I Think We're About To See A Surge On Livingston Lures... 2024
TrapperJ reply :
Randy said he used a new livingston lure today that was I think about a medium range crankbait. That him and some others help designed. If that's true when we see the video next week u can bank on livingston making some sales off that.
BigBassBarry reply :
Buy some stock in them!
CJV reply :
On 2/24/2014 at 10:34 AM, TrapperJ said:Randy said he used a new livingston lure today the was a I think about a medium range crankbait. That him and some others help designed. If that's true when we see the video next week u can bank on livingston making some sales off that.
Yeah Livingston will get some attention for sure however he did not "win" off a Livingston lure he "won" off a $6 Rapala DT6 in the "demon" color.
The Rooster reply :
It's silly that people would run out and buy them based on that only.
CJV reply :
On 2/24/2014 at 10:39 AM, The Rooster said:It's silly that people would run out and buy them based on that only.
Yeah it is silly but people will feed into it and buy the crap out of them.
gripnrip reply :
On 2/24/2014 at 10:34 AM, TrapperJ said:Randy said he used a new livingston lure today the was a I think about a medium range crankbait. That him and some others help designed. If that's true when we see the video next week u can bank on livingston making some sales off that.
Interesting. I don't know if anyone else caught the live take out footage on bassmaster.com What I caught, even with the cruddy feed, he used a Rapala DT6 in a red crawfish pattern to catch most of his fish today. Now all he had to do was catch some fish on the lure you speak of above but to me that sounds like a smoke screen. Main reason is he also stated that he wasn't sponsored by Rapala. 
gripnrip reply :
On 2/24/2014 at 10:39 AM, CJV said:Yeah Livingston will get some attention for sure however he did not "win" off a Livingston lure he "won" off a $6 Rapala DT6 in the "demon" color.
I was typing this as you posted. Did you catch the live take out footage or do you have other sources? 
Tartan34 reply :
I caught the exact same thing.
On 2/24/2014 at 10:40 AM, gripnrip said:Interesting. I don't know if anyone else caught the live take out footage on bassmaster.com What I caught, even with the cruddy feed, he used a Rapala DT6 in a red crawfish pattern to catch most of his fish today. Now all he had to do was catch some fish on the lure you speak of above but to me that sounds like a smoke screen. Main reason is he also stated that he wasn't sponsored by Rapala.
TrapperJ reply :
Happens every year with a lure of the classic being a big deal people went sq bill crazy when kvd won it that year.
That's what I was wanting to see next week cause I know he's wearing a Livingston jersey. And I'm sure had to give them props but to me it sounded like livingston made the day on Sunday... Let's go to the video! Ha
gripnrip reply :
Oh of course he did at the weigh in. What I'm saying is when Davy interviewed him, just as he came off the water, he said he used the DT6 for "most" of his fish today. He went on to say "even though I am not sponsored by them." Now you tell me. Would you plug a company you weren't sponsored by or the one you are sponsored by? I'm sure he caught some on the Livingston.
The Rooster reply :
What am I missing here? He told what bait he caught the fish on. Are you all saying there's supposed to be some motive behind it?
CJV reply :
On 2/24/2014 at 10:42 AM, gripnrip said:I was typing this as you posted. Did you catch the live take out footage or do you have other sources?
I watched the whole live takeout footage they had and he pretty much said that he was handed a prototype lure from Livingston but that he really didn't use it much and he only had "one" of them and he was a little scared to lose it because he kept getting snagged. I thought it was funny the part he said about IKE gave him 4 of that "demon" color awhile back and I guess going into day 3 he had lost them and he had to ask Brandon P for some more in that color and he helped him out and gave him 3 more in that "demon" color.
CJV reply :
On 2/24/2014 at 10:54 AM, The Rooster said:What am I missing here? He told what bait he caught the fish on. Are you all saying there's supposed to be some motive behind it?
Yeah he said he was using a Rapala DT6 in "demon"
TrapperJ reply :
Agree they always thank their sponsors but they will throw their confidence baits.
Haha yea I think there was some chatter last year with Pace, he was sponsored by Jackall but I think some said he was throwing the ole classic Smithwick to get fish.
