Hot'n Tots

[NA_unlog]

I recently got some "original series" Hot'n Tots. I decided on the "originals" after hearing a few laments about the old style versus the newer, but don't really know if the "new old" ones are any better then the "new new" ones.

Anyway, I noticed once I got them that the sizes don't match what's listed in the 7th edition of precision trolling.

Did I screw up by ordering these? If so, what should I have ordered?

Thx

[schrof]

I have the exact same question about the Thundersticks. The new "Storms" say original series. They are different from the T-Sticks a yr. ago by Storm. Are the new one's from the original molds. I thought Dave Kabooms was original mold? Anyhow, last night I floated both T-Sticks and Hot'n Tots in water- new ones vs original old ones, both seem to have exact same bouancy? Can anyone shed some light on the new "original series" vs old original models and how does Dave Kabooms fit in?

[Roadhunter Un-Logged]

The Storm Hot n Tots in the yellow box are made in Finland at the Rapala Factory. When Rapala bought Storm they attempted to make the Hot n Tots with the same Rapala construction by gluing the lip to the body. All Rapala lures have the lip glued to the body because it makes the lure run more consistently. This is why all Rapala lures can be tank tested and hand tuned.

After getting "hammered" for changing these lures by the avid Storm customers, Rapala went back to using the Original moulds to make the Original Storm lures. These are in the Original Storm packaging.

Basically, the lures should run very similar. The major difference is that the construction of the Original Storm Lures has a molded lip and the Finland made lures have a glued or inserted lip. The Original lures are stronger. The Finland lures run more consistently.

Dave Storm has made a new mould of some of the Original lures and called them Dave's Kaboom but he does not have the Original Moulds. Storm Does.

[Stiker]

My question is "how can one tell what size Hot n Tot he or she has" I didn't think it is marked on the lure anywhere. I ask this because in the Precision Trolling book size is very important.

[DaveStorm]

The smallest size HotnTot regardless of where or who made it is 1/4 oz. apprx 2" long. No matter what you try, all of the aluminum lipped lures such as HotNTots, Winning Streaks, Double Downers and Brads all catch fish. Some have superior features such as stronger lips, higher-quality platics, some are cheaper than others, some dive a little deeper, some swim more erratically...but, all have great action and produce results. Just find the right ones for you, pick your colors and tie them on...

My Dave's KA-BOOM! Winning Streak is 1/4 oz, 2" body legnth but wider and 1/8th" longer in style and dives slightly deeper than 1/4 oz HotnTot. My lip is hardened aluminum, and my molds for all of my KA-BOOM! Baits are unique styles to my line, and all designed and tooled by me, Dave Storm. I do not and never have had the original molds for Storm Lures....I DO make my lures the way my dad used to, and they are being produced here in USA (Storms are made in China now). Hope this answers the question as to Dave's KA-BOOM!....

[Jeepman]

Thanks, Dave. I have boxes full of Hot'nTots(I stocked up when I thought Storm stopped producing them.), Producers, Brads, and Dave's...but, the Dave's are the lures that I reach for first and the Dave's are the lures that put the most fish consistently in the boat whether the fish are walleye, smallmouth, or steelhead. Keep those Dave's coming-Jack.

[eyerookie]

the pics in the pt book are "actual size" hold your lure up to the pic and that will let you know the size. i had this problem also.

-hope this helps

[KBM]

The Ones I got through Bass Pro by mail today say Made in China on the box!. The paint on 3 of them has a flat finish. Dont know if they will be any good or not.

Good Fishin....Kevin

[Stiker]

Thanks guys for your thoughts. Thats what I've done in the past Eyehooker, I match the lure up with the one in the Precision Trolling Book. The only different I've noticed in the past is the diving bill is there another different in the paint or anything else. What type of bill does the Daves have.

[Dave Storm]

The Dave's KA-BOOM! Winning Streaks have a hardened aluminum lip (slightly larger and shaped different than the HotnTots). The hardening makes the lip rigid, and difficult to bend. SOme others out there are not hardened and bend more easlily.

The HotnTots that my family made prior to selling to Rapala in 1999 also had hardened aluminum lips. I am not sure if they do anymore or not. The lips in the Dave's KABOOM! Winning Streaks are "locked in" also, with a tang to prevent pulling out.

Hope this helps too!

[Stiker]

Thanks Dave I appreciate the info. If I may, I would like to ask one more question. Is there any way one can tell the size of a hot n tot other than matching it up to the picture in the precision trolling book.

[Dave Storm]

Off the top of my head, I do not know the actual sizes of HotnTots, but, knowing that the "H" series (1/4 oz) was by far the most popular for trolling, it will be the most commonly found HotnTot. The H series remember, has a BENT lip. The AH series, a little larger, has a STRAIGHT lip. The even larger BH series has a STRAIGHT lip also. NONE of these, H, AH nor BH rattled! The RH (Rattle Tot), DID rattle and has a BENT lip. It is slightly larger than the 1/4 oz H series. I do not know just exactly what sizes the new HotnTots are available in.

Hard to keep up with!

[Stiker]

Thanks again Dave

[SS2]

Striker,

From some old orig H&T packages:

1.) H 1/4 oz, length 3 inches
2.) RH (rattle tot) 3/8 oz, length 3.5 inches
3.) AH 1/2 oz, length 3.75 inches.

No BH models in house but they are obviously bigger than AH.

SS

[north_alabama]

What seems to be available now as "original series" is 3/16 oz/2" and 3/8 oz/2.75". PT 7th has 1/4 oz and 1/2 oz weights with sizes that appear to correspond to the 2" and 2.75". Don't know if the weight difference is substantial in running depth. I imagine the bouyancy is a little different.

[Silentsixty]

1.) H 1/4 oz, length 3 inches
2.) RH (rattle tot) 3/8 oz, length 3.5 inches
3.) AH 1/2 oz, length 3.75 inches.

To help with any confusion - Length from old tot packages is the total length (lip and body) and they match up with PT 7 pics for appropriate weights. Storm/Rapala must have changed from total length to body length for specs.

SS

[schrof]

I checked buouancy several wks ago in sink, the new "original series" seemed to be exact as old original models- same goes for the Thundersticks.