What's going to be the new Storm Lure???

[Trapper]

I was at Fleet Farm tonight and saw the sign that says Storm lures are changing and all the colors are going away. I bought several, but they were pretty picked over. I don't think I have a big problem with that unless Rapala decides that Storm is going to be the same overpriced, overated lure that Rapalas are. Sure, I lose plenty of Rapalas, but I never buy them unless I can buy on significant clearance. Storm was like a well-kept secret. Their baits were competitively priced at retail and they catch fish. Maybe they catch fish because I can afford to run them or throw them where I may lose them which is, quite often, where the fish are. I can only imagine that Rapala is going to really stick it to us with their re-designed "Storm" lure. If anone knows what's up, let us know. If I'm asking this question for the 100th time, never mind.
Thanks

[SUPERTROLLER]

Trapper, yes this has been answered before but we'll run it again. Storm has stopped making the Thunder-sticks with a molded in plastic bill. They felt that this fine lure should be built with a plastic bill glued on to the front of the lure instead and while they were changing the mold, decided the body shape needed to be changed too. I haven't run a side-by-side comparison of the new style with the old style so I can't say if they made it better or worse. That action almost certainly will be different and I'm not sure if that means a tighter wobble or more erratic action. Maybe someone else can shed some light on this for everyone. Thanks to anyone with informed input.

[fishallday]

The new Bass pro and Cabela's catalogs have the new ThunderSticks.They look a lot like Rapalas. The ThunderSticks are a bit bigger than they use to be. It looks like they have eliminated the name jr.ThunderStick, but the still carry a ThunderStick that is 4.5 inches long and dives 0-14 ft. So it is still the jr just does not have the name. They have some pretty much got rid of all the old paint patterns and have created their own. They have also came out with a new bait called the ThunderCrank which is just about the same bait as Rapalas new Tail dancer.
To me, it looks like a big rip off!
I will sure miss my old favorites....

[fishallday]

Sorry about that typing error....I think you know what I meant!

[Hawgeye]

I personally am saddened and concerned about the change. I too have been an avid THUNDERSTICKer. These lures produced a lot of nice eyes for me not to mention 3 nice trophies (2 of which were released). I have pulled in many "lips" or "bills" only on my $6 Rapalas when snagging up or hitting a BIG fish. I like the Rapalas but I have caught as many or more fish on the less expensive Thundersticks and reef runners. Never pulled in a "bill" on any other crank...

[Trapper]

Thanks for information. I guess Rapala has us by the short hairs now. That's business. We can choose not to buy them, but they'll probably catch fish because Rapala will put such a marketing campaign together that a lot of people will buy them. When a lot of people buy them, a lot of people use them and there's still some dumb fish left. Since we're fisherpeople, we always have to have the lures that are catching fish at the time. Rapala has been a semi rip-off for several years now and I don't see them getting any better. They make decent lures, but I can't afford to use them as I said earlier. I'll miss the venerable old THUNDERSTICKs as well. I retired the one I caught a 12# on. If it gets that bad, I may have to bring it out of retirement ;-).