After mentioning Pace, I Have to say it, I'm glad randy looked liked he was excited to win ha.
gripnrip reply :
On 2/24/2014 at 10:54 AM, The Rooster said:What am I missing here? He told what bait he caught the fish on. Are you all saying there's supposed to be some motive behind it?
I don't believe there is a motive. I do believe they will plug a sponsor whether they caught many fish off of it or not. What CJV and I stated above, was watched live on bassmaster.com Davy Hite was interviewing the anglers coming off of the water.
The Rooster reply :
On 2/24/2014 at 10:57 AM, CJV said:Yeah he said he was using a Rapala DT6 in "demon"
Was he not? Or did he later say something else?
Jack Fate reply :
On 2/24/2014 at 11:01 AM, The Rooster said:Was he not? Or did he later say something else?
At the weigh in he said he caught a bunch with the Rapala DT and then said he wasn't sponsored by them but then said he switched to the new lure from Livingston. He said he forgot he had it until he started dumping lures out.
BradGuenette reply :
It was a Rapala....
TrapperJ reply :
He probably snagged one fish on the livingston lure lol
That being said I did buy a few a couple weeks ago my curiosity got to me.
TrapperJ reply :
This was posted in another forum.
"He said he used the Rapala to catch most of the fish then culled out 4 of his keepers today with the Livingston prototype. It is on the interbiew video at athe ramp just go to about the 17:00 minute mark. As best I could tell he ain't trying to say anything except the truth, He actually mentions he is not sponsored by Rapala but he has to use what works some days if his sponsor stuff does not."
gripnrip reply :
On 2/24/2014 at 11:37 AM, TrapperJ said:This was posted in another forum.
"He said he used the Rapala to catch most of the fish then culled out 4 of his keepers today with the Livingston prototype. It is on the interbiew video at athe ramp just go to about the 17:00 minute mark. As best I could tell he ain't trying to say anything except the truth, He actually mentions he is not sponsored by Rapala but he has to use what works some days if his sponsor stuff does not."
There ya go. That feed was in and out. It was a great idea interviewing them at the ramp fresh out of the water. I just hope they get the glitches fixed. It wasn't watchable at times.
rippin-lips reply :
He said the same thing during the live weigh in. Most of his fish were off a rapala then he switched to a prototype Livingston he didn't know he had. He even mentions that you can see it on the video when it airs on tv. Also said that he wasn't sponsored by Rapala and they have to use what works.
Montanaro reply :
dt 6 will get a boost especially from that awesome video
JeziHogg reply :
Off Topic, I don't understand what that sound Livingston lures make, do people actually fall for that crap?
Tartan34 reply :
The DT6 was getting plugged all day long from Zona and Crew. Seems like a lot of the guys were throwing it.
TrapperJ reply :
It sounds like a frog croaking to me, supposedly that's what a dying baitfish sounds like, but I've spent more money on worse things so I'll give them a shot to conduct my on tests. Their 20% off at the bps upcoming sale. I want to try a lipless too.
If anyone was thinking about trying them it would be probably the best time to give them a shot.
A-Jay reply :
DT- 6 & Livingston Lures ~ this happens Every Year . . . . .
My question is - do you think BASS will Ban the Livingston Lure like they did the A-Rig ?
A-Jay
AK-Jax86 reply :
This is how it always is after major events not surprised one bit, can't lie I will grab a few though lol
The Rooster reply :
I don't know but I seriously hope this is not the future of bass fishing lures. I googled Livingston lures to see what they are. What I saw, I did not care for. Electronic lures? What a turn off that is to me. I'm sure they aren't cheap but I never even looked to see. I just saw a circuit and was put off by it so I lost interest immediately. I just don't buy into gimmick lures.
