I was just pokin' around the site and noticed this on the main page. I am a huge fan of Rapala lures. High quality baits at an affordable price. I have also fished with a few Terminator products such as their jigs,a spinnerbait or two, and some buzzbaits. I think these two quality companies joining together can do nothing but better improve Rapalas current line of products as well as bring some great minds in the fishing industry together to possibly come up with new ways and concepts to catch fish.

Here is a link to the article: http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_123/rapala_terminator_07.html

What are everyones thoughts on this merger? Good? Bad? Indifferent?

By the way Mods, I wasn't sure if this should be in the tackle section or in the general section. If y'all think this should be moved feel free to do so. Thanks!

I think it is AWESOME, especially if they expand the distribution of Terminator products. Hopefully since it is part of a bigger company, they will require more Terminator products be stocked w/ Rapala.

Wayne

I think it's a good decision for both companies and for us, as fishermen.  

I do not use spinnerbaits but I do use a lot of Rapala Baits. How can it go wrong with such a good parent company?

The Rapala and joined forces storm, Terminator etc. etc., along with the Lure net co. Bomber, Pradco, Yum etc. etc. will be the only two companies if they keep buying everyone out. Which may be a good thing because that helps keep prices down.

Well, they ruined the wiggle wart when they bought out Storm.  In order to get good ones you've got to go Ebay and pay through the nose.

Hey as long as the price of Rapalas stay the same Im good, maybe the price of Terminator lures will come down a bit

There are definite pros and cons to this deal.  I'm unsure as to whether Terminator (Outdoor Innovations is parent) makes their products in the US or not.  Can someone clarify that for me?

Pros:  Likely that Terminator products will become more affordable without sacrificing quality

Normark gains patent knowledge and expertise in new arenas

Innovation for current and future products increase due to merger

Cons:  If OI does manufacture in the US, Normark has said it will move the operation to a plant in China for some products, as yet unspecified

If OI does manufacture in the US, Normark has said it will move the operation to a plant in China for some products, as yet unspecified

Don't get me wrong, I am a Rapala fan.  99% of all my cranks are Rapala/Storm.  I hope that no one working for OI loses their job.  That is my only perceived negative aspect to the deal.  That's my two cents...

To me this is bad news.  The terminator spinnerbaits are my best producers.  I'm also a fan of their pro's top secret jig.  "If it ain't broke don't fix it"  There is no where for these baits to go but down.

The Rapala and joined forces storm, Terminator etc. etc., along with the Lure net co. Bomber, Pradco, Yum etc. etc. will be the only two companies if they keep buying everyone out. Which may be a good thing because that helps keep prices down.

Monopolies driving prices down?   UMMMMMMMMMMMMMM  I don't think so.

The Rapala and joined forces storm, Terminator etc. etc., along with the Lure net co. Bomber, Pradco, Yum etc. etc. will be the only two companies if they keep buying everyone out. Which may be a good thing because that helps keep prices down.

Avid just wrote about this.

BassMachine, I think you have it backwards.  It's bad that one company is buying out all the small competitors because what this does is drive prices up because Rapala won't have these little companies keeping the prices down.  I'm sure Normark will keep the terminator packaging on those jigs and spinnerbaits, just like they did the Storm line.  The average weekend angler won't even know the deal went down.  I'm sure the average fisherman doesn't even know that normark/rapala owns Storm.

I can see Rapala prices going up across the board in a year or two.

Monopolies suck.

I do not use spinnerbaits but I do use a lot of Rapala Baits. How can it go wrong with such a good parent company?

Muddy, you mentioned how you want to concentrate on learning how I jig fish when we finally hook up.  The terminator finesse jig is my baby!  That's the money maker for me up in our clear water.  Having a few of these in your box in the blk/brwn combo, will never hurt!

as for the 2 companies merging, I can't see how Great company A and great company B could form anything other than new super company C.