Crankbait Back Splitting

[kykayak]

Looking through one of my crankbait boxes today I was in search of a flat sided shallow runner. I have pretty good luck with them when things get tough. When I pulled a few out I noticed one had a crack right along the backbone seam holding the two sides together. At first I didn't give it much thought. Then I saw three more with the same exact thing. Some worse than others. It reminds me of a Coke can that has been pinched and dented inward at the bottom and popping out at the top. The crack does not go all the way through the bait and feels like a sponge when you pinch the bait together. All the baits are a Lucky Craft KJ Flat series of baits that have been stored in a clean Plano box stored in an air conditioned room. In fact most of the baits including the one shown below have either never been used or very lightly used. And, have been purchased within the last year. The question is, What causes this? How can you prevent this? And what do I do with the baits that I have (the action of the bait has clearly been altered)? 

[mcipinkie]

I had the same thing happen with a whole box of SK Red Eye Shads.  Two dozen lures.  Took the hooks off, and trashed them.  The only thing I can think of is heat.  All mine were fat and round and most of them split just like what you are showing.

 

If you took yours out of a cool to cold place and put in the boat at 100 degrees or so, expansion probably set in.

 

TRASH !!

[kykayak]

Throwing away probably $30 in basically new baits hurt. I guess I'll b on the lookout for new flat sided cranks to replace the ones I just lost. 

[papajoe222]

Try contacting Lucky Craft's customer service department.  I'm not familiar with their warranty, if any, but it sure couldn't hurt.

[Munkin]

Heat does that and the two manufacturers that are the worst for me is LC and SK. It doesn't happen with my older LC baits just the ones from the last 3 years.

 

Allen

[islandbass]

What I find perplexing is how can these “quality” and expensive baits fail like that. 

I would hope these companies would be able to find an adhesive that could withstand the extreme temperature changes (I’m being sarcastic) or else put a warning and lower the prices as a result lol. 

 

Is it possible to reglue these guys? 

[Smalls]

45 minutes ago, islandbass said:

. 

 

Is it possible to reglue these guys? 

Probably, doesn't sound easy though. I bet an email to the manufacturer will get you some replacements, they know 90% of us make internet posts like this one. They know that if the last post is "They stood behind their product and replaced em", they'll keep customers 

[ItsHardwick]

I watched an older Scott Martin video a while back where he talked about this happening. I’m sorry I don’t remember what he said the cause was, but there was one. I know this isn’t really helpful, just letting you know there is a video out there explaining this. 

 

Matter of fact I’m going to go look and see if I can find it for you now. 

[ItsHardwick]

Here’s the video. He doesn’t know why it happens either I guess but he does go through a bunch and show what to look for and how to tell it’s happening before they get as bad as yours are. 

 

I am really curious why this happens exactly now. Is it preventable at all? I sure hope it’s not from storage in the heat because I’m in trouble if so lol. 

 

That really stinks tho man. I’d definitely hit up their customer service, the worst that could happen is they say no, and you might get some new free baits. 

 

 

[Porkrind]

Yup, the heat does and sunlight are terrible on crankbaits. Just leaving them in the truck all day can kill them if the vehicle or container they’re in aren’t vented well.

[fishballer06]

Heat and sunlight cause this. The old pre-Rapala Wiggle Warts are notorious for having this and bloat. I keep those babies guarded like they're my own child whenever I'm out on a hot, sunny day.

[gilkeybr]

Almost every LC bait I own (not a million, but more than a couple) has done this.  They're on my list of lures i'll no longer buy because of this failure.  MB lures also seem to be vulnerable as well, as I found several Vision 110s and a few Flap Slaps that showed similar expansion (MB did replace these for free which was nice).  Some of these were unused much like your own.

 

My only conclusion is heat as well.  I keep the lures out of the sun and out of the trunk/boat as much as possible.  

[TnRiver46]

I've lost a bunch that swelled up and exploded . Mostly strike King because that's as high dollar as I go. Yet another reason to just fish plastic worms. Ralala husky jerk will also do it. The busted lures are now what I use to throw at gar

[TBAG]

Man, that's upsetting for sure........

[kykayak]

Any suggestions on other flat sided cb? 

[Smalls]

11 hours ago, kykayak said:

Any suggestions on other flat sided cb? 

I’m a big fan of the Spro Little Johns. It has a tungsten ball in it that makes a really nice dull knock sound. 

[J Francho]

None of my LC have ever done this, but all of my Live target Craws did, save for one specific color.  This was before they were ever thrown, and some were still in the package.  BPS took them back for full refund.  I'd contact your retailer, or LC customer service directly.

[TBAG]

17 hours ago, kykayak said:

Any suggestions on other flat sided cb? 

Just noticed you were in CKY, did you buy them locally? If so I'd take them back and see what the retailer says.

 

Also, I have had luck from the SK 1.5's over the years, they're also cheaper than LC's.