Rapala DT Series

[Scum Frog]

Anybody have any feedback on the Rapala DT series cranks?

[M.T. Livewell]

RRC, I see no replies yet. I have nothing to offer but am anxious to hear other people's feedback as well.

Anyone have an opinion if they live up to the hype. And how would they compare to say a Mann's 20 or similar?

M.T. Livewell

[Snag]

I've cast my DT 16 in waters such as the Ottawa and the St. Lawrence. Haven't had much luck with it yet.

This is the colour I've used:


I'm sure a perch colour would produce better.

There's lots of hype about the new DT-4 series but I would rather pick a 1 minus.

[SkeeterJohn]

All diving crankbaits have a dive curve and suspending models will stay at a specific depth when you stop reeling (in theory).. the DT baits are touted as lures that will get down to a set depth "and stay there".. and they may infact dirve down more quickly than some other baits.

What makes them different to all other lures... a good dose of marketing, a little hype, some pros showing that you can catch fish on them and a slightly higher price tag than the next suspending diving crank bait.

I don't want to knock rapala baits because they are good baits but take a look at the box they come in and ask yourself how much that packaging has just cost you and that you're just about to chuck it out.

[grumpy7790]

I'm not much of a cranking guy, but the one take away from three different pro's at the BM University is you better be willing to lose it. That is, a crank bait is only effective when ripping through or off the tops of weeds, bouncing off laydowns, or scrapping all along the bottom. If it ain't ripping, bumping, digging, or tearing it will have minimal success. The other tip was use three simple colors in all hard baits: Chart, white, or shad. Maybe a fourth in craw.

G

[Seaweed]

I own a few... I bought them because they were very well designed and realistic looking.

I have not thrown them enough to comment on effectiveness. I like the fact that they have them dialed in to run at certain depths. Should the right conditions present themselves I know I have a lure that will run at that depth. I own a few of them and I bought up a few of the Glass Shads too and this year I own two X-Raps.

But they compete with a lot of tried and true baits in the tackle box.... so they have to earn their keep if they want to stay on the end of the line.

Rapala is King of the tackle makers. One of the true pioneers of the business and we all know that we have caught fish using their products so I buy almost sight unseen and I need to remind myself to keep one tied on a rod this year to see how the new line of baits are doing.

[Scum Frog]

Thanks for the feedback fellows!

When I see these baits I think smallmouth for some reason. Get these digging into the bottom .

Grummpy I agree with your colour selections ...I'll add Firetiger in with the Chart. I also like Perch colours. So make that 5 or 6.

[Snidley]

A couple of things. I'm a hardcore crankbait fisherman and I would say that the best crankbaits in my arsenal are Bagleys Baits. They are balsa baits and generally have a much more eratic action than a Rapala or virtually any plastic crank. Go for the Small Fry Series (Bass, Crappie, Sunfish, Walleye, Perch, or Shad patterns depending in the forage in your lake), the B Flat Series( firetiger, Shad, White, Tennesee Shad), the Bass'in Shad series ( Shad, Silver Shad, Tennesee shad), and their stickbait called a Bang-A-Lure. The Small Fry Series are great for Bass/Pike the others for Bass/Pike Walleye/Steelhead. The Bagleys lures are particularly great for Steelhead fishermen in fact they probably work better than Quickfish but not quite as good as Hot Shots.
The other thing I have observed especially with Bagleys baits, is that you do not have to be ripping weeds or banging structure to catch fish. You don't have to be jerking the baits or imparting action to the lures because basically these lures have lots of built in action and they look very realistic. The thing I think you do have to do to max out your catch numbers is apply scent. Bass fishing in pressured waters especially requires the added feature of scent like Yum, Anise Oil, Berkley Power Scent, Mikes Glow scent, Bang and I'm told Mega Strike is good although i have never used it. I think the scent actually is a tipping point type thing that urges fish out of negative or neutral mood into a biting mood. Bottom line I don't ever throw a lure for Bass/Pike/Salmon/Steelhead without gooing up or spritzing down my baits. When i throw soft plastic baits I either throw baits already impregnated with scent or I soak the plastic at least overnight. If you don't max out your scent usage i would strongly suggest you give it a try I guarentee you will be happy you did. Snidley