[Jim Stedke]

Bob, You are very welcome. And right on about bein fun.

 

[Gepetto]

Joe, I don't want to start trouble either. I could just as easily have given a testimonial, but I wanted to offer an explanation of why the lure is difficult to tune. This isn't something I'm willing to push, nor is it something I wish to offend anyone over. At 15 seconds a lure, though, I'd think someone could find profitable employment. LOL.

I know a little about craftsmanship, I've been hunting and fishing for a long time, and I've tuned a fair share of lures. I don't wish to be abrasive, but at 70 I don't feel a social obligation to be nice over truthful.

I didn't say these lures don't catch fish, and more than their share. I didn't say you couldn't tune them. But I do want to say that much of their difficulties could be circumvented if there were more attention paid to craftsmanship. Compare with bills of similar construction, such as Norman's or the deep Long A and draw your own conclusions.

I went to the shop tonight and laid a machinist's square agains the bill of seven RR's recently purchased, flipping them from side to side in order to compare the height of the tail, using the comparison to determine how far off center the bill throws the body. One was perfect, 5 were so-so, and this was the worst. Take it for what it's worth.

 

[eyewannago]

Gapetto Im not going to argue, time to go to work but when I get to go to the lake next I will go to the Reef Runner boxes and have at it, good luck and stay safe. Joe

 

[Jim Stedke]

Gepetto, Anyone who cares about quality control and consumer relations needs constructive critisism. I speak w/ Scott often and will pass on your observations, and report back what he has to say.

Thank you

 

[gordof]

Can sombody tell me what the snapweights look like ? You guys all talk about them, but I'm not sure what you are using. Also, can you use them behind big boards ?

Gordof, Cleveland

 

[Jim Stedke]

It's a sinker on a clip. Do a search for Offshore tackle snap weight, and you'll get all the hits you need,even some Utube stuff showing how to use them.

 

[tomb]

Gepetto: I would run the one w/ the offset lip more than all the others. I've picked up a few ideas dabbling in muskie fishing and lure building. The lip on one of my brothers Wiley Lures is off center by at least 1/8". Lure actually tuned just fine by bending the screw eye. It appears to kick out more often and more erratically on turns, changes in boat speed, planer board riding waves, etc.... than a "better" assembled Wiley. This seems to be an excellent trigger for fish. I never looked at the bills on my reefrunners before. You may be onto an explanation why some of them pull so many more fish than others. Although I have a feeling it's the opposite of what you currently think.

 

[Gepetto]

You may be onto an explanation why some of them pull so many more fish than others. Although I have a feeling it's the opposite of what you currently think.

No, it's not the opposite of what I think. In my first post I stated: "This manufacturing flaw may contribute to the erratic side to side movement that seems to trigger strikes, I dunno."

Would seem to me, though, that if this is the case, the configuration could be bottled rather than result from random circumstance. I'll leave the heