Rapala DT

[SuperDuty]

Yesterday after work I swung by this small lake on my way home. It’s a heavily fished lake because it’s right down town. I had been throwing everything in my tackle box snd couldn’t get s hit. Then, I see the brand new Rapala DT6 sitting in its box. I bought it last summer on a suggestion from my boss who is a tournament bass fisherman. I tie the lure on and make a cast and BAM, I’m pulling in a 4lb bass. I repeat this over all down the bank pulling in 1lbers until it finally snagged and I lost it. I’m absolutely hooked on this lure now. Swinging by the store on lunch and buying several more. Lol

[Susky River Rat]

I bought some but have yet to throw them much. I believe they will be a great crank bait for my area. 

[Woody B]

I like real wood lures.  I use various DT's as well as the OG series.  Rapala's quality control isn't.... top notch though.  Occasionally you'll get one that has an obvious problem.  I've had no problem getting them replaced.  I did have a bill pull out of a DT6 a couple weeks ago while boat flipping a 2 pound bass.  I had bounced it off several lays downs and had probably damaged it.  

[MickD]

DT's work!  When the water is cold, fishing for smallies, I often pick the one that will tick the bottom, and slowly retrieve it until it ticks, then stop and let it rise for a few seconds, then repeat.  

[Woody B]

3 minutes ago, MickD said:

DT's work!  When the water is cold, fishing for smallies, I often pick the one that will tick the bottom, and slowly retrieve it until it ticks, then stop and let it rise for a few seconds, then repeat.  

 

 

They barely rise, if any at all.  They float, if you just throw it out there but most of them suspend pretty good.  I believe that's part of their magic.  They vary a little from lure to lure.  I've learned this watching them on active target.   

[Mbirdsley]

One crank I’ve not had a lot of success on.  I catch lots of other things on them but, not bass.  However, I have DT-10, 14, and 16’s 

 

[MickD]

1 hour ago, Mbirdsley said:

One crank I’ve not had a lot of success on.  I catch lots of other things on them but, not bass.  However, I have DT-10, 14, and 16’s 

 

For the Shiawassee, get DT4 and 6. 

[Dogface]

The DT series is my favorite crank baits right now. But as Woody says they are fragile. 

[Tatulatard]

Dts are fish catchers with great action.  If you grind the bottom you'll wear out that bill and it will fail either by breaking in half or coming out of the wood.  If you're a bottom grinder then I can't recommend them.  I like them near the bottom ocassionly making contact with irregularities.

[casts_by_fly]

The DT series is my go to standard crankbait.  I carry them from 4 to 20 on every trip.  With the clear water and lots of pressure we get up here, the slightly less aggressive wobble and lack of rattles helps I think.  You can fish them year round.  They are consistent across the lineup for overall action and feel, so size based on the baitfish and depth you need.  The 6 and 10 are my most used but the others get it as well.

 

I supplement my set of DTs with some OG flatsides for springtime and DT fat's for summer.  Both are square billed.  The OG has a tight wobble for colder fish.  The Fat has a wider wobble and a bigger profile for summer when the forage are a little bigger and the bass warmer.

 

Add in some lipless, and I don't feel like I am missing out on anything in the crankbait realm for fishing up here.

[KP Duty]

3 hours ago, Woody B said:

I like real wood lures.  I use various DT's as well as the OG series.  Rapala's quality control isn't.... top notch though.  Occasionally you'll get one that has an obvious problem.  I've had no problem getting them replaced.  I did have a bill pull out of a DT6 a couple weeks ago while boat flipping a 2 pound bass.  I had bounced it off several lays downs and had probably damaged it.  

Those are some jumbo fingers!

[Jar11591]

DTs are my go to crankbaits. I’ve caught fish on em in Northern NY on the Canadian border down to Sinaloa, Mexico. They come in some great colors. Occasionally you’ll have to tune the line-tie to get them to track straight, but other than that they’ve been great quality baits for me. I have some that are going on 15 years old. 

[WIGuide]

I love the DT line, they're great fish catchers regardless of model and a staple in my crankbait boxes. 