Rangerphil reply :
Dt 6 is awesome! I have been on the dt series of lures since they came out some years back. The bills do break but they catch fish! Glad to see that crank is getting some attention. I also saw either Cody Cardin or dean Rojas can't remember who but they caught some fish on a bandit in the mistake color! That crank in that color is an awesome cold water color!
gripnrip reply :
On 2/24/2014 at 12:41 PM, The Rooster said:I don't know but I seriously hope this is not the future of bass fishing lures. I googled Livingston lures to see what they are. What I saw, I did not care for. Electronic lures? What a turn off that is to me. I'm sure they aren't cheap but I never even looked to see. I just saw a circuit and was put off by it so I lost interest immediately. I just don't buy into gimmick lures.
I'm with ya man. I don't really buy the "bait ball" thing by Live Target either.
Tartan34 reply :
They had a trailer at the Toho Southern Open Weigh-In, and I stopped in to check the lures out. They had the clear versions to show the insides, and I found the exact same thing that you did. The circuit board, with LED lights, and the frog sound turned me off.
Well that and the lack of smaller profile baits. The person manning the booth was in agreement with me that the forage of the lakes I fish didn't come clear to matching the cranks in size.
I wanted to buy the trap, but couldn't with the LED lighted eyes.
On 2/24/2014 at 12:41 PM, The Rooster said:I don't know but I seriously hope this is not the future of bass fishing lures. I googled Livingston lures to see what they are. What I saw, I did not care for. Electronic lures? What a turn off that is to me. I'm sure they aren't cheap but I never even looked to see. I just saw a circuit and was put off by it so I lost interest immediately. I just don't buy into gimmick lures.
TrapperJ reply :
As much as I love electronics, video games, technology, etc this idea interests me, I also installed a hydrowave on my boat, so if I'm willing to do that I knew I surely gotta give some of these lures atleast a try for myself.
You don't know till you throw!
Bluebasser86 reply :
The Demon color DT is sold out in 3 of the 5 sizes on TW now 
Almost all the rest of them are still in stock though
*Hootie reply :
I was always amazed at how many people would come into BPS and want a particular lure in a particular color basing their decision solely on so and so won a tournament with it. No consideration given to their water color, season, or other factors that are much more important. For example, the lake I fish is so muddy and murky that throwing a jerkbait is a waste of time. You can't see a white spinnerbait six inches deep. Yet let someone win a tournament with a jerkbait, and guys will be throwing them with wild abandon.
Hootie
smalljaw67 reply :
The DT6 is probably the most universal crank on the market, in the "Ikes colors" I use "smash" and on the regular colors I use firetiger, bleeding olive shiner, and blue shad. If you watch that video of him he was crushing fish on that DT6, it was so visible that he had to tell everyone what he was using, and there is a video of the G-Man saying he was going to try using a Rapala Shad rap as he doesn't know of any other crank that works as well in cold water. I think what makes that effective is the bait is the perfect size as it appeals to fish of all sizes but he was fishing in an area that was loaded with staging fish, he was catching them every other cast and I'll bet that most mid depth cranks would have scored fish, it was just the perfect storm with the right color bait for the water color and it made it visible to the fish.
BuckMaxx reply :
Huh!?! If hed called me I have a few I coulda ran down to him. 
Brian Needham reply :
I guess I heard something different.
He caught them early on the DT6 then they moved deeper and he started culling with the livingston since they were moved and the livingston ran deeper (8-10ft)
he also caught the 6 pounder off the dock on a Yamamoto Chatterbait
Talonman reply :
I heard on the Livingston baits that the battery is non-replaceable.
When the battery dies in 2 years, the bait is just a standard crank then, with no sound.
I favor the DT4 over the DT6 myself... My DT collection.
Rapala DT 4 Length 2", Weight 5/16 oz, Dive Depth 4 ft, Class Floating - $6.79
(1) Color: Ike's Old School
(2) Color: Bluegill
(2) Color: Yellow Perch
(1) Color: Ike's Blue Back Herring
(1) Color: Ike's Demon
(1) Color: Ike's Smash
(2) Color: Parrot
Rapala DT 6 Length 2", Weight 3/8 oz, Dive Depth 6 ft, Class Floating - $6.79
(1) Color: Hot Mustard
Rapala DT 10 Length 2.25", Weight 3/5 oz, Dive Depth 10 ft, Class Floating - $6.79
(1) Color: Shad
bass1980 reply :
On 2/24/2014 at 9:33 PM, Brian Needham said:I guess I heard something different.
