Cheapest Rapalas

[Meat Hunter Unlogged]

Who has the cheapest Rapalas? Mail order. They're starting to get up there in price and I lost 5 the last 2 days.


Thanks, Meat Hunter.

[Terroreyes]

Ebay

Or Cabelas with the bulk discount.



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[REW]

Meat Hunter -
What kind of line - and what type structure are you fishing that you are losing this many lures?

Unless you can't get to the other side of the structure that the lure hangs on - you can normally get it free if you are using at least 10 lb test line.

Take care
REW

[Terroreyes]

Depends. If it's a river, you tend to get these mushroom shaped rocks on bottom from what I've been told from people who've dropped cameras down in the Detroit River. Evidently from the current wearing on them. I'm a self-proclaimed master at dislodging lures :), even here, but in some areas, it's a lost cause no matter what you do. They lock under those rocks and they're not coming out, even with 30# braid. As a testament to Spiderwire stealth. I've sucessfully anchored my 21' Tundra on a snag, in Detroit River current. LOL Wrapped the line around my coat and it held the boat. Now, that's a snag. :o


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[walleyedmike]

Don't forget to check your local fishing/outdoor shows this winter and spring, you can really get some great deals there. Seems like I do better at the smaller, local shows than the large ones. Vendors are much more willing to "haggle" on price.

[Meat Hunter Unlogged]

The place I fish is a nightmare! There is all submerged timber from when they flooded the dam, there is still trees standing in a few spots. Now I'm finding that I'm getting snagged on ropes and chains that are there from buoys they take down for the season. Some are floating under the surface. The water level varies depending on the season.

I'm using 10lb. Vanish until the spool is empty. On some lures I'm using 6 lb. Seaguar. I'm trolling some smaller baits when they want them. 2 1/2" er's.

Meat Hunter.

[MoWalleyeguy]

I was at a Sheels this weekend and they had them about 50 cents off on sale... I bought several... no matter what they are still pricey.

[yarcraft91]

I fish a reservoir with flooded timber and zebra mussels. I gave up pulling Rapalas there and switched to Hot-n-Tots, which seem to run through the timber almost snag-free. I also switched to 15 lb PowerPro line, since the darn zebra mussels were cutting off my monofilament regularly. I can troll there now all morning without snags or cutoffs, catching some fine walleyes. I can feel the Tots dragging over the timber often, but they don't snag. And PowerPro is too tough for those mussels to cut. Tots have really different action than Rapalas, but the walleyes here in Michigan really like them.

[Chad]

the more you buy the cheaper they get...

ChadM

[IntroC]

If you ain't fishing in current a lure retreiver works wonders. Especially in flooded timber. A small lake I fish has loads of it and the first few times I fished it lost loads of cranks trying to drag my lures over the tops of them.

The first time I saw a lure retreiver I thought what a joke, but figured what have I got to loose. Since buying this thing I have yet to loose a lure(except in current). I think I even catch more fish now because of it. Reason being, no longer afraid to fish in the junk where the fish are.

Its a little harder to use in current in a boat. Its just to hard to hold steady over a snag in moving water. From shore it still works good. The trick is to get up current of your lure.

This is gonna sound stupid, but its one of the best investments I have made when it comes to fishing. Has payed for itself to many times to remember. Always have one on hand.

Nothing sucks worse then looseing your favorite crank that is loaded with teeth marks.

[Hogslammer]

IntroC, What kind of lure retriever do you use?

[Meat Hunter Unlogged]

I use the 'Hound' lure retriever. I have it on a chalk line with no chalk in it.

I use a diving device to get my small Rapalas down to depth, therefore I can't use the Hound when doing this. I run Hot n' Tot's too on Fireline and use the Hound when I do this.


Meat Hunter.

[IntroC]

Not sure of the name but I will give a description. One might actually be the "Hound". The lead is shaped like a dog with two rings coming out of it back and some heavy duty(about 30ft) string connected to an eyelet at the nose. The other is shaped like a fish(painted green) with the same two rings, but has four small chains dangling out the back with string attached. Both work equally well.
Cost about $5 to $8 dollars.

