Reef Runner Body or Rapala

Just wondering if they have the same depth do you prefer Reef Runners body style with the curve vs. Rapala body style or vice versa? Just curious, thanks,

I myself prefer the Reef Runners however they are a few $ more and are really hard to tune. Color’s are as important as the body style I believe.

Which cranks are you talking about? The shad baits? Deep diving? Shallow running?

I’ve found they each have their place on any give day. I always have some of both with me when pulling cranks. The RR are definitely a challenge to tune at times, but they flat out catch fish.

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Which cranks are you talking about? The shad baits? Deep diving? Shallow running?

I’ve found they each have their place on any give day. I always have some of both with me when pulling cranks. The RR are definitely a challenge to tune at times, but they flat out catch fish.

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I guess I find the RR are a little less money then the Raps???

Again, not sure what style crankbait you are comparing.

I’ll try to explain the differences in the deep diving series:

Deep Diver Reef Runners vs. TD-11 Deep Tail Dancers

The depth curves are very similar (10/4 Fireline)

20 feet of line – around 10 feet deep

60 feet of line – around 20 feet deep

125 feet of line – around 30 feet deep

However, their swimming action is very different. The deep diving reef runners have a round lip with a slimmer body making a much tighter wobble versus the TD-11s which has a longer sleeker lip. You will notice the difference when cranking them in and the RR’s will have more resistence to them.

TD-11’s have a red trebel hook in front where RRs have a plain one.

They both come with rattles but the RRs have a lower pitch sound versus the TD-11s.

I believe the TD-11s are a little heavier too since the body of the bait is wider and deeper.

Both catch fish and one will outperform the other on any given day. Try and match the forage base.

Yellow and White Perch – TD-11

Gizzard Shad – RRs

Rainbow Smelt – RRs

Alewives – RRs

Emerald Shiners – RRs

Tullibees – Both

Bluegill – TD-11

Crayfish – TD-11

Brad and lip pretty much hit the nail on the head – both baits flat out work. I have been running RR’s since the late 90’s and have found them to work almost anywhere – small & large lakes, reservoirs, etc. Try them on your favoirite lake after locating some suspended bait and marks and you might be surpriesed. I only started with the TDD’s the last few years and they also catch fish as with most Rapalas they are a well made bait.

My largest walleye to date came on a RR in lake erie – just over 33″ and my first TDD walleye out of Mille Lacs was over 29″ so they both work and target larger than average walleye!

Good luck and keep us updated on your success!

PS – tuning the RR’s is an acquired skill and using RR’s tuner makes is a LOT easier. Take time to tune baits while you are out trolling and you will utilize your time in the boat well!

-ted

Thanks for the feedback everyone, I just really started trolling with leadcore and line counters last year and it was a hoot when we got into them and great for covering some water.

I use the storage boxes for them, but is there a better system for storing them so the hooks don’t get all tangled up?

I like my B&B bait boxes, but they are a bit hard to look down into when out fishing. However, I love how the baits hang and dry in that box. There is another box on the market that looks really cool, I just can’t remember the name of it. I think Dan Fife(BigFife) has one. Shoot him a PM if he doesn’t see this post.

I tend to us Plano 3700 series boxes with 2-5 lures per compartment when out in the boat. Keeps tangles down to a minimum. The problem, after many years of stocking up on cranks, I tend to need a lot of room just to bring the Planos all along.

thanks Kooty — that’s where I am at or on the track to so trying to nip that in the