He caught them early on the DT6 then they moved deeper and he started culling with the livingston since they were moved and the livingston ran deeper (8-10ft)
he also caught the 6 pounder off the dock on a Yamamoto Chatterbait
Call me a party pooper but I don't believe his statement at all. First of all he had a gopro so it was visible he was using a DT6 in Ike's demon. They were big ones too. Then he said he culled 4 fish using the Livingston. Until I see footage of him landing 5 pounders with the Livngston, and not just one, I'm not buying the story. He's no idiot, he knows pro anglers seasons are dependent on their sponsors. He had to help Livingston lure otherwise that would have been the ultimate insult to his sponsor, him winning with a different lure and the way how he won it too on day 3!
gripnrip reply :
On 2/25/2014 at 1:33 AM, bass1980 said:Call me a party pooper but I don't believe his statement at all. First of all he had a gopro so it was visible he was using a DT6 in Ike's demon. They were big ones too. Then he said he culled 4 fish using the Livingston. Until I see footage of him landing 5 pounders with the Livngston, and not just one, I'm not buying the story. He's no idiot, he knows pro anglers seasons are dependent on their sponsors. He had to help Livingston lure otherwise that would have been the ultimate insult to his sponsor, him winning with a different lure and the way how he won it too on day 3!
We've had threads on here before over this exact topic. I remember in one of the MLF lesson shows, Ike used a bladed jig for most of his catches. You could clearly see it was a "chatterbait" style jig. In the lessons show he plugged the Molix bladed jig. He didn't even use it in competition. So when a pro says I used this to catch them, they get the 
from me now!
I rely on suggestions on this forum or buy and try out baits for myself. No more going and buying because said pro says to use this lure!
Brian Needham reply :
On 2/25/2014 at 1:33 AM, bass1980 said:Call me a party pooper but I don't believe his statement at all. First of all he had a gopro so it was visible he was using a DT6 in Ike's demon. They were big ones too. Then he said he culled 4 fish using the Livingston. Until I see footage of him landing 5 pounders with the Livngston, and not just one, I'm not buying the story. He's no idiot, he knows pro anglers seasons are dependent on their sponsors. He had to help Livingston lure otherwise that would have been the ultimate insult to his sponsor, him winning with a different lure and the way how he won it too on day 3!
I dont doubt it...... he even said on stage he used the dt6; "cause sometimes we have to use another companies bait to get the job done. "
I dont think he is going to throw his sponsor under the bus, but at the same time he does not seem like a guy that will striaght out lie either. especially given the fact he already stated the DT6.
I am probably just too trusting, Howell does seems different though....... I would trust him before I would KVD (call me crazy)
TrapperJ reply :
I agree im probably to trusting too, but i am curious, i know LIvignston has had some chatter around them about their new high fangled lures. So it will be interesting to see just how much it played a part.
Randy doesnt seem like the guy just to say something to say something. I'm gonna say Livingston probably helped, but my guess just not in a huge way, especially since we already know he caught most off the DT6.
"Well i got this ole Classic in the bag, guess i'll throw this talking bait once or twice for the camera" 
hehe jk
Felix77 reply :
Here's the video posted on Bassmaster. You be the judge.
MacP reply :
On 2/24/2014 at 4:41 PM, Bluebasser86 said:The Demon color DT is sold out in 3 of the 5 sizes on TW now
Almost all the rest of them are still in stock though
Hey, I bought some today too. Only because I very few DT6s in the first place. I usually Fish Bandit 100-300s. I got some of those too.
Felix77 reply :
I have NEVER EVER bought a lure because I saw it on TV and it caught fish! 
Besides red isn't my color.
Talonman reply :
That means Brandon Palaniuk at Bull Shoals Lake, Arkansas, won $100,000 using Ike's Blue Back Herring...
And now the Classic win on Ike's Demon.
I guess the guy can pick colors...
TrapperJ reply :
Ike needs to use his colors instead of giving them out. ha
That video just made me want to buy a DT6 in Ike's Demon. lol
Did i miss the livingston lure? i had to quick skim it for now.
