Tips For The Beginner
Understanding the RED FACTOR
Rapala DT 6 Red Craw
Monday I was getting gas here in Woodbury when a man that I next to me struck up a conversation. He told me he and his son were just getting started bass fishing in the last year or so and that they are regular visitors to my web site.
He said they enjoyed the information that I post and that they had been reading my old Tip’s For Beginner Articles that I have written through the years. He said that his son was fishing on a high school team and that they were navigating their way through the endless varieties of crankbaits and colors that are available.
Then he asked a specific question. What Is The Deal With Red? That opened up our conversation about the when’s and why’s of the Rapala DT 6 Red Craw. Which in my humble opinion is one of the greatest crankbait ever designed. And because of that conversation I decided to write this short tips article focusing only on cold water and the Rapala DT6 Red Craw.
First we need to talk about Tennessee crawfish. I ‘m not a biologist- I’m using data straight from the TWRA that is available to everyone AND what I have learned through years of being on the water here in Tennessee.
. The TWRA says that there are 96 species of crawfish in our state. Crawfish range in colors including green-brown-blue AND RED in certain stages of their lives. The RED FACTOR is dependent on the particular specie and other things such as the Vitamin A availability in their food supply, varying water color-temperature and clarity conditions.
The more vitamin A can mean a more reddish color-less vitamin A results in blue or black coloring. We are in the beginning of a seasonal change from warmer water to colder water. REMEMBER Lake water temps are going to continue to decrease.
Crawfish are bottom dwellers. And It’s been my experience that when water temps range between let’s say LOW 60’s down to 45 degrees crawfish will begin to SLOWLY become less active WHICH MEANS WHAT?
It means you can begin the pinpoint areas where they are going to spend their winters and be found more easily. And unless there has been a drastic environmental change in the lake they will be in that area year after year.
Once again the degree in in-activity is Gradual-it’s not like flipping a switch from active to dormant. So we have a window of time, down to in my opinion below 45 degrees where crawfish become almost dormant and burrow into the reddish clay and the rich Vitamin A sediment of our waters.
And the result is RED and that is why you need to have a DT6 Red Craw tied on all day long if you like to throw crank bait this winter even below 45 degrees. You just have to change your retrieve speed.
I’m not saying that the Red Craw is a cold water bait only because it’s not. I also use it as a contrast color in warmer muddier water because it creates a great silhouette for bass to key in on. But I love it during this season.
If your reading this and your a beginner the DT stands for Dives To. So the DT6 on a long cast can easily reach the 6 feet deep strike zone on 10lb test line. I always throw my DT 4’s-6’s-8’s and 10’s on either Sufix Clear Blue Pro Mix 6lb or 8lb test mono.
That has been my thing for years and years. By doing so the DT6 will dive even deeper on the lighter line. Some are hesitant to use light line on crankbaits but if you have your drag set correctly-use a good VMC Snap and check your line you will be surprised the fish you can put in the boat.
Once again the Rapala DT Series in my opinion is one of the greatest crankbait lines ever designed. Made of ultra premium balsa wood, carefully placed internal weights and rattles, tapered body, ultra thin poly carbonate lips that dig down quickly, VMC hooks, tank tested and ready to go right out of the box.
For more information on the DT Series go to Rapala.com or feel free to contact me at rickm@dtccom.net and I’ll be happy to help. Good luck and I hope you have a great DT6 Red Craw winter.