Being a sucker for any hot lure from the Elite Series, I remember when the Red Eye Shad rattletrap got some press (KVD winning some tournament a few years ago). I bought one immediately since they're so cheap. Went to the lake, cast it out and it swam like garbage (on its side, and none of the advertised shimmy on the fall action). I tossed in my junk crankbait box.
So now KVD just won the Classic on it today and I'm like crap, I have to have whatever lure just won the classic. So I want to buy more but at the same time I'm thinking of how worthless the first one I bought was. Has anyone ever caught a fish on one of these? Are they really actually good and I just got a bad one?
TW has them right now so I have the urge but man, I need some positive feedback here to get me motivated.
#3738, "RE: Red Eye Shad?" In response to Reply # 0
I've fished one a bit last year, but not long enough to really give a comprehensive review. Mine did, however, swim correctly, and threw out a bit more vibration than a Trap but less than an LV500 or similar bait. It also had the shimmy on the fall, but it wasn't as exaggerated as advertised, just a nice even horizontal fall with a bit of wiggle. I too am going to give these another shot. Hope that helps!
#3739, "RE: Red Eye Shad?" In response to Reply # 1 Sun Feb-21-10 10:43 PM by ll kaidoy ll
Rob,
My buddy Al is in love with these things. I personally haven't used them, but this was one of his "go-to" baits this past winter for Stripers. He was trolling them just like I was towards the end of November and December.
#3740, "RE: Red Eye Shad?" In response to Reply # 2
I have caught some fish on them. But the LV500 still caught more fish and larger fish at the lakes I used them both at. My baits swim correctly and do shimmy. I bet KVD had hundreds and hand picks the best ones with the best action. The rest are probably given away.
#3741, "RE: Red Eye Shad?" In response to Reply # 3
Dan
Interesting comment about KVD cherry picking the best baits. I read an article about ten years ago written by Rick Clunn regarding this subject. Rick said only two to four plastic cranks out of one hundred will run to his satisfaction. His words were “Very few baits will hunt”.
I still use 1oz circa 1973 Cordell Spot’s that are primo fish getters. They use a knocker instead of a rattle. Not much paint left on them, now that I think about it there isn’t any paint left on them.
#3742, "RE: Red Eye Shad?" In response to Reply # 4
I tune all of my cranks in the pool. I have learned a little bit on how to make minor changes to the action based on the shape of the lip and the thickness of it too. Some cranks will not run well. Shave a little off of the bill thickness and all of a sudden they start to run better. I have no life when I am actually home and not traveling. It leads to experiments like this. But I'm learning something and all of my cranks run better now.