Im a sucker for Classic lures though i still have a few Ugly Otters left, my pond bass love those things.
Siebert Outdoors reply :
On 2/24/2014 at 4:41 PM, Bluebasser86 said:The Demon color DT is sold out in 3 of the 5 sizes on TW now
I was getting ready to look that up. I bet BPS is the same.
Stingray23 reply :
It happens every year after the classic
MacP reply :
I've never cared for firetiger for anything but Crappie. The crawdad and dark brown craw are good, but not great. Maybe Demon works 
TorqueConverter reply :
This is disgusting. Do bass angler really just go out and buy whatever lure wins the classic? Are we not capable of thinking for ourselves?
I thought it was common knowledge that the DT-6 is the best crank on earth for the 6 foot range.
The Livingston lures look alright. I'm not a fan of the shapes, as they look rather Norman in design. I really don't like Norman cranks and last thing I want is one that lights up and croaks.
I'll take a hollow body frog that flashes lights and croaks. Why don't you go make that Livingston?
Hooligan reply :
On 2/24/2014 at 10:39 AM, The Rooster said:It's silly that people would run out and buy them based on that only.
Oh but they will; and by the thousands. Don't you know it's the next magic bullet?
Hooligan reply :
Here's the thing- Red Craw is a KNOWN good color throughout the South during the pre-spawn. It's no surprise to me that it was that color, none at all. Look in any of their boxes and I'll guarantee you there was a LOT of that same color or a variation thereof. It would have been full of Red Craw, Demon, Chili Craw, Chili Bowl...
It happens every year, in and out. When KVD won on the Black Chart 1.5, it sold out in hours all across the US. Then, a year later, they introduced the Catouache Special color, and said, this is what he REALLY was fishing- IT sold out all across the US. When Chris Lane won it on Otters- you couldn't buy them regardless of color. Cliff Pace? Couldn't find a V+M football or twin tail anywhere they were sold.
Think anglers aren't looking for a magic bullet? Look at the threads here, even! "Top Five Baits" "If you could only have Ten Lures", "Top Three Soft Plastics", "Soft PLastic Colors". It never ends. We, as a whole, are always looking for the latest and greatest. That's the way it is.
Jrob78 reply :
The bottom deeper diver is the prototype Livingston Lure Howell used to catch some of his fish yesterday.
TorqueConverter reply :
On 2/25/2014 at 6:27 AM, Hooligan said:Here's the thing- Red Craw is a KNOWN good color throughout the South during the pre-spawn. It's no surprise to me that it was that color, none at all. Look in any of their boxes and I'll guarantee you there was a LOT of that same color or a variation thereof. It would have been full of Red Craw, Demon, Chili Craw, Chili Bowl...
It happens every year, in and out. When KVD won on the Black Chart 1.5, it sold out in hours all across the US. Then, a year later, they introduced the Catouache Special color, and said, this is what he REALLY was fishing- IT sold out all across the US. When Chris Lane won it on Otters- you couldn't buy them regardless of color. Cliff Pace? Couldn't find a V+M football or twin tail anywhere they were sold.
Think anglers aren't looking for a magic bullet? Look at the threads here, even! "Top Five Baits" "If you could only have Ten Lures", "Top Three Soft Plastics", "Soft PLastic Colors". It never ends. We, as a whole, are always looking for the latest and greatest. That's the way it is.
I understand the search for the latest and greatest, but why so much emphasis on what the pros are throwing/wining with? Since when did the bait that Bubba Arkansas won the ABC bass tour with become our litmus test for the latest and greatest?
bass1980 reply :
The smart fishermens/women knows there's a time and place for every quality crafted lure. However I find it good for fishing in general when someone wins the classic like how Randy won it by just smashing hogs after hogs on just about every cast to come from behind and win. Probably any red color crank diving 4-8 feet would have done the same on that hot spot but guess what, we will never really know right. What we know is that DT6 killed it, not the Livingston. Let the little guys run to the tackle store and buy out those DT6's. It's good for the sport and good for the industry. If they believe, let them, because confidence is a big part of fishing and this makes it fun.
