My Marshal Weekend With The Elites

[MOsmallies]

I wonder if these pros are as crazy about pre-Rapala Warts like a bunch of us... Or were they throwing the new Wart?

[Fishin Hodge]

Vintage for the most part from what I heard. I'm not as sold as most, I can go buy one at Wal-Mart and for me it out performs most of the old ones I have. I'm not a crankbait expert by any stretch of the imagination, but that has been that way consistently for me.

I think there is a definate mental aspect to both sides of this street. They are pretty darn similar.

[Quillback]

Edwin keeps himself in good shape, it certainly helps to be healthy if you're going to throw a crank for 4 days standing up the whole time.

[Sore Thumbs]

Yes. They love the Vintage Wiggle Warts. Both guys used them. Even an old Wee-R in craw pattern. Roy told me that the last time he was at Bull Shoals that someone stole about 100 old wiggle warts out of his boat. Yikes.

[Bill Babler]

I heard both the word vintage mentioned and Original. I have 8 original V38's that I seldom use. I used them this last couple of weeks. I had a very good client offer me $50.00 for one or he would give me $200 for 3 if I want to sell them.

He knows wiggle warts, I said I thought you could buy these on ebay for under 20 bucks each, and he said he wanted the ones I had for some reason after grubbing thru my wart box.

I took a guy last week, that for a while had a old vintage wart of undisclosed color that was working magic. I believe the V38 caught it however. Best wart I have ever used.

[Bill Babler]

I wonder if these pros are as crazy about pre-Rapala Warts like a bunch of us... Or were they throwing the new Wart?

I think they pretty much had the old stuff. Either Pre-Repala or Vintage or Original.

[dtrs5kprs]

I think they pretty much had the old stuff. Either Pre-Repala or Vintage or Original.

There were a couple of pics, from marshalls mostly, that showed some new Rapala warts. But they were younger pros. Was talking with a friend in AZ yesterday about this, and we discussed how some of these pros were in grade school when the wart change happened-1999 or so. Unless dad or grandpa had a box full, virtually all of their pre-rap warts would have to be from the secondary market. Kind of stunning when you think about it.

One of the top 12 megabass guys, either Martens or EE, mentioned using a megabass proto meant to be fished like a wart. Wonder how long Rapala will watch $$$ go to megabass, koppers, others before they do something? Should get more interesting.

[Bill Babler]

Ya Dave that was AMart. I will bet you a nickel to a Ned Rig that new bait will be in the $20 plus range minimum.

Right now, go to Tacklewarehouse and look at how many wobble heads of any brand they have available in sizes under 1/2 Oz. Answer to that is ZERO. If these guys get on a bait I don't care where it is, they just fly off the shelves. I also think that Strike King Rage Menace is completely sold out also.

[dtrs5kprs]

Ya Dave that was AMart. I will bet you a nickel to a Ned Rig that new bait will be in the $20 plus range minimum.

Right now, go to Tacklewarehouse and look at how many wobble heads of any brand they have available in sizes under 1/2 Oz. Answer to that is ZERO. If these guys get on a bait I don't care where it is, they just fly off the shelves. I also think that Strike King Rage Menace is completely sold out also.

I've only poured the 5/16 and 7/16 out of my mold. Might look at the smaller cavities before I leave. Think I can find a few minutes for that.

My initial thought was they were a little redundant, but was just thinking of dragging it. Have used the 5/16-3/8 type size for shallower gravel, and the bigger ones for deeper work and bigger baits. Still a little mixed on it. Hard for me to throw anything that big and like it .

That grub was heading towards being out Saturday. Would guess an awful lot of them are going to SWMO and NWAR.

Trophy mentioned using it with swimbaits, I had noticed that TW was listing those heads in the swimbait section as well as with the terminal stuff. Interesting...

[Bill Babler]

If anyone needs any please check with Chompers Table Rock Bait Co. I spoke to Ed Larson this morning and they have the 5/16, and I believe they have them with both 3/0 and 4/0. 1/4--5/16--3/8th. are the best size for swimming shallow under 10 ft.