What to do?

[bobbyg]

I owned a Smithwick Suspending Rattlin Rogue jerkbait that I got from Bassmaster a few years ago. I had never used it until this weekend. I threw it a few times and really liked how it moved in the water. On my 5th cast I caught a 3+ pound largemouth on a rock wall. I thought to myself, I am going to use this thing all day as I thought it was perfect for our conditions. The next cast on the second jerk, the bill broke off!!! Now I am torn, do I buy more of them, and hope this was a fluke thing and not an overall quality thing with this particular bait, or do I try a different brand? Does anyone have experience with the Smithwick Suspending Rattlin Rogue? And do you recommend it over any others? Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

[Sam]

I have not had any problems with them.

 

Only fish them in cold water once or twice so maybe if I threw them more I could give you better input.

 

Take it back to BPS and get a replacement.  

[WRB]

Probably hit the rock wall with the bill?

I had a bill fail and pull out on a Norman DD-22 on a big bass during a night tournament. Chalked it up to 1 failure in thousands of casts using DD-22's and kept on using them to this day because they catch big bass!

Tom

[Bluebasser86]

Rocks are rough on bills. Just from my couple hours this morning. 

[TOXIC]

Depends on whether you smacked something with it or it was a manufacturers defect.  If you think it was a defect then send it back and ask for a replacement.  If you fish around rocks and cover like downed wood, you are going to bust up any billed bait and that includes busting the bill, cracking the bait or ripping out the line tie.  At one time, my favorite cranks (SPRO) were known for breaking bills and they are not cheap.  SPRO addressed the problem and they have gotten much better.  I also fish a lot of vegetation and have for the most part stopped "slapping" the bait on the water to clear it from hooked weeds.  Although slower, I now pick the grass off and my cranks love me for it.  So does my wallet.  

[Bankbeater]

I've never had a problem with them, but I have broken several baits over the years on rocks.  Everything from breaking a bill to putting a crack down the side of the bait.

[mattkenzer]

If your not busting up the odd crank bait when fishing cover, your not trying hard enough .....

[Catt]

What do you want...lures in your tackle box...or fish in your livewell?

 

Ya can't have both!  ?

[Jigfishn10]

You had fun didn't you? Buy more. Smithwick hasn't been around for many decades for nothing?

[Munkin]

The Rogue has been around for awhile and they work well. KVD won the 2005 BassMaster Classic using one BTW.

 

Allen

[crypt]

that's why we buy more lures than we really need.they will break,get lost on a stump etc. etc. etc........and there is nothing wrong with that.it just happens.