Snidley

DT 4, DT 6, and mud dragging a DT 10 would do the job. Personally i prefer the old Balsa Fat Rap deep diver. It runs between 4' and 8' depending on the line size and how you are holding the tip. The thing i like about the Fat Rap is that it has a faster wiggle combined with a balsa wander. The DT's have a very sloppy side to side roll. The www.rapala.com website actually shows how their lures run in the water on video when you select the choice of lure on their site. Very enlightning. If you want the very best action of all go on ebay and pay whatever the market is berring at the time and buy an old balsa Shallow Fat Rap in either the size 5 or size 7. They are by far the best bass /pike crankbait ever made and don't let the shallow aspect put you off. The action of this lure will call them up from the bottom even in 8' of water. No one who ever used one understands why Rapala ever delisted them. snidley

I not only think it's action number one I would say that it's also the material that causes that action number 1A. As an example Balsawood baits will consistently outperform plastic baits even when the action is the same. Example, Rapala Fat Rap vs Rapala Glass Fat Rap. The Balsa Fat Rap will virtually always boat more fish(Bass) than the plastic Glass Fat Rap. They have the same action though. Then colour comes into it . Depending on water clarity and the species being sought after of course. Depth plays a major role as well. There's lots of times when fish won't hit anything over their heads and other days when they won't dive down for anything. They will always hit somthing that runs right by them lol. Bottom line if we are talking about maxing out on our angling opportunity lots of factors figure in including changing up when they catch on to your bait, but for my money a highly visible Rapala Shallow Fat Rap in Orange /Gold or Chartruse/Pearl will catch fish and catch them all day in gin clear or coffee mud coloured water and for sure with that lure it's the action that makes it the best Bass bait ever. Snidley

Since you guys are looking at Musky baits and great colours then you might as well see the very best. Check these bad boys out at Franky baits at http://www.niagarasportfishing.ca/frankybait.htm When you get there check the photos section for his 8",10" and 12" baits as well as some pics of fish he's caught(he's a charter Captain). Up here his baits are considered the best and will catch fish in all Musky hotspots like the St Lawrence River, Ottawa River, Georgian Bay, Lake St Clair, Lake of theWoods, the Kawarthas and his home turf the Upper Niagara River and Eastern Lake Erie (Buffalo Harbour). snidley

Tommy i caught my biggest Largemouth Bass at my favorite impound on a Bandit Footloose in Baby Bass colour. You are right they are a great bait moreso for Largemouth than Smallmouth though. Thanks for the input. Snidley

I love Smallie fishing in a local river here in Canada and I have great sucess with Rapala Shallow Fat Raps that of course were discontinued by the dummies at Rapala years ago. Does anyone here have any suggestions as to other balsa lures (or plastics)that might duplicate the success I have with the SFRaps for Smallies? I've tried the Shallow Shad Raps but they are not as good, don't cast very well and the stepped lip breaks on rocks very quickley. Bagleys Small Fry Baby Bass, Perch, Walleye etc are very good lures, for Largemouths but not that good for Smallies. Some shallow running plastic baits work (Yozuri Flat Cranks, Luhr Jensen Speed Traps, Bevy Cranks, Megabass Griffons) but never as well as balsa cranks. Also is there anyone making Shallow Fat rap duplicates? Snidley

I don't make my own lures but i do modify many lures including Bagleys and Rapala's made from Balsawood and I personally swear by cheap nailpolish that I buy at the dollar store. Works like a charm and leaves a durable thick coating that really lasts much better than the original paint/sealer. It also has deapth, often metalic glitter or mealic sheen as part of it's colour makeup. Snidley