DanielN

The more I look at the pic above, the more I think that there was a little bit of water or moisture in the bag of Coppertreuse baits that caused the plastic to begin to deteoriate. While our baits are not truly biodegradable, the do break down over time when exposed to the elements, and I believe that water can speed this up. Salt in our baits attracts moisture. We're located on the coast in South Carolina where the humidity is ridiculously high - in the summer, it feels like a steamroom here! If I leave heavily salted baits like the TRD or ZinkerZ loose on my workbench in the garage, they attract moisture due to the salt (unsalted baits don't do this) and literally feel like a wet sponge after a few days. I've noticed that the baits lose their durability, much like you experienced. I think the moral of the story is to make sure that our bags don't get moisture in them or that wet baits don't get returned to the bags. I can't say for certain that this is what happened here, but that Coppertreuse turd sure does remind me of those wet spongy baits from my garage! Regardless, there's still a chance that you received bad product, and we're glad to send replacements.

Bunnielab, I work with Z-Man and wanted to address your concerns directly. Sorry for the issue you experienced with the TRDs - I don't think we've received feedback like this, so it is definitely not typical. We stand behind our product 100% and will gladly send you some replacements if you like, just let us know. We have not changed the formula for this bait, but it sounds like maybe the couple of baits that tore easily may have inadvertently had a slightly higher salt content or may have been exposed to moisture inside the bag, which could explain the spongier texture. One difference between the TRD and the ZinkerZ is the amount of salt impregnated in each. The ZinkerZ is molded with 45% salt by weight to cause the bait the sink and counteract the buoyancy of ElaZtech, while the TRD is made with only 25% salt, which allows it to retain its buoyancy. The reason we impregnate the TRD with salt is to duplicate the texture of a worn ZinkerZ - once the ZinkerZ loses some salt, it takes on a spongier feel and becomes buoyant, and those are characteristics that Midwest finesse anglers feel increases the effectiveness of the baits. That said, it's difficult to maintain 100% consistent salt content in these baits, which is more noticeable in ElaZtech than with conventional plastics given their buoyancy and stretchiness. Whether you're using the ZinkerZ or TRD (or Hula StickZ for that matter) for Ned Rig applications, one thing we recommend is that you stretch and rub the baits before using them to loosen up and remove some of the salt. As noted above, this adds to the baits' buoyancy (allows them to consistently stand up off the bottom at rest and slows the sink rate) and replicates the spongy feel of a well-worn bait that is so desirable. Salt effectively stiffens the baits as well, so stretching and rubbing them makes the baits more pliable and limber and ultimately adds to the fish catching action. If you would like us to send you some replacement baits, just let us know!

We have explored (and are continuing to look into) options for ElaZtech-proof boxes, but so far, everything we've seen has been far too expensive. Thanks for the input, and we'll continue to look into this! Some of our colors do bleed, so we would recommend storing different colors separately.

That's a great question. The bags themselves won't hurt ElaZtech plastics, but the residue from the other plastics might. Over extended periods of time, the ElaZtech baits could affect the bag itself depending on the structure of the bag - for instance, the zipper could detach from the bag, or the films in the bag could delaminate. Our bags are ElaZtech-proof and utilize a special adhesive to attach the zipper as well as a certain type of barrier film in the bag itself. If you're looking for a way to store more ElaZtech baits together, you can use a ziplock freezer bag and should not have any issues!

Unlike other ElaZtech baits, the ZinkerZ sink at the same rate as a Senko. ElaZtech itself is buoyant, but we load these with enough salt that they sink on their own. After about 8-10 fish, enough salt is expelled from the bait that it will start to float (or at least sink at a slower rate), but Senkos are usually only good for a fish or two, so the ZinkerZ are still a money saver.

Glad everyone likes the TRDs and Finesse ShroomZ, but sorry to hear that folks are having a hard time getting ahold of them. Like anything new, it sometimes takes distributors and dealers a bit longer to catch onto something new than us fishermen! It can be a bit frustrating for us as a manufacturer too, but it's just part of the deal unfortunately. A lot of the national chains like Cabela's and Bass Pro place orders well in advance, so it can take them a little bit longer to respond when something gets hot. The distributors that service smaller dealers often refuse to stock products in their warehouses until dealers request it and only add new items on an annual basis in the fall or winter. And, most dealers are limited on space and funds sometimes too, so many don't bring in new items until customers are screaming for them and they know they can sell them! We have plenty of TRDs in stock, and if you're having trouble finding them elsewhere, you can always give us a call at (877) 797-242 and order from us directly. If you know any dealers that should be stocking these or are out, feel free to send us their name and contact info so we can send them a catalog, or have them call us directly. We have been a little bit backed up on the Finesse ShroomZ heads recently, but we just shipped large orders to Bass Pro, Cabela's, and Tackle Warehouse last week, and more are on the way. Again, you're welcome to give us a shout to see what we have in stock and when we might have more in. Thanks for the interest in the Ned Rig system, and nice to see that people are realizing the benefits of the TRD and how different these baits are! Please give us a shout if there's anything we can do for you!