[Tim Ellis]

Yes that's the hound. My Dad has one and its works great. You can order them direct from manufacturer on the web. Very good tool for the arsenal.

[Silentsixty]

I haven't used them (or even seen them) but the replacement thingees for split rings that sacrifice the treble on snags but holds with fish might merit consideration. I've seen positive reports of them being used in timber. I think I remember they were pricy but cheaper than crankbaits.

Real man's line would straighten the hooks on those itty bitty lures. :) Maybe use lead instead of diving planers (jets?)so you can use the weight of the lead (yoyo) to work the bait off the wood.

If you are using small divers like jets, could you make make a large diameter lure retriever that you could work over the jet to the snag? Off the top of my head I'm thinking something along the lines of a weighted soup can slit to slip over the line. Duct tape can deal with any sharp edges:}

Marker buoy with a wrap around lead strip anchor will make a decent enough lure retriever to convince anyone that's curious after they try it a few times in calm conditions.

Good Luck,
SS

[fishinnut]

I use this model retreiver from Bass Pro and it works great.
http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_52869_100011005_100000000_100011000_100-11-5

[Meat Hunter Unlogged]

That might be a good idea to add some chain to the retriever becasue the Hound won't hook tiny baits because the loops are bigger than the lure it'self.


Meat Hunter Unlogged. PS, man is that Bass Pro Shop SLOW on the shipping!!!!

[Dave Q]

>I haven't used them (or even seen them) but the replacement
>thingees for split rings that sacrifice the treble on snags
>but holds with fish might merit consideration. I've seen
>positive reports of them being used in timber. I think I
>remember they were pricy but cheaper than crankbaits.
>
>Real man's line would straighten the hooks on those itty bitty
>lures. :) Maybe use lead instead of diving planers (jets?)so
>you can use the weight of the lead (yoyo) to work the bait off
>the wood.
>
>If you are using small divers like jets, could you make make a
>large diameter lure retriever that you could work over the jet
>to the snag? Off the top of my head I'm thinking something
>along the lines of a weighted soup can slit to slip over the
>line. Duct tape can deal with any sharp edges:}
>
>Marker buoy with a wrap around lead strip anchor will make a
>decent enough lure retriever to convince anyone that's curious
>after they try it a few times in calm conditions.
>
>Good Luck,
>SS
:confused: is the string strong enough on the buoy. do you just form the lead strip into a circle around the line and drop it down?? thanks

[SS2]

>Marker buoy with a wrap around lead strip anchor will make a
>decent enough lure retriever to convince anyone that's curious
>after they try it a few times in calm conditions.
>
>Good Luck,
>SS
is the string strong enough on the buoy. do you just form the lead strip into a circle around the line and drop it down?? thanks
...
>>>>
....
The nylon cord on the buoys I've used with lead strip weights is plenty strong enough as long as it's not seriously frayed. Tends to fray near/at the lead strip. Wrap the lead around something & test it.

Yes, just form the lead strip into a overlapping circle around the snagged line. Try to make the overlapping circle so the lead strip doesn't fall off. Keep the snagged line as tight as possible and as vertical as possible. Let the weight slide down the line and lift & free fall/drop it rapidly until your unsnagged. Sometimes giving the snagged line just a bit of slack right when the weight drops onto the the bait is the ticket. If the weight snags try working it for a few moments before pulling it free.

I eventually put the marker bouy line on an old baitcaster with a very short piece of an old rod. Minor improvement but also one more "thing" in the boat. The down side to the lead strip deal is it occasionally comes off the line. Seems to come off more when it is windy and/or your trying to do everything by yourself. Not too often though...I've intended to buy a "real" retriever because of that but haven't gotten around to it in the past 5 or so yrs...I've lost Very few lures to snags when I use the lead strip retriever.

It is way easier with two people & calm conditions. I don't even consider it in some conditions.

Good Luck,
SS