Rapala DT Series

[South FLA]

What is your opinion on Rapala's DT Series cranks.  What line diameter are you running to hit its advertised number? Do you like the Sureset hooks?

Thanks in advance!

[Kowen117]

I don't like the sure set hooks. Its seems like I hang my own line more than the fish and there is a higher chance of gut hooking fish. However I haven't use the dt's but I have used the jointed shad rap and it seems if I used between 12 and 14lb test I could get it down where I wanted.

[DRhodes]

Like said above I use 14 lb test, and I DO NOT like the sure sets.

[skunked_again]

they break easy but catch fish after a hook change.

[guitarkid]

I think they are pretty good, the only problem is that my "dives to" is more like a sink to 6.

    -gk

[tnbassfisher]

Never had a problem with them. I've caught fish with them. Solid crankbaits. The one thing that I do like about the hooks is that it doesn't seem to take a Karate Kid style hookset to land the fish.

[BobP]

I think the DT series is the best line of commercial wood baits available.  In fact, it's the only series of wood baits I know that includes models from 4 - 20 ft.  And they catch fish.  My favorites are the DT-10, 16, and 20 plus the new DT Thug that runs 7-8 ft deep.  You can use lighter or heavier line to modify the depth but I think the "DT" depth refers to fishing the baits with 10 or 12 lb test mono.  I dislike the Sureset models because of the higher price and when I buy one because of its color pattern, I change them to Gamakatsu round bends.  Does that mean that 100% of the hundreds of thousands of DT sold are all perfect?  No, but the quality in my experience has been higher than other brands of WOOD baits, by a long shot.  JMHO

[hmongkidBee]

rapala DT cranks are very good, they catch a good amount of fish for me, but the only problem that I have is the bill breaking off on the crankbait. It doesn't always happens, but when it does it ticks you off. Now on to the action, it works very good and I think people forget to use the triggering method that only the rapala DT can do. As you're reeling in the line stop and give it a twitch and stop reeling. This causes the crankbait to do a 180 turn. This has triggered a good amount of bass into commiting to my bait

[5bass]

As with any Rapala bait, you know you're getting a quality product when you buy one. The DT's are very good baits. The first year they came out they had lip problems but that got fixed in a hurry. I broke several of the early DT's but none since.

I like the SS hooks. If the bigger hook gets 'em, it's harder for them to throw the bait simply because they're usually hooked a little farther in the mouth.

That bigger hook will grab some of the short striking fish too, the fish you might normally miss with a regular treble hook. I really like the SS hooks on jerkbaits.

I think a lot of people shy away from the SS hooks just because they're worried about hanging up more often. What they might not realize is that the DT's are very buoyant and back up and away from snags really well. If you run into something just let off for a second, let the bait float up and then get back to reelin'.

[iceintheveins]

They are good cranks but I don't like the suresets. I do wish they made a smaller body in the DTs to match smaller panfish that bass around here often feed on.