Hooligan reply :
On 2/25/2014 at 8:12 AM, TorqueConverter said:I understand the search for the latest and greatest, but why so much emphasis on what the pros are throwing/wining with? Since when did the bait that Bubba Arkansas won the ABC bass tour with become our litmus test for the latest and greatest?
Honestly, the day I understand that aspect of it, I'll make ten million in a minute.
What I really believe that it has to do with is not the majority of anglers. I think the really hardcore guys, guys that can pattern fish, and are capable of thinking on their feet aren't the ones that are buying into it. BUT the guys that see shows and see fish being caught in numbers and decent fish- well, they think it will work for them so they buy it. The chances are that a lot of them will catch fish on it, and continue the pattern of buying what they see work. It's the magic bullet theory all over again.
J Francho reply :
I hope all my competition goes out and buys DT6's - you can't weigh in broken lips, lol.
TorqueConverter reply :
I never understood the whole broken bill Rapala DT thing. I fish the hack out of DTs and haven't broken a bill yet. I absolutely destroyed Poes and Bagleys in the past, so I know a thing or two about murdering wooded baits.
I actually find the Rapala DTs to be exceptionally durable when compared to other wooden baits. I don't know how many Bagleys I've had that have the paint chip off or split bills in two. My Poes would loose all their paint before even getting bit.
I'm starting to believe that the only people breaking bills on DTs are guys that have never fished a wooden bait before. With any bait, you shouldn't be slapping the water to get weeds off or bouncing the bait off the bank. These behaviors are unnecessary and destructive to any crank.
J Francho reply :
DT6 and DT4 as well as the balsa flat DT baits have a terrible reputation - I broke all of mine, over a couple dozen. I have some 10s and 16s that are as old as the line is that are still kicking.
plumworm reply :
Isn't this why all the pro's have sponsors? The boat wraps, the truck wraps, the jerseys with all those sponsor's patches. "And I want to thank Triton, Ranger, Mercury," etc. I don't know how long it's been since any of the pro's won a tourney with a Zoom "whatever" but lots of them have Zoom patches and Zoom sells tons of soft plastic every year. How about 4 million for a 30 second Superbowl" add. Advertising sells. It's the American way.
basseditor reply :
I haven't caught any on deep diving Livingstons, but I have taken some real good ones on the floating stick bait. I was in a derby last November and my partner hung up behind us so when I turned the boat around, I left the lure sitting out there. All of a sudden I felt a hit. Landed a 7 pounder.
So I fished it dead sticked from then on. With the sound and light, the bass came to it. I quit using it on that trip when the hooks bent. So if you get some, change out the hooks.
MacP reply :
On 2/25/2014 at 9:55 AM, TorqueConverter said:I never understood the whole broken bill Rapala DT thing. I fish the hack out of DTs and haven't broken a bill yet. I absolutely destroyed Poes and Bagleys in the past, so I know a thing or two about murdering wooded baits.
I actually find the Rapala DTs to be exceptionally durable when compared to other wooden baits. I don't know how many Bagleys I've had that have the paint chip off or split bills in two. My Poes would loose all their paint before even getting bit.
I'm starting to believe that the only people breaking bills on DTs are guys that have never fished a wooden bait before. With any bait, you shouldn't be slapping the water to get weeds off or bouncing the bait off the bank. These behaviors are unnecessary and destructive to any crank.
I had a specific shad rap I threw for years in rivers, creeks, lakes - it finally broke on me recently. Wasn't even the bill. It was cracked alongside the eye of the fish. It fished wonky because of that. I've not had many other cranks - especailly ones that bump stuff, last that long.
Talonman reply :
On 2/25/2014 at 9:55 AM, TorqueConverter said:I never understood the whole broken bill Rapala DT thing. I fish the hack out of DTs and haven't broken a bill yet. I absolutely destroyed Poes and Bagleys in the past, so I know a thing or two about murdering wooded baits.
I actually find the Rapala DTs to be exceptionally durable when compared to other wooden baits. I don't know how many Bagleys I've had that have the paint chip off or split bills in two. My Poes would loose all their paint before even getting bit.
