Rapala still makes good balsa cranks. I’ve been a fan of Rapala balsa lures for over 40 years, and have collected vintage Rapala lures for just as long. Rapala use to construct their lures from balsa blanks, that was cut down the center making two pieces. They would then cut a channel around the circumference in the halves in which to lay a wire form, hook hanger. The two halves were then glued together, sanded, and finished. Out of curiosity, I decided to sacrifice a DT lure manufactured last year to see how these lures were constructed today. I found that the front hook hanger is molded into a rattle chamber and although I was able to bend the wire with needle nose pliers, I could not pull it from the chamber. The rear hanger is still a “through wire,” elongated form, about 1.125”, laid in a channel and then sealed with what appears to an epoxy or glue. Although I own and use plastic lures from several different companies, I will always hold a special place for those ole balsa lures, especially those made by Rapala.
