Another new lure....

[edyer]

On March 17, 2016 at 0:03 PM, dtrs5kprs said:

Rapala makes a handful of very good baits. The original and countdown minnows, shad rap, and DT series all work.

The rest are farm pond and northern lake gimmick baits at best. Couple that with the dumpster fire they made out of Storm, not just the wart- also the old chug bug and jointed thunderstick, and disdain comes pouring in.

Northern Lake Gimmick bait? 

 

[Deadstream]

50 minutes ago, edyer said:

Northern Lake Gimmick bait?

Must be the miniature beer can with a treble hook.  Or the famous floating titty with weedless #2.

I have them both,we trade them back and forth when somebody is skunking up the boat.

[dtrs5kprs]

12 hours ago, edyer said:

Northern Lake Gimmick bait? 

 

Yep. Colors, designs, even names and marketing that target the northern market. Clackin', rippin', lots of "X's" on names, etc.

No lack of love for the north country. I learned to fish up there, when I lived in IA. Just that a lot of Rapala offerings are made for fishing aggressively around grass.

[big c]

^^^^^^this!!!

[Champ188]

I think you have to take the high-dollar baits on a case-to-case basis. Some are no better than cheaper alternatives while others will flat-out catch em. If I believe a $20 bait will give me a leg up in a tournament or will simply put numbers of fish in the boat on a fun trip, I'll buy it. Probably buy two of em.

Not suggesting anyone else should follow suit. That's just my take on things.

Thanks for sharing the video on these new lures, Hunter53. Look forward to seeing you and your far fairer half at the lake soon.

[bluebasser86]

On 3/17/2016 at 8:23 AM, mjk86 said:

I dont know if im reading this right?  are you saying you dont like rapala lures?  Often times there are better alternatives, but its hard to argue that they are some of, if not, the most effective fishing lures of all time.  Im a flicker shad guy, but shad raps have probably caught more fish than any other crank bait, other than maybe....the rapala floating minnow. 

Yes, exactly. They could shut their doors tomorrow and they'd take with them no baits that I'd sorely miss. The Shad Rap will always have a place in my box, but I could easily get by with cheaper imitations like the Flicker Shad. Between them screwing up or killing off so many great baits, to their ridiculous hype advertisements every time they come out with a new bait, just no longer a fan of a once great lure company.

[Hunter53]

17 hours ago, Champ188 said:

I think you have to take the high-dollar baits on a case-to-case basis. Some are no better than cheaper alternatives while others will flat-out catch em. If I believe a $20 bait will give me a leg up in a tournament or will simply put numbers of fish in the boat on a fun trip, I'll buy it. Probably buy two of em.

Not suggesting anyone else should follow suit. That's just my take on things.

Thanks for sharing the video on these new lures, Hunter53. Look forward to seeing you and your far fairer half at the lake soon.

We are looking forward to it as well Champ!

[kjackson]

On March 20, 2016 at 4:12 AM, bluebasser86 said:

Yes, exactly. They could shut their doors tomorrow and they'd take with them no baits that I'd sorely miss. The Shad Rap will always have a place in my box, but I could easily get by with cheaper imitations like the Flicker Shad. Between them screwing up or killing off so many great baits, to their ridiculous hype advertisements every time they come out with a new bait, just no longer a fan of a once great lure company.

I'm guessing that you've never fished the 1/4-ounce Hot Lips from Rapala's Luhr Jensen brand or the Speed Trap. The baby Hot Lips is an incredible crank bait that catches just about anything you'd care to land. It's a go-to for me for walleyes and bass when I need a lure to run 12 to 15 feet.  Back in the home country, it does a number on salmon, steelhead and trout as well as the usual suspects.  

[Champ188]

Speed Trap has been a low-key player on the pro tours for many, many years.

[mjk86]

On 3/20/2016 at 4:12 AM, bluebasser86 said:

Yes, exactly. They could shut their doors tomorrow and they'd take with them no baits that I'd sorely miss. The Shad Rap will always have a place in my box, but I could easily get by with cheaper imitations like the Flicker Shad. Between them screwing up or killing off so many great baits, to their ridiculous hype advertisements every time they come out with a new bait, just no longer a fan of a once great lure company.

Well...i have to agree with you on flicker shads.  Those things are incredible for 5 bucks.  I also dont have much point of reference as i dont think ive fished with nearly as many lures as most folks on here.  I stick to the stuff that works for me....its hard for a company to ruin a 1 oz white hunk of lead.  Ive def had good luck on rapala lures though.  One of my "go to" topwater baits is a rapala jointed floater.  size 11.  I melt/bend the lip nearly vertical and on a steady retrieve it gets bit when walking lures strike out for me, and on a quick snap the back end comes out of the water and smacks back down. 

This brings me to another problem though with rapala lures....i like to paint up lures at work.  Every lure ive painted can withstand a 180 F bake temperature for 30-45 minutes except rapalas (shad raps and tail dancers)...they melt over 120 F.  Dont leave them on your dash board in july all day long....