Can anyone identify these older plastic Rebel crankbaits? They just say Rebel on the plastic bill/lip with no other identifying marks. I bought them at least 30-35 years ago. I'm wondering if anybody knows the depth they might run at, and also any opinions on if it's worth replacing the rusted trebles and rings, or if they are better jettisoned into the trash. 

 

Looks like the Rebel Double Deep Wee R with the lead molded into the bill to get a little extra depth out of them . The problem with these baits is the hook hangers are to close together . Short shank trebels are needed or they will be constantly tangled . . They work well in 6 to 8 foot of water . Those are three good colors and well worth getting them back in action .

5 minutes ago, scaleface said:

Looks like the Rebel Double Deep Wee R with the lead molded into the bill to get a little extra depth out of them

 

Good eye! I didn't even notice, but you are correct that they have a little BB molded into the bill. 

 

6 minutes ago, scaleface said:

Short shank trebels are needed or they will be constantly tangled

 

Any idea of what I should be looking for regarding size of the short shank treble and rings? (I probably need to read up on how hooks are sized, I have no idea of how the system works.)

Definitely keep 'em - clean em up, put on some new hardware, probably short shank #6 trebles, and fish them. I have no doubt they'll still catch bass. Probably either size 2 or 3 on the split rings depending on brand.

One of the best crankbaits ever made.  As others have said the only negative is the hooks tangle.  Get new hooks and throw them in rocks.  You will catch bass, trout, crappie and anything else in the lake or river.

Classic baits. Deep Wee R's and old Bomber model A's were the go to crankbaits in 70's to mid 80's. Team9nine nailed the hooks, split rings. I still use them, and have some in packages. 

Thanks all. I ordered some #6 short shank trebles and #2 split rings and will give it a go. 

Oh Whitwolf......,,

I bought these from the large auction site.  Rebel sold so many that these don't command much if any of a premium.  I still have some from my middle school days, but those have sentimental value that these don't have, so I'm happy to fish and possibly lose these.

I have several of the Wee R and Deep Wee R Rebels. I have never seen or even new they made the ones @JbroBass has.

I still have a bunch of the Wee R & the Deep Wee R some are still new in the box. Last weekend while at the lake I got a chance to fish for a few hours & caught several on the Wee R  in some stumps in 4 to 5 ft of water. I was checking out my Champion XP 764 CB.

They are indeed double deep wee r's.  The Bone color is a fish catcher!

Keep em clean em and catch bass on em 

Purchased several mid wee R's for $1.99 at the 2001 bps spring classic.  They've been good producers, and I'd definitely like to try the deeper version.

22 hours ago, whitwolf said:

The Bone color is a fish catcher!

 

Cool! I salvaged another in this color from my Dad's old tackle box. I'll replace the rings and trebles on this one when I do the others. 

My terminal gear arrived and the #2 split rings are only rated to 18 pound test. (Not sure how I missed that when ordering. Perhaps it wasn't listed.)

 

Is that strong enough or should I buy something stronger? 

Just picked these up for $20, so now I'm fully stocked up on Rebel crankbaits! ?

1 hour ago, QED said:

Just picked these up for $20, so now I'm fully stocked up on Rebel crankbaits! ?

That crappie pattern has been my  most successful .

I ended up grabbing some 37 pound test split rings. I did one so far and it looks good:

 

 

I think I need to step down one more hook size to a #8 though. Even with the short shank #6 hooks, these hooks are closer together than the original hooks I replaced. They are close enough that if I jiggle them around just so they can snare one another.

 

So I'm going to finish the rest after the #8 hooks arrive. 

 

But hey that bait looks pretty good considering it's about 30-35 years old. 

 

Those are great baits!  Fish them.

 

There's a whole lot more on Rebel baits in this thread: 

 

20 hours ago, scaleface said:

That crappie pattern has been my  most successful .

You are right. The naturalized crappie pattern was almost as good as dynamite for me.

Question for @whitwolf

 

In the Rebel thread that J Francho linked just up thread, you mention that any Deep Wee R that has the eye screw protruding through the lip is an old version before a special piece of equipment was introduced to the production line. Is this also true of my Double Deep Wee R's above? They all have the screw protruding through the lip about 1/8" or so. How old would this make them?

 

I figured I bought them around 1986, but it seems they might be older than that?

 

Should I worry about them not running true? If they don't, should I mess around with the screw to tune them?

 

Thanks for any feedback!

 

On 11/11/2021 at 8:44 PM, JbroBass said:

Question for @whitwolf

 

In the Rebel thread that J Francho linked just up thread, you mention that any Deep Wee R that has the eye screw protruding through the lip is an old version before a special piece of equipment was introduced to the production line. Is this also true of my Double Deep Wee R's above? They all have the screw protruding through the lip about 1/8" or so. How old would this make them?

 

I figured I bought them around 1986, but it seems they might be older than that?

 

Should I worry about them not running true? If they don't, should I mess around with the screw to tune them?

 

Thanks for any feedback!

 

Yes, yours are older.  They'll  run fine and give you great fishing for years and years.

So I got my old baits cleaned up and then I ended up buying about another 20 of these plus a bunch of the regular Deep Wee R's lolz. I guess these are my crankbait of choice for mid depth water going into next season.