can't get it out. I think I'll get it gold plated and hang it over my fireplace.

[Al Agnew]

I think it was the density of the plastic that really made the difference in the old ones, and I really don't think it was THAT big a difference. People get convinced that something they can't easily obtain is better, and start paying a lot more money for it than it's worth. I have old ones, newer ones, and new old ones, and they all catch fish.

[Guest]

I've heard several pros, including Aaron Martens & Ike say they're willing to pay $100 per bait. Pre-rapala wiggle warts in the reddish brown color. Sometimes you're bidding against these guys and don't know it. I know it's ridiculous but they're competing for 100k dollars.