Odd Rapala Find

[Spankey]

Yesterday I stopped a Wally World to pick up some fishing stuff for my grandsons. Over the winter months I build up a care package up for them with Items they can use all spring and summer. When they come over we go over the items. 

Anyway, I'm a Rapala fanatic, love to fish them and don't think I have a Rapala that has not caught fish. I saw in the $2.96 bin a DT-6 that caught my eye, packaged slightly different, had a pattern that was a bit different. I'm not a DT guru but know them pretty well. It was a live look largemouth pattern. Unlike the ones I use and know. At first sight I know it's a fish catcher and I was taking (buying) it. 

When home I had to do some digging, only to find that it is one made for the Canadian market. It appears that some patterns for a few different models were sucker, smelt, sunfish etc. that were clearly different than what we have available to us down here. 

Sorry for being so long winded but it was a real freak finding that there. Have never seen that there. Only one I've ever seen. Tried to do a search to buy Canadian versions but came up empty. 

[jr231]

Ditto on the rapala products and how they produce.

Do you have a picture ?! 

[Spankey]

I'll get the wife to help me post a pic. Maybe I can take it on my phone and post it from that. Her and my daughters are pretty Savy with that stuff. I'll get r done. 

[jr231]

47 minutes ago, Spankey said:

I'll get the wife to help me post a pic. Maybe I can take it on my phone and post it from that. Her and my daughters are pretty Savy with that stuff. I'll get r done. 

You can definitely do that . I only use my phone when I'm on this site. 

[snake95]

Pretty sure you mean this one?

[snake95]

It appears you could get them from regular retailers in Canada (e.g. Cabelas.ca):

http://www.cabelas.ca/product/9258/rapala-dives-to-crankbaits

I picked up the same lure from one of the Walmart bins too.  There were some other Rapala/Storm lures that are apparently discontinued or on the way out such as a "Twitchin Rap" (came out a few years ago, I think) and a non-rattling Rippin Rap.  They've also had clackin' raps and crankin raps (which I really like).  From what I have seen, all seem to be dying Rapala breeds, based on their presence in various clearance sections.

On a recent trip to visit my family in Ontario, I noticed that in many stores Rapalas start at $11 or $12 Cdn and are often under lock and key.  I can only imagine what a Megabass bait goes for. 

[jr231]

Wow if I could sell what I have in Canada for that price I'd have 1600 dollars easy.  Then I'd just go re stock. I think I might just quit my job. Lol 

[Scarborough817]

i can confirm as a canadian that the picture snake posted is one i have seen from the live series. i have only seen the largemouth in a dt4 i haven't been able to find a dt6 or dt10 yet

i have a pic but i don't know if it will be seen as an add because it is very promotional 

[Scarborough817]

just thinking maybe @Attila can weigh in too i'm sure hes seen a few around 

[jr231]

I want them! All! 

[Spankey]

Thanks for posting the pics. I'd like to have that sucker pattern in the worst way. The largemouth I picked up is a DT 6 thats what caught my eye along with that "live series" band w/ bass on it.

But I've mentioned in other posts as much of a Rapala fan that I am, I'm not all that thrilled with my results with the live pattern baits. Yes they work but I mean in result ratio compared to the original patterns of DT's and Shad Raps. And it seems that when the river get gin clear I almost expect to catch channel cats on the live series. The catties seem to want to hit the live look shad raps. 

A clear example for me. In my case. Not speaking for others. Take the bluegill patterns. They probably have 3 or 4 variations between original and all the live looks. Hands down the original look out fishes the live look patterns. For me. Being a Rapala junkie I had to try the lives because they look so real. Looks are one thing but the original pattern worked for me better. 

I know some post that they are not too big of Ike fans but I have to say a few Ike patterns and a few original patterns are my go to colors. I just believe that strongly, just something about them. 

Pattern favorites and productiveness we can do later. I believe a lot of that has to do with water clarity you are in. 

[jr231]

I'm going to have to agree with the live series not being as effective.. but I do catch fish on them. And only started fishing them here recently. I do have a DT4 "live pumpkinseed" that has caught bass , bluegill and crappie in the same day . I also caught a big bass (at least 4+) this season on a "live river shad" shad rap. 

