Rapala catastrophic failure

[h8go4s]

This Tail Dancer came apart on the cast. Obviously an adhesive failure. I tried to exchange it at two different stores, but neither would do anything without a receipt. Who keeps receipts for fishing tackle? I don't even know when or where I bought it. The Rapala HSOforum says "To obtain service please return the item to the place of purchase". At $7 to $8 apiece for these, I'm not happy. I suppose I could glue it back together myself, but I don't know what adhesive to use and whether I could trust it when I'm done. Any ideas? Any Rapala reps here?

[TruthWalleyes]

Do you slap your crankbaits on the water to remove weeds? I've seen all too many break and it's almost always related to slapping the water. You could always go buy another one and keep that receipt to return your broken lure.

[bobbymalone]

Who keeps receipts for fishing tackle?

people that might want to return it

seriously, who returns stuff without a receipt?

how old is the lure?

[harvey lee]

I use to from time to time also slap lures on the water to remove weeds. No more as I trashed enough cranks. Salmo cranks are not to be slapped at all unless you want billless cranks. Never had a Rapala cranks break yet.

I keep all my reciepts for just about everything.

I agree, buy another and then use that slip to return. That off course is fine as long as you did not abuse the lure.

[LOTWSvirgin]

Do you slap your crankbaits on the water to remove weeds? I've seen all too many break and it's almost always related to slapping the water. You could always go buy another one and keep that receipt to return your broken lure.

Ditto

I was fishing with a buddy the other evening and he caught a walleye and as he went to grab it the back hook pulled out of it and I know he doesnt slap or do anything uncalled for with his cranks. He was going to call rapala and talk to them about it I dunno if he did or not though

[FM_Mike]

All products at some point and time will malfunction or break. Some times it's user caused and some time it just happens. Rapala has not said it would not stand behind their products. The stores you visited chose not to.

If the lure was abused (Not saying it was) then move on learn from the experience and go out and purchase a new one and call it lesson learned. If it was truly a product issue, e-mail or contact Rapala or a their rep.If that doesn't work, then do as others have said and suggested and purchase another lure and return the broken one using the receipt for the new one.

Totally your choice.

Mike

[Brian-Mn]

Super glue

[Surface Tension]

Two part epoxy.

[Cicada]

Remove the hooks, add a ring...new keychain!

[h8go4s]

As I said in my original post, it did NOT break. The adhesive failed. The entire bill pulled out of the body. NOT my fault in any way. But the keychain idea made me laugh.

[MikeH55343]

My biggest fish is a 49" Muskie caught trolling a Tail Dancer on Mille Lacs at night. If the lure had broke, I would have died right there. It did not. The fish was landed (and released). Long live Rapala.

[CAMAN]

I agree with Surface Tension, two-part 5-minute epoxy will make that thing good as new!

[crappiebuster]

Thought I was the only one having this problem. Bought 2 floating raps earlier in the year and 3rd or 4th retrieve same thing happened. Second one failed at 100 or so casts. Needless to say I wasted 14 bucks. Thanks rapala! Is everything being made nowadays junk or what? Jack up the price and find the cheapest way to manufacture it. Someone needs to break that trend......

[jwmiller33]

you could try and glue it back together but I doubt it will ever run true again. You might be able to get it darn close, but no cigar as they say.

[Northlander]

I would e-mail Rapala and see what they do about it. With the price of Rapala lures you would think they would stand behind the lure.

[mrpike1973]

i have had 3 minnow raps do the same thing and 2 shallow shads. i thought i was the only one. i think i may try salmos. they pulled apart the same a never never slapped them 2 of them are in pike mouths i sure hope they didnt die got them to the boat one had just the tail hook in his mouth then pop i got the bill back

[pushbutton]

THIS IS PURE SPECULATION,........I have never had a rap do what others have been contending, almost all of mine are older, but it is possible in this new brave new global economy, that they changed a supplier or technique in the manufacturing process to save a a few pennies here and there. As someone else mentioned, for the price, would at least let them know what experience you had. Dont know if it will matter, but at least we can try. Had an issue with a reel, the thing kept fouling up, bought another one and same thing, obviously something had changed from the older model that worked flawlessly for 4 years; made 3 inquiries to the company and was rebuffed each time. I know I was given the run around and reply the customer service agent was supposed to say, but have to believe, in some small way the frustrating time i spent making my case, they will look into this; first off because I know I am not the only one that had the same problem, and secondly, i will not buy another one. Hopefully 1 + 1 will eventually add up for them!

[mainbutter]

Two part epoxy.

[popriveter]

I had a lip fall off an Xrap on the first cast. Exchanged it at the store and the lip fell off the replacement on its first day. I decided it was a dud batch at that store and gave up. I havehad 6 or 7 Xraps in different sizes, colors. Haven't had any trouble with them.

[Knoc]

Gorilla glue.

[c0untryf1sh3r]

I am in the same boat as pushbutton, all of my Raps are older and I havent had any problems with them, and the only ones I smack on the water to remove weeds are my Super Shad Raps which I figure since they are made for big fish they can handle a little abuse. But I believe he is on to something, again speculation, but in the quest for the almighty dollar these days, Rapala MIGHT have tried to cut some corners to save a few pennies and therefor negatively effecting the final product. Its the same way with the company my dad works at, the CEO moved all production overseas to save a buck, the tolerances cant be held so the final product is suffering. I know I just restated what pushbutton said but thats what I honestly believe is happening.

[RumRiverRat]

Rapala will not replace that for you.

Slapping the lure on the surface is a great way to break them.

That is the most common failure I see on the DT series of Rapalas.

Even without slapping them on the water to remove weeds, fishing the Mississippi for Smallmouth and constantly hitting rocks and logs will break a bait.

Lip failure is an issue Rapala is aware of and it says right on the box something to the effect of Lures may be damaged if abused.

Mark Fisher is a Pro Staffer and lives in Nowthen.

HE drives a very recognizable truck and tows a matching boat.

I saw him in his driveway one day and showed him some of my broken DT's. Told him I love the lures and will keep fishing them, but wanted him to know that people are upset about lips breaking off.

He seemed like a good guy and asked me for my address, I assume he is going to send me some lures or something.

[delcecchi]

I think there is a difference between a lip breaking off and one that pulls out of the body cleanly. I think the latter is caused by a manufacturing defect. If it was properly bonded to the body, one would think that some traces of body material would be adhering to the peg on the lip. Some one messed up. But that is just my opinion.

[Capt. H (Ret.)]

Super glue!!! If you went to two different places you wasted more gas than the lure is worth. Sure, it peas you off that the lure broke but just move on and make the most of the short time you have here!!!!!!!!!!

Mike

[tacklejunkie]

Even the best lure is not indestructible.

I had a nice king salmon bend a trolling spoon while fighting but I'm still hooked on that brand of trolling spoon

[hanson]

Glue it up, go troll around some rocks on Mille Lacs, and you won't have it any more. Never have to worry about it again.