Storm's Thundercrank-n-Tot's

[Lund AnglerMJ]

Has anyone got an opinion on the new bait's out by Storm? I've got some old Tot's and they worked good,but the new one's have a bigger lip,and it's plastic.Those Thunder Crank's look good,but I've been stuck on my Rapala's for a long time.Chime in guy's-gal's,I'm looking to put some Walleyes in the boat.

[cno]

I used the thundercranks last summer and had good luck with them, the deep running models worked the best for me, they come in two depth ranges. The perch, bone, and bass patterns worked good, they have a lot of action and the rattles seemed to make a difference.

[Skeet]

Rather than say it all over again go through these. I in my opinion I do NOT like the new ones. http://www.walleyecentral.com/cgi-bin/dcf/dcboard.cgi

[skeeter]

URL didn't work. Type in hot n tot or storm lure and do a search for earlier posts.

[All_Eyes]

I ran some of the Thundercranks with good success, but you have to give them a chance. I also had a number of nice fish with the "new" thundersticks. "Perch" color in both was the best.

[TK_551]

I have various Thundercranks that I bought last season. I did not do too well with them, however, I really did not use them that much. Will try again this season. As far as the new Hot-n-Tots, I have not used them. Not too sure I will with all the negatives that I have been hearing. I still have a bunch of the older style which have always produced. I will have to use them sparingly.

Tom
#551

[Walleye Express]

Lund Angler.
This is a subject that both pisses me off and baffels me. Why would a company like Normark, buy a company and re-disign one of it's most successful product lines, at least on the Saginaw Bay where I charter? And not only re-design it's looks, but it's dynamic function. I've heard the new ones only dive to 5/6 feet. And Normarks statement, "that they improved on the old metal style bill", looses it's punch with me. There is/was something about the old styles function/action, that made/makes it the number one crank on the Bay. And it's whole built in design and makeup is lost on this new design. Rather it was the old metal bill and nose clevas placement, or the body weight to bill angle, it worked and worked great. I think you would see other (Pro's) higher ranking complainers than me, if they all weren't in the Rapala sponsors gamebag. I have probaby, #####, I pray, I have enough old style Tot's/Rattle Tot's to see me through until (God forbid) golf is my only passion. Capt: Dan, Walleye Express Charters.

[Lund AnglerMJ]

Yes Dan, I read in the Bass Pro catalogue they replaced the old clunker metal lip with a new plastic one. Hogwash.I'v got a few old one's left too,and will try to find a good lure to replace it with. Maybe more Wally Diver's. They work very well for me,and they are cheap also,maybe not for long. My other good bait is a Shad Rap.Good luck in finding those fish.

[fishguy]

There is something to be said about the noise that metal lip makes when it's cranked along the bottom. It will be different than the plastic sound. Why did Normark do it? Money. Plastic is cheaper than metal. Sucks.

[paulisan1]

Like I said before time to break down and spend more money on Yozuris If enough buisness is lost to Normark then they might bring them back.Hopefully we wont need there stuff anymore because we found a replacment that works good.

[Lund AnglerMJ]

I was just at Dick's in Pittsburgh,and they had about 50 old type Hot-N-Tot's,but the color selection was'nt too good.Ipicked up a few,but still stick to my premise of fishin' some other bait's.See youz guy's on the water somewhere.

[Walleye Express]

I've been seriously considering buying an air brush spray kit and duplicating (if I can) some of the better colors, as well as the custom colors sold by Franks, used on the Bay. I to have pleanty of the yellows, whites and blacks that don't work that well, and could possibly spray them back into that (first string) team. Actually though, the Dalmation (white/black dots)worked pretty good for me later in the season last year. I also heard a rumor that the Producers, who make the willy worm were thinking of purchasing the molds and re-producing the tot. I used the willy for years on my drift boat charters for steelhead and kings, their molding and finishes are very good. The pattent is up (I think) on the Tot's design, however, your dealing with a bigger fish if you take on Normark and it isn't. Capt: Dan, www.walleye-express.com

[Skeeter]

FYI, Willy Worms is not buying any molds or forms. They are building their own. The lures Willy is putting out are not going to be exactly like tots but close. They will have a metal lip and should be out close to the middle of April if everything goes as planned. They are going to produce some colors Storm had. If you look at Willy Worm lures they have a pretty good paint pattern.