I'm starting to believe that the only people breaking bills on DTs are guys that have never fished a wooden bait before. With any bait, you shouldn't be slapping the water to get weeds off or bouncing the bait off the bank. These behaviors are unnecessary and destructive to any crank.
So true my friend...
The DT4 is a favorite on the Ohio board. Guess they must make our DT's better!!
We dont have any bill breaking off issue...
The DT4 in Pearch and Bluegill are the most talked about colors, that seem to be the best producers for the boys.
Hooligan reply :
I don't think I can count the number of DT6s that I've broken. I think the vast majority of it is where you're fishing them. In chunk rock, I'll break at least three or four a day when I am fishing them hard. In wood, I don't think I've ever broken one. The only time I've ever broken a DT 16 is in big chunk rock, too.
TorqueConverter reply :
I have mostly soft bottom where I fish. Like silt. That's my bottom content lol. I'm new to the DT-4 because it's been real hard to put down the squarebils or resist the urge to pick up another squarebill when reaching for a DT-4 on the shelves. I've been more of a 6-20 guy. Everybody forgets about the DT-20.
The DT-4 looks like it might snap off a bill. The bill is different from any other shallow Rapala bill, in that it is not a bent bill that attaches at 0 degrees. It is a straight bill that attaches to the body at an angle. I can't imagine that bill goes to far into the body the way it does with the other DT baits.
J Francho reply :
I think some guys just haul water with cranks. I'm really not confident unless mine are bashing into something or getting popped off weeds.
Bluebasser86 reply :
On 2/25/2014 at 11:38 AM, Hooligan said:I don't think I can count the number of DT6s that I've broken. I think the vast majority of it is where you're fishing them. In chunk rock, I'll break at least three or four a day when I am fishing them hard. In wood, I don't think I've ever broken one. The only time I've ever broken a DT 16 is in big chunk rock, too.
Grinding through rocks is my favorite way to fish cranks, which is a big reason why I don't spend money on DT's anymore. I don't know how many times I've been running one through the rocks and all the sudden my line goes slack, feels like a fish just inhaled the bait honestly. Then when I get my line in all I have left is a bill. Try to find the rest of the bait floating on the surface so I can get my hooks back and swear again to never buy another one. Never had it happen with a shad rap or scatter rap though.
TorqueConverter reply :
On 2/25/2014 at 2:58 PM, Bluebasser86 said:Grinding through rocks is my favorite way to fish cranks, which is a big reason why I don't spend money on DT's anymore. I don't know how many times I've been running one through the rocks and all the sudden my line goes slack, feels like a fish just inhaled the bait honestly. Then when I get my line in all I have left is a bill. Try to find the rest of the bait floating on the surface so I can get my hooks back and swear again to never buy another one. Never had it happen with a shad rap or scatter rap though.
This is alarming. It'd be one thing if guys grinding rocks were experiencing bill failure once a year, but to experience this much DT bill failure is insane. I don't grind the rock, because I have no rocks where I fish most frequently. Just to reiterate, the closest I have to experiencing to bill failure is a DT-16 that I got stuck in tree in my yard for a year (don't ask). When I finally recovered it, I had a DT-16 in a subdued 2nd gen fire tiger with loose epoxy around the bill. Some Devcon quick set fixed that.
To cast DTs into water and crank them down to a rocky bottom only to experience not one, but multiple bill failures is very strange. It hints at something greater than simply "thin bills" as many other wooden baits have had thin, brittle even IMO, bills in the past and not had this experience. In the little bit of info I have gathered (surprisingly bill breaks are poorly documented online) is that it has something to do with the region around the line tie. It's as if the way the line tie is fitted to the bill is weakening the bill at that point and causing bill failure.
Bluebasser86 reply :
The bills on mine aren't breaking for the most part, mainly pulling out of the bait, I've had it happen a couple times while fighting fish also. The broken bills are usually a result of an errant cast or some other kind of impact, which happens and breaks a lot of baits when that happens. I'm sure I could probably epoxy them back in but I'd get tired of having to do that every time I went out. It hasn't happened with every one of them, I have a few that have caught tons of fish and rocks and keep going strong, but I'm not going to buy dozens of baits to find those 2 or 3 that don't fall apart on me.