[SuperDuty]

1 hour ago, casts_by_fly said:

The DT series is my go to standard crankbait.  I carry them from 4 to 20 on every trip.  With the clear water and lots of pressure we get up here, the slightly less aggressive wobble and lack of rattles helps I think.  You can fish them year round.  They are consistent across the lineup for overall action and feel, so size based on the baitfish and depth you need.  The 6 and 10 are my most used but the others get it as well.

 

I supplement my set of DTs with some OG flatsides for springtime and DT fat's for summer.  Both are square billed.  The OG has a tight wobble for colder fish.  The Fat has a wider wobble and a bigger profile for summer when the forage are a little bigger and the bass warmer.

 

Add in some lipless, and I don't feel like I am missing out on anything in the crankbait realm for fishing up here.

Thanks! I’m gonna look for some of these OG’s when I run to the sporting store in a bit. 

[casts_by_fly]

29 minutes ago, SuperDuty said:

Thanks! I’m gonna look for some of these OG’s when I run to the sporting store in a bit. 

 

Grab an OG6 in red craw or classic craw and just start fishing it this spring.  Spring = red baits.  Spring = colder water = flatsides.  Its a natural match.

[Tatulatard]

I'll throw that OG tiny 04 in 39° water.  It and the 1/4 oz super spot are the 1st baits I throw in early season as state parks open up.  That tight wiggle does the trick in shallow frigid water.

[casts_by_fly]

2 hours ago, Tatulatard said:

I'll throw that OG tiny 04 in 39° water.  It and the 1/4 oz super spot are the 1st baits I throw in early season as state parks open up.  That tight wiggle does the trick in shallow frigid water.

 

I just picked up some 4's for this year.  I only fished the 6 last year.  I have quite a few places where the water is 4-5' and a mucky bottom. The 6 was digging in just a bit too much so the 4 should be just right.

[Bankc]

The DT's are some of my most used lures.  I love them!

 

Though, I don't pick them up in the winter.  Perhaps I should?  

[NorthernBasser]

44 minutes ago, Bankc said:

The DT's are some of my most used lures.  I love them!

 

Though, I don't pick them up in the winter.  Perhaps I should?  

Everyone talks about flat-sided cranks in cold water. And for good reason. But the DTs are definitely great cold water crankbaits as well. 

[gim]

I have several of the DT series crankbaits.  Although I am not a big crankbait guy, I will admit they are a decent lure for the price.  I would highly advise changing out the stock treble hooks though.  Rapala is know for putting really cheap thin wire hooks on their lures.

[Susky River Rat]

6 hours ago, Tatulatard said:

Dts are fish catchers with great action.  If you grind the bottom you'll wear out that bill and it will fail either by breaking in half or coming out of the wood.  If you're a bottom grinder then I can't recommend them.  I like them near the bottom ocassionly making contact with irregularities.

Looks like I’m going to be breaking a lot 

[dodgeguy]

The only time I've had them break is after rock crashing casts that did damage to the bill. I've never broken a dt crank bill fishing it into boulders. Also if a crank get snagged and you keep yanking on it you're breaking it. Back up and pop it lose from the backside. Dt crankbaits catch lots of fish. 

[casts_by_fly]

1 hour ago, gimruis said:

I have several of the DT series crankbaits.  Although I am not a big crankbait guy, I will admit they are a decent lure for the price.  I would highly advise changing out the stock treble hooks though.  Rapala is know for putting really cheap thin wire hooks on their lures.

funny enough, on the OG cranks I changed the hooks for thinner ones. Those hooks were really heavy wire and I found I wasn’t getting good penetration on my crankbait rod (even with braid). 

 

46 minutes ago, dodgeguy said:

The only time I've had them break is after rock crashing casts that did damage to the bill. I've never broken a dt crank bill fishing it into boulders. Also if a crank get snagged and you keep yanking on it you're breaking it. Back up and pop it lose from the backside. Dt crankbaits catch lots of fish. 

slapping the water to clear weeds will do it too. I have a dt-fat keychain float because I killed one last year.