Rapala Dt Bill Issues

[dam0007]

Any of you guys having a issue with the bills snapping just past the loop for the O ring? I have about a dozen that snapped on me. 2 more DT 10s this weekend. 1 had maybe 15 casts on it and the other right after 1st cast. Broke as soon as it hit the water. This is ridiculous. I sent Rapala a email a month or 2 ago about the problem and their response was this is the first they're hearing about any issues and To try to send them in to be inspected for warranty. It's a d**n lure I don't keep receipts for these things reels and rods yeah. Just ridiculous....

[zachb34]

It's pretty common I actually hear it a lot just not on these forums. The small xrap slash baits do it to me all the time as well. I probably have a pile of 6 or so sitting around with cracked bills leaning water and some just broken off.

[flyfisher]

i fish them a lot and haven't had the bill cracking issue.  I have heard of people sending them back and they replace them with no issues.  I wouldn't even think you need receipts, I mean it is printed on the bill that they are rapalas and the depth they run.

[Fisher-O-men]

Maybe your lake has hard water! 

 

Seriously, are you using them in water that is too shallow for the bait? 

[dam0007]

Maybe your lake has hard water!

Seriously, are you using them in water that is too shallow for the bait?

Lol must be hard as rocks lol no I was fishing Parallel to shore in 14 ft. I have other brands, even other rapalas for that matter that the bills are grinded down from digging into rocky bottoms. They're made to deflect off cover. This second one today broke upon hitting the water surface. I have another as well that broke mid cast as I abruptly stopped to prevent it going into a tree overhanging.

[dam0007]

It's pretty common I actually hear it a lot just not on these forums. The small xrap slash baits do it to me all the time as well. I probably have a pile of 6 or so sitting around with cracked bills leaning water and some just broken off.

Knock on wood I have 1 xrap slash bait I use on Lillinonoah. 100s of fish on it and 1/3 of the paint is chipped off. It's my go to for spring on that lake. Plus they don't make the color any more I have 2 unopened spares I pray I never have to open. Lol

[dam0007]

i fish them a lot and haven't had the bill cracking issue. I have heard of people sending them back and they replace them with no issues. I wouldn't even think you need receipts, I mean it is printed on the bill that they are rapalas and the depth they run.

Yeah they asked for receipt. Half of the ones the bill broke I only have the portion of the bill with the o ring the lures were gone right then and there wind, current, tree etc whatever happened I couldn't get this back but I do have a few. One I actually caught linker on in a CBN tourney and it broke on next cast lol thankfully it didn't break bringing in the just under 6lber. Lol

[dam0007]

Just sent them another email via the form on their website. Let's see what happens...

[Bluebasser86]

I've broke probably a dozen of the DT series baits before I gave up on them. I've had the bills break while cranking them through rocks, had them pull out snapping them through grass, and worse of all I've had them pull out while fighting fish. 

[F14A-B]

Yes.. Many & I like the bait... But, wont ever buy one again, not ever

[smalljaw67]

Don't worry about the receipt, as long as the bar code is still on the little box, that is unless you threw that away as well. The reason they need it is to determine lot numbers so if they notice a lot coming back from a certain lot they can find out what the issue is. My guess is if you send it in, they will replace it. I have had 1 bill break and they replaced it but that is it and for me the DT series has been great. My fishing partner, he breaks a lot of them and doesn't use them anymore but he smacks his bait against the water to get weeds off the hooks and balsa baits don't like that, ask anyone who has smacked a balsa bait on the water, what I saw my buddy do is smack it twice, and on the third smack the bait went sailing while the bill was still attached to his line.

[fishballer06]

I fish the DT's more than any other bait out there and I easily own 100+ of them. With that. I have only ever broken 2 of them, neither of which were really the baits fault at all. I have ground bills down to where there is very little left from cranking them on rocks and none of those have ever had an issue. 

 

This one was from slapping the water to remove weeds.

 

 

And I snapped a bill off on a DT10 whenever I casted and hit a bridge pillar. 

[DogBone_384]

I own a pile of Rapala DTs, X-Raps, etc., etc., and have never had any bills break.  I don't use them a ton either. 

[zachb34]

My issue with DT baits I'd after they get smacked around a bit from fish some will start to take on water and suspend or sink, and lose some vibration. I'm guessing since these are balsa baits, that some new clear coat should fix it. I do like the looks of how beat up some are from catching fish though.

[dam0007]

Lost all respect for them as a company. They replied the same pre fabricated letter. I respond back like this is exactly the problem with you're company. A customer takes time out to provide tons of information to help you guys narrow down the problem etc etc etc and I get slapped in the face with a pre made response. Also provided a bunch of links to several forums of people discussing same issue. They send me another one like sorry to hear your having a issue with or warranty form try again to print it out and send in the lure and we'll refund you. I respond again. Maybe if you guys read the email first you would realize about 20 of the lures are sitting on the bottom of Candlewood lake. Smh terrible customer service absolutely garbage. I'm gonna continue to fish the ones I've already purchased and own but never again will they get a penny from me. Unless some pencil pusher actually responds with a letter saying they're investigating the issue.

[F14A-B]

I hear ya.. But believe me, there are far better crankbaits on the market..( plenty ! )