Would you consider this a good cold water crank? Ashamed to say I've never thrown one.

Yes- much more subtle than a DT-4, IMO, and casts better than a Shad Rap, though Raps are great cold weather baits, too.

I've never thrown one either but I would have expected the dt4 and dt6 to be very similar in action.

 

I just bought a couple of dt4 with our shallow river in mind. For most of the year the river is pretty shallow...4 ft is a pretty good hole. LOL

12 minutes ago, MGF said:

I've never thrown one either but I would have expected the dt4 and dt6 to be very similar in action.

 

I just bought a couple of dt4 with our shallow river in mind. For most of the year the river is pretty shallow...4 ft is a pretty good hole. LOL

 

Not similar at all, IMO. DT-4 is a great river/murky water bait. Nice roll and flash to it, and a good vibration. Had some big cats eat it, too. DT-6 is more subtle with a much thinner/narrower lip.

19 minutes ago, Team9nine said:

Yes- much more subtle than a DT-4, IMO, and casts better than a Shad Rap, though Raps are great cold weather baits, too.

Cool- just saw a video of a guy using a DT10 in 42 degree water catching some nice largemouth. May have to get a few for my cold water crank box

Just now, DitchPanda said:

Cool- just saw a video of a guy using a DT10 in 42 degree water catching some nice largemouth. May have to get a few for my cold water crank box

 

DT-6 and DT-10 are pretty similar, but the 6 is the more subtler of the two - a less agressive lip. 

@DitchPanda simple answer is yes, the DT-6 can get the job done in cold water.  DT-6 in Demon is a staple for a lot of anglers.

 

@MGF I agree with @Team9nine the DT-4 is the oddball Dives To series.  It's not as subtle and doesn't run as tight as the 6 but its in my box year round.  

 

Ott's Garage Slim 06 looks like it's going to be a serious player in the cold water game.  If you haven't made your purchase yet it may be worth a look.  

They're good but they're fragile. 

 

On 1/23/2021 at 2:56 PM, rtwvumtneer6 said:

 

Ott's Garage Slim 06 looks like it's going to be a serious player in the cold water game.  If you haven't made your purchase yet it may be worth a look.  

I picked up a couple of these and fished them Saturday. Caught a 5 pounder, then got it snagged and the bait blew up when I pulled it loose with my lure retriever. One of these days I will learn my lesson about buying Rapala baits ?‍♂️

3 minutes ago, Bluebasser86 said:

They're good but they're fragile. 

 

I picked up a couple of these and fished them Saturday. Caught a 5 pounder, then got it snagged and the bait blew up when I pulled it loose with my lure retriever. One of these days I will learn my lesson about buying Rapala baits ?‍♂️

I've never had bad experiences with Rapala durability. But that's because the only balsa bait of there's I've thrown is the shallow shad rap and I usually snag and lose them before they can break!

12 minutes ago, DitchPanda said:

I've never had bad experiences with Rapala durability. But that's because the only balsa bait of there's I've thrown is the shallow shad rap and I usually snag and lose them before they can break!

I haven't had an issue with the shad raps, but the DTs break like glass for me and so far it seems the OG Slims are on the same plane. 

1 minute ago, Bluebasser86 said:

I haven't had an issue with the shad raps, but the DTs break like glass for me and so far it seems the OG Slims are on the same plane. 

I was considering the DTs and the slims for ice out but maybe ill stick to the frittsides..I haven't had durability issues with those.

1 hour ago, DitchPanda said:

I was considering the DTs and the slims for ice out but maybe ill stick to the frittsides..I haven't had durability issues with those.

I bought a frittside just before it got too cold to try out. It was great for about 45 minutes. 3 fish, then the bill broke.

DT’s all season bait. I’m a bit partial to Rapala and everything they put out. Fished them since a kid. They just seem to catch fish. Good luck with the OG Slim. I ordered a couple awhile back but have not received them yet. Have been fishing the squarebill Brat some the last couple of seasons. Have only caught smaller bass on them but I attribute that to there are always smaller bass on the bank. Need to fish them a bit differently. 

