Kinda wore most of the chrome yesterday. Need to replace it, Just wondering if there has been any Improvement since last year?

Yeah I know that SK wasn't the only one having problems with the chrome finish coming off.

Loaned my blue/chrome to my partner yesterday and then the ingrate proceeded to kick my butt. Other Chrome/blue or chrome/black baits just weren't as effective.

They now come with oval split rings.  ;D

Same here, catch enough fish the chrome chips off.  Don't slap the bait on the water to shake weeds off of them either, that will tear them up too. 

Good thing they're only $5.  Though I have this old gold one (now silver) that has but a little bit of the black back on it and still catches fish.  Ugly bait, but it works. 

If it was a $15 bait I probably wouldn't buy the Chrome finish, but @ $5 try to think of them like a bag of soft baits if you catch enough fish on them it's probably worth replacing one here and there.

"chrome" just isn't made to take the abuse fish can deal. The process used is only slightly compatible with plastic so the adhesion is iffy at best. Some of the higher end baits have a hot pressed chrome look that sticks better but its not quite as mirrored as the other method. 

All this I understand guys. The Bill Lewis Ratl traps have had chrome finish for years and not had major finish problems like the Red eye has had. I'm talking losing the chrome after only 3 or 4 fish. The one that we used yesterday I bought a year and a half ago, and hadn't used it much due to other crankbaits working better where I had been fishing.

The question was. "Have there been any improvements in the finish durability of the chromed Red Eye Shads by Strike King?"

Thanks for the replies.

Rat L Traps have the best chrome finish.  If you want something that doesn't wear off, get those. 

Rat L Traps have the best chrome finish. If you want something that doesn't wear off, get those.

OK guys this isn't getting any easier.

I know 'bout Traps etc.

Yesterday The Chrome/Blue back RE shad trounced all over the:

Chrome/Black RE shad

Spro Arucu Shad Chrome/Blue (one of my Favs)

Bill Lewis Rat L Trap Chrome/Blue

Ya know, some days are like that. They want what they want.

But the question is still unanswered.

Has there been any Improvement in the durability?

"Gee, that broke easy"

I used a oval split ring RE shad a few days ago and it didn't hold up too well so I'll assume nothing has changed. The chrome started to come off after 2 fishes about 14 inches. The area I was fishing didn't have too many rocks that the bait hit. I am not impressed with the finish. Hopefully even with the paint coming off, I'll still be able to catch fish, then I wouldn't care too much.

Thanks Trippy

I kinda figured that was the case. Stopped and got a couple replacements yesterday anyhow. $6 a pop is not cheap, but not the most expensive cranks in my arsenal. I wonder if Clear Coating them would help? Anybody tried that?

Thanks Trippy

I kinda figured that was the case. Stopped and got a couple replacements yesterday anyhow. $6 a pop is not cheap, but not the most expensive cranks in my arsenal. I wonder if Clear Coating them would help? Anybody tried that?

Man you have nothing to loose if you experiment clear coating them, look at it this way, think about that chrome finish as a goner cuz that 's what 's going to happen, from what 's lost what you can recuperate is profit.

What bugs me is the poor durability of the chrome in the shads; my traps, ratlin rrrs, bayou boogies, ratlin raps with chrome/gold finish are alll beat up and the finish hasn 't peeed and lasted for years of use and abuse. Go figure.

It doesn't wear off real easy but it wears off kinda fast.  I fish around rocks a lot so its gonna wear off faster than fishing in open water obviously.

Thanks Trippy

I kinda figured that was the case. Stopped and got a couple replacements yesterday anyhow. $6 a pop is not cheap, but not the most expensive cranks in my arsenal. I wonder if Clear Coating them would help? Anybody tried that?

Yes, it helps. Several years ago Wal-mart carried aerosol cans of House of Kolor paint for painting motorcycle helmets. The clear works really good on lures. You can find it online.

SK RE's are poor quality but will out catch other traps often. I've bought several that the rattles were bonded into the plastic and wouldn't move. XCaliber will hang with the SK in catching ability but are much better quality with excellent hooks.

FWIW I always had trouble with the chrome finish flaking off of Rat-L-Traps as well.

I use the chrome sexy shad 3/4 oz. faithfully and grind it off of shell rock ledges all day. Sure it gets chipped which IMO makes it look even better but haven't had any issues with the finish actually peeling ever. These are all newer baits since we have to replace them pretty often from brushy trees that often lurk about and steal them.

Thanks Trippy

I kinda figured that was the case. Stopped and got a couple replacements yesterday anyhow. $6 a pop is not cheap, but not the most expensive cranks in my arsenal. I wonder if Clear Coating them would help? Anybody tried that?

Yes, it helps. Several years ago Wal-mart carried aerosol cans of House of Kolor paint for painting motorcycle helmets. The clear works really good on lures. You can find it online.

SK RE's are poor quality but will out catch other traps often. I've bought several that the rattles were bonded into the plastic and wouldn't move. XCaliber will hang with the SK in catching ability but are much better quality with excellent hooks.

I just opened 2 packs of the 1/4oz RE shads and the rattle seems to be very quite compared to my other ones. I wonder if a silent or less loud rattle trap will catch fish. I am thinking of sending them in to Strike King to get 2 replacements. I bought them a while ago.

i *think* there has been some improvement. my first chrome red eyes would begin flaking after 3-4 casts...it was truly pathetic. my latest ones (with the oval split ring) don't start flaking until after 2-3 dozen casts ;D (i'm serious)

that being said, i have some of the new gold sexy shad ones and the finish on those have been holding up much better.

on a side note, more than any other lure, i notice differences in catch rate with the red eye shads. some of my red eye shads are amazing fish catchers and somesame color and everythinghardly ever get bit. very frustrating.