Hooligan reply :
The vast majority of those that I have broken are directly behind the line tie. It isn't alarming to me, really. Look at Bagley baits, Poe's, other thin lip high floating baits. It happens, for me it's an expectation. I know I'm going to go through a few of them every time I fish Bull Shoals and Table Rock, and I deal with it. I just buy extra.
Hooligan reply :
Right there with you.On 2/25/2014 at 12:33 PM, J Francho said:I think some guys just haul water with cranks. I'm really not confident unless mine are bashing into something or getting popped off weeds.
5fishlimit reply :
On 2/25/2014 at 8:12 AM, TorqueConverter said:I understand the search for the latest and greatest, but why so much emphasis on what the pros are throwing/wining with? Since when did the bait that Bubba Arkansas won the ABC bass tour with become our litmus test for the latest and greatest?
Is it any different than people going out and buying the latest shoes worn by LeBron, Kobe, or any other athlete?
K_Mac reply :
It seems likely that at least a fish or two of the five brought to the scale were caught on the Livingston lure. Howell has been up-front about the fish caught on the DTs. For him to promote his sponsor is not in any way offensive to me. Sponsors are the engine that makes everything else possible.
I am also not surprised or offended when people buy the 'magic' bait used to win on the tour. Very few of us are immune to this, in spite of the protests here. We may not run out and immediately buy that particular bait, but most of us pay attention to trends and innovation used by the pros whether we admit or not. Chatterbaits, swimbaits, and the A-rig are just a few of the baits that come to mind that were brought into the mainstream because of their success in the spotlight. There are some here that still consider these gimmick or niche baits, yet most of us have some of in our bag. IF flashing lights and electronic sound really make a difference in the effectiveness of crankbaits, you can bet that most of us will eventually own some. I think the jury is still out though.
smalljaw67 reply :
On 2/25/2014 at 9:55 AM, TorqueConverter said:I never understood the whole broken bill Rapala DT thing. I fish the hack out of DTs and haven't broken a bill yet. I absolutely destroyed Poes and Bagleys in the past, so I know a thing or two about murdering wooded baits.
I actually find the Rapala DTs to be exceptionally durable when compared to other wooden baits. I don't know how many Bagleys I've had that have the paint chip off or split bills in two. My Poes would loose all their paint before even getting bit.
I'm starting to believe that the only people breaking bills on DTs are guys that have never fished a wooden bait before. With any bait, you shouldn't be slapping the water to get weeds off or bouncing the bait off the bank. These behaviors are unnecessary and destructive to any crank.
I watched 2 people at a club tourney complain of broken bills on the DT series, it was a club event I finished 4th and had lunker and I got most of my fish on a DT6 but my big fish came on a DT Thug that I was really grinding in chunk rock. The 2 guys that said the bills broke were fishing 50 yards away at a grass flat and after every cast I'd see them wind up and smack the bait down on the water to clear the weeds off, all I thought when I saw that was I hope they aren't balsa Rapalas or someone is going to scream about broken lips and sure enough at weigh in when I was asked what I got my fish on, the 2 guys I saw doing that were talking about the bills breaking on their baits.. Now, I do know that it does happen legitimately, to this day I won't throw a Lucky Craft Pointer or Megabass 110 around rock, I use those in cold water and they both have come back on me with broken bills, 3 times on a pointer and only once on the 110 but I went online and found that I wasn't the only one so I stopped throwing them near rock but it took me a few Pointers before I realized they have a problem on rock. If my Rapala isn't a year old I simply send them back for replacement, and I only had to do this once so I guess I'm lucky but my Rapal baits have held up.
Primus reply :
I have never had a lip break on a DT crank and I've been fishing and doing well with them for several years, I must be lucky. The DT6, DT 10 & DT Fat Wake bait are my 3 favorites from that line.
Talonman reply :
Well I have 10 new DT4's to fish this summer.
We will see how many break...
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