Normark Changed the Storm Thunderstick

[buckeye bob]

I've been trolling for years using the storm deep jr. thunderstick. By far, my favorite wallyey/saugeye crankbait. I recently attempted to replentish my stock. To my horror, the bait has been redesigned. Normark (Rapala) recently bought Storm. The body of the new bait resembles a husky jerk. The dive lip is now glued on to the body. The lip is also maybe a 1/4" shorter than on the original. I've trolled the new ones side by side with the originals. The new bait doesn't dive nearly as deep, has a different wobble, and hasn't produced a single fish (I have limited several times this year on the original bait). Anyone else as pissed as I am about this? I'm going to send my new thundersticks back, directly to storm (normark) with a nasty letter. The baits are junk and they can keep them. If enough response is generated, maybe we can organize a boycott of normark products in hopes of bringing back the original Thunderstick.

[Hans]

Rather than a threat of boycott (how you gonna organize a boycott of several million disorganized retail buyers, less than 1% of which read your message? -- get real!), how about some polite lobbying by letter and in person at sports shows where Normark reps are present.

You'll be a lot more effective.

Hans

[chadk66]

Hans is absolutely correct in regard to killing them with kindness. If you go at em with both barrells loaded they'll just mark you up as another pissed off nimrod. If we all approach them like Hans says at shows, etc. and tell them that we all love shad raps and that it looks like the tail dancers are gonna be pretty decent but tell them that we would sure appreciate the old storm design and why we like them, they'll be more apt to satisfy us. Also, mention to them that they have been the heart of much discussion on this board and urge them to check out the archives regarding the old storms and how much people love them and I think they'll see for themselves how much market there is for the old ones.

[GREEN HORNET @@@@--------------.]

BOB, THERE IS A GROUP OF DEDICATED WALLEYE NUTS THAT JUST LOVE THE OLD T/STICK. I HAVE TALKED TO THE GUYS AT NORMARK/STORM AND THE PROBLEM LIES IN A COUPLE OF AREAS. 1)manufacturing a lure that runs true out of the box. 2) managing the thousands of different colors we have all purchased in the last 15 years. THE BIG COMPLAINT FROM MOST OLD T/STICK FISHERMAN WAS THAT THEY DID NOT RUN TRUE OUT OF THE BOX. EXPERIENCED FISHERMAN COULD FIX, BUT SHOULD YOU HAVE TO? I THINK WHAT YOU WILL SEE IN THE FUTURE IS SOME KNOCK OFFS OF THE OLD T/STICK. I HAVE HEARD OF GUYS CATCHING FISH ON THE NEW BUT, NOT RUNNING ONE YET THEY DO NOT LOOK LIKE THEY WILL RUN AS DEEP. FOR NOW ALL YOU CAN DO IS SCAVENGE THRU THE DISCONTINUED BOXES FROM WHERE YOU BOUGHT THEM IM THE PAST. GOOD LUCK! GREEN HORNET@@@@------->.

[steve(IL)]

In addition to what Hans suggested, consider learning to like a competitors bait....... something by Reef Runner or Rebel/cotton Cordell. I'm ticked about all the changes and discontinuing of proven colors/patterns(it took a lot of on-water testing to figure it out). Write directly on one front and hit 'em in the pocket book on the other.

How can they pay mega-$$$$ to buy Storm and then wipe out there sales with dubious substitutions? What would shareholders or board members of Rapala say? ("Wait a minute, you mean we bought this company - Storm - made a few changes - and sales are off by 50%?")

[SUPERTROLLER]

I'll be surprised if the sales are ONLY off by 50%. I bought all I could afford last summer and still pick up a few here and there off of out of the way tackle stores and gas stations. These were stocked long ago by the retailers and will not show up as sales of the new models. I don't think many knowledgeable anglers will fall for the new t-sticks as being the same thing. That glued on bill ain't fooling anyone that ever bought one before and wants a replacement. They are going to kill the STORM name and then discontinue them completely. Rapala will survive by selling Rapala's but I won't be buying any imitation Storm lures. I'll keep buying Hot-N-Tots until they screw them up too. I'm still waiting on these new Thundercranks; Do I need another lure line or will my Reefrunner line-up cover all the bases? (I'm still experimenting with the Reefrunners)

[buckeye bob]

SUPERTROLLER, I too have been experimenting with the reefrunner baits. I have found that the deep lil ripper runs deeper than the deep T stick jr. and wobbles more erratically. I also tested a few of the new deep T sticks and could never get them down deeper than 12' (6/2 fireline) no matter how much line was let out. 14-16' was easily attainable with the originals. Normark could be ruining the Storm reputation purposely (eliminate the competition). From their point of view, why sell T sticks for $4.50, when we can get $7.00 a pop for the taildancer? I was given Normark's phone number by a local tackle shop. It is 612-933-7060 for anyone who cares to contact them. I will be calling tomorrow. As for the excuse that the originals do not run true out of the box, two of the four new models I purchased also required tuning .

[curt quesnell]

sorry to hear about your dissapointment. i had a chance to
see the new storm lures and i was all excited because i thought
they were beauties.

i havent used them yet, and wont until july and august. i liked
the old t-sticks but always had a problem with them running
true, they would even spin sometimes up around 3 mph.

last year, due to influence from this board, i bought some reef
runners and have experimented with them also.

remember this, there are lots of crankbaits out there and while
you may leave the storm camp you may find one or two more
favorites in the process.

good luck

curt quesnell
(hans idea was a good one, as usual)

[IA Troller]

Givem time bob. I have done awesome this year on the new baby thunderstick. i will give Normark credit though. they are running perfect out of the box. we have limited many times this year on them and as far as i am concerned they are better than the old ones as far as where I fish. give them some time bob, change can be good.