Their new(er) yellow perch color has been awesome for me... I've caught several mature bass on a scatter rap shad yellow perch. 

As for the Ike colors.. I've done well in the blue back Herring , on the scatter crank shallow. One time I pulled 3-4 bass off the same point almost back to back with it.. I also like the "penguin" , "old school" , and "girlfriend"  . Some good stuff man I really like fishing these products. I always have confidence in them . 

[Attila]

I think a lot of it comes down to what the forage base is of the fish that you're targeting...

In our more northern waters I've had success using the classic patterns like perch, silver, and dark brown crawdad because they match what our small and largemouth bass are eating.

That said, I've seen bass in the spring time with crappies half down their gullet so perhaps at certain times of year a "live" pattern may work a bit better.  Keep in mind though that here in Ontario most of our bass water opens up in mid to late June, not early as our friendly neighbours to the south.

Rapala is discontinuing a lot of stock as they whittle down the keys and characteristics of successful bait types and introduce things like the Shadow Rap and Shadow Rap Shad.  Classics, however, will never go out of style which is why the Shad Rap in basic colours like perch and black/silver will always occupy sections in my light crankbait box. Same can be said for the DT6 in classic patterns. About the only thing that I would like to see is a return to a silent version of the DT series as I prefer silent squarebills over those with any type of sound.

As for cost; I wouldn't bet on seeing a change in the cost as the lures cost a lot to produce and here in the Canadian market paying $12 for a great lure isn't really asking that much. If you're fortunate enough to live in the USA then you'll get things a bit cheaper, but don't expect to save much if anything at all if you shop at a Bass Pro or Cabela's here in Canada as the company has to pay duty and tarriff's to get their product across the border, a cost which then gets passed on to us, the anglers.

I just stored my gear away and am making my list of go to lures for next season...plenty of Rapala's included as to me they work year round for multiple types of species in various lake types and water conditions.

Cheers.

[Spankey]

I got lucky again today and found a DT-10 version of the Live Look Largemouth Bass that is the Canadian Series. Had to pick up a new HDMI cable and went to a Wally World that is not a local one to me, was just convenient to get it there while I was out. Couldn't help to go through fishing department and low and behold like my last find there it was in the $1.96 bin of lures. I just find this real odd. I really don't care if I ever use it. I'm a Rapala junkie but not a "live look" fan. Just a weird thing. Some corporate buy I guess. Only the one as the 06 find and none of the other Canadian versions were there. There were a couple of odd Storms in there also.

[bigturtle]

I have the crappie lipless and the sunfish crank, looks nice

[Coonedawg]

On 12/9/2016 at 2:17 PM, Scarborough817 said:

i can confirm as a canadian that the picture snake posted is one i have seen from the live series. i have only seen the largemouth in a dt4 i haven't been able to find a dt6 or dt10 yet

i have a pic but i don't know if it will be seen as an add because it is very promotional 

I need that xrap in my life.

[S. Sass]

I'd take any DT for $1.96. 

[primetime]

I am pretty sure you can still buy the bass colored DT Crankbait. I have had a few for several years, but I am sure you can find them on Ebay or Amazon if they are only distributed to the Canadian Market.

 

I Know Rapala added new colors recently to go with the IKE patterns, then the original colors that they have had. I think this Bass Color was common years ago as I have a few DT-16's I used to use in NY still hanging around that never get used anymore.

 

I like Bass Colored cranks and soft baits, Skirts etc...If you are fishing a new lake or pond, you can always be confident you are matching the hatch when you throw Baby Bass, Especially during the Spawning season and Spring when Fry are all over. After I am done with Orange/Red cranks early in the year, I usually go to greens and Bluegill patterns toward end of Spawn which is March in Florida. 

 

Good find. I would agree, I have never purchased a Rapala that didn't catch Fish, I always buy Rapala hard baits if on sale since they could be pound for pound the best Hardbait line if you factor in Price and selection, difference from other companies. I guess Pradco would rival them, but Rapala VMC is also Terminator, Lindy, Suffix, and a few other brands like Storm etc.