7 hours ago, kdubracing said:

I bought a frittside just before it got too cold to try out. It was great for about 45 minutes. 3 fish, then the bill broke.

I've heard this from a few people but I've got a few with no issues so far. 1 has probably a dozen fish 1 of which was a pike plus I've been grinding it thru rock and its still going.

I have had some success with the bluegill pattern one I have also broke the bills off couple times my own fault.  I still like them a lot seem to get bit for me when I find some cleaner waters around my parts. 

3 hours ago, jgordon said:

I have had some success with the bluegill pattern one I have also broke the bills off couple times my own fault.  I still like them a lot seem to get bit for me when I find some cleaner waters around my parts. 

Rapala bluegill has been one of my favorite most productive patterns for years (not live bluegill). I have a brand new DT6 in Bluegill hanging from a branch on my dogwood tree. Trying do make it a faded version and see how I do with it. What I’m trying to do with it seems to be working. I hade the Bill and hook hangers all protected. May work out good. 

1 minute ago, Spankey said:

Rapala bluegill has been one of my favorite most productive patterns for years (not live bluegill). I have a brand new DT6 in Bluegill hanging from a branch on my dogwood tree. Trying do make it a faded version and see how I do with it. What I’m trying to do with it seems to be working. I hade the Bill and hook hangers all protected. May work out good. 

So I missed out on this where people do this trick to get them faded.  I recently heard of people doing that and might try some of that myself. 

First it was the bills on the DT10 breaking, then the bills on the DT Flats just pulling out of the bait.  Never bothered trying any others.  I have a ton of older balso baits from Rapala that are great, but the ones I tried in the mid 2000s were terrible.  Terrible enough for me never to buy them.

2 hours ago, J Francho said:

First it was the bills on the DT10 breaking, then the bills on the DT Flats just pulling out of the bait.  Never bothered trying any others.  I have a ton of older balso baits from Rapala that are great, but the ones I tried in the mid 2000s were terrible.  Terrible enough for me never to buy them.

Yeah I don't get it. You'd think that a company that's been around 85 years specializing in balsa baits should have it figured out by now.

They had it figured out in Finland.  

2 minutes ago, J Francho said:

They had it figured out in Finland.  

True that

18 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

I picked up a couple of these and fished them Saturday. Caught a 5 pounder, then got it snagged and the bait blew up when I pulled it loose with my lure retriever. One of these days I will learn my lesson about buying Rapala baits ?‍♂️

I'm getting a mixed message here?

 

I agree, rapala/balsa isn't intended to smack off the water to clean your hooks, but if they catch fish...  

 

Idk what it is about hard baits but I'll burn through $10+ of plastics in a day and not think twice about it.

59 minutes ago, rtwvumtneer6 said:

I'm getting a mixed message here?

 

I agree, rapala/balsa isn't intended to smack off the water to clean your hooks, but if they catch fish...  

 

Idk what it is about hard baits but I'll burn through $10+ of plastics in a day and not think twice about it.

I think its a mental thing...you hear the words hard bait and think its supposed to hold up so when they don't it ticks a guy off.

5 hours ago, jgordon said:

So I missed out on this where people do this trick to get them faded.  I recently heard of people doing that and might try some of that myself. 

I'm not always modifying stuff but that's my most recent. Tweeking a favorite bait a little. And I have some of my Zoom U-Tail worms in coffee grounds trying to enhance them some. I tried fishing some late in the season but results were not good or basically meaningless. I'll revisit that this spring. I'm generally not messing with things. Two small experiments.

1 hour ago, rtwvumtneer6 said:

I'm getting a mixed message here?

 

I agree, rapala/balsa isn't intended to smack off the water to clean your hooks, but if they catch fish...  

 

Idk what it is about hard baits but I'll burn through $10+ of plastics in a day and not think twice about it.

No mixed messages. I like wood baits and have several expensive balsa baits, I know how to treat them. Other than catching the one good fish, it hadn't taken any abuse other than the usual wear and tear of cast and retrieving through cover for about 2 hours. I had a giftcard and liked the look of them so I wanted to give them a shot. I was hoping they'd be a more sturdy built bait. I have a few more so hopefully it was one bad one.