Storm Wiggle Wart Colors ?

[J.Vincent]

Any Wiggle Wart experts here on bass resource? I’ve been looking for color codes for these two Phantom Green Craws without any luck. The first one (Left) was purchased around 2018 or 2019 and the other was purchased in 2023. Are these completely different Phantom Craws with different color codes ? or was the color scheme for phantom green craw modified at some point ? 
 

[rangerjockey]

Some of the colors are  BPS exclusives and designed by Tim Hughes, one of our local custom painters so they look different than the pre Rapala's.

Also, the consistency of the Rapala baits in general is pretty bad

They were probably both supposed to be phantom green craw, V86.

The one on the left is closer to the original.

[J.Vincent]

10 hours ago, rangerjockey said:

Some of the colors are  BPS exclusives and designed by Tim Hughes, one of our local custom painters so they look different than the pre Rapala's.

Also, the consistency of the Rapala baits in general is pretty bad

They were probably both supposed to be phantom green craw, V86.

The one on the left is closer to the original.

Thank you for this info, and in fact, the one on the left is the color I’m looking for; but I can’t seem to find that version of the Phantom Green anymore . I’m probably just splitting hairs here and it maybe won’t make much of a difference to the fish, but it’s a confidence thing. 

[rangerjockey]

12 hours ago, J.Vincent said:

Thank you for this info, and in fact, the one on the left is the color I’m looking for; but I can’t seem to find that version of the Phantom Green anymore . I’m probably just splitting hairs here and it maybe won’t make much of a difference to the fish, but it’s a confidence thing. 

 

 

The other option is to find a Pre Rapala V86. It's not going to be cheap but you will have what you want and hopefully it's one that runs good.

Honestly, I have several dozen Pre Rapala warts but I throw the Rk Crawler more these days. 

The phantom colors are good . You may want to try one.

[Comfortably Numb]

Usually only the more desired Pre-Rapala Wiggle Warts have that seam down the back. Are they molding them that way again? The Pre also say "iggle Wart" under the bill and newer post Rap say "Storm"

 

 

[rangerjockey]

They all have a seam( 2piece mold ) but it has always been more pronounced on the pre Rapalas. 

Correct on wiggle wart under the bill vs Storm on the newer ones. 

[waymont]

I'm not a WW maestro, but I don't think the color difference would have an affect on the fishing hitting the bait. I never fished a pre Rapala WW, but the new ones catch tons of fish for me.

[J.Vincent]

5 hours ago, Comfortably Numb said:

Usually only the more desired Pre-Rapala Wiggle Warts have that seam down the back. Are they molding them that way again? The Pre also say "iggle Wart" under the bill and newer post Rap say "Storm"

 

 

I have a few Pre-Rapala and I agree the seams are usually more visible on them but both cranks pictured here are new from big box tackle shops. 

[rangerjockey]

14 hours ago, J.Vincent said:

I have a few Pre-Rapala and I agree the seams are usually more visible on them but both cranks pictured here are new from big box tackle shops. 

In my opinion the biggest difference between the older baits and the Rapala baits is the sound.

The old baits were made of different plastic called Buterane , not sure of the spelling , but it turned out to be cancer causing so they couldn't use it any longer. So that along with those lead rattles just made a unique sound. That will never be duplicated.

Not every pre Rapala bait hunts and certainly the new baits will catch fish. 

[J.Vincent]

19 hours ago, rangerjockey said:

The old baits were made of different plastic called Buterane

Is this the type of plastic in the Luck-E-Strike American Original G5 Crankbaits ? On the Tackle Warehouse site they mention these are constructed from a “butyrate plastic” which will produce a dull thumping sound ? 

[Vilas15]

On 3/20/2023 at 12:02 PM, waymont said:

I'm not a WW maestro, but I don't think the color difference would have an affect on the fishing hitting the bait. I never fished a pre Rapala WW, but the new ones catch tons of fish for me.

Same here. No desire to try any originals so I dont know what I'm missing. I'll just keep using the new ones.

[waymont]

2 hours ago, Vilas15 said:

Same here. No desire to try any originals so I dont know what I'm missing. I'll just keep using the new ones.

And catching bass!

[Bluebasser86]

They've redone the WW many times the past decade or so, trying to get it back to what it was before Rapala bought it out. It seems a lot of the color schemes have gone from dull, natural colors, to a much brighter version of what is supposed to be the same color scheme. I would not be surprised if those 2 baits are supposed to be the same color scheme, but they changed something in the years between your purchases that caused the difference. 

[rangerjockey]

15 hours ago, J.Vincent said:

Is this the type of plastic in the Luck-E-Strike American Original G5 Crankbaits ? On the Tackle Warehouse site they mention these are constructed from a “butyrate plastic” which will produce a dull thumping sound ? 

I'm not sure about the G5. They first duplicated the wart and called it a Wart Hog and Storm had some issues with name. They also leaked. I have one of the Wart Hog versions of V36 brown craw that doesn't leak, and the thing runs really well. If you can find one, it's a good pick up.

Really the best thing to do if you want to see for yourself is buy a Pre Rap. Don't buy a repaint and make sure the rattles aren't stuck. 

 

7 hours ago, waymont said:

And catching bass!

Some Bass. 

[J.Vincent]

12 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

They've redone the WW many times the past decade or so, trying to get it back to what it was before Rapala bought it out. It seems a lot of the color schemes have gone from dull, natural colors, to a much brighter version of what is supposed to be the same color scheme. I would not be surprised if those 2 baits are supposed to be the same color scheme, but they changed something in the years between your purchases that caused the difference. 

I sort of think that’s what happened, if only I had kept the original packaging 

[rangerjockey]

2 hours ago, J.Vincent said:

I sort of think that’s what happened, if only I had kept the original packaging 

Just send the one you like along with a couple you don't to Mike Russell at bag five baits..

He can either match the one you like or paint V86 as it should be.

I just got 35 baits from him, and his craw patterns are perfect.

[WRB]

Just because 1 lure catches bass more often then it’s twin doesn’t mean the color is the difference 

The Storm Wiggle Warts didn’t all hunt, only a few did. We would buy 6 of any deep diver and maybe 2 would be stand out bass catching lures. Those 2 became cherished lures.

I agree to have a productive crank bait custom painted with colors known to work where you fish but don’t waste your money on marginal crank baits.

Don Iovino’s MC Zoner Hunter is a good alternative to original Wart.

Tom

 

[Munkin]

Guess all the Pre-Rapala ones I had were duds? Had both the brown and green phantom craws and never caught a single fish on them. Tried them for 3 years giving them a fair chance then sold them when they were going for crazy money.

 

Allen

[rangerjockey]

On 3/23/2023 at 9:29 AM, Munkin said:

Guess all the Pre-Rapala ones I had were duds? Had both the brown and green phantom craws and never caught a single fish on them. Tried them for 3 years giving them a fair chance then sold them when they were going for crazy money.

 

Allen

 

Well, there's a time and place for them. Even here on Table Rock where they are nearly a religion. Once the water temp gets above 52 they are about done, not that they won't pick up a few but there are better alternatives. It used to be the deep little N for me but now me and a million other people it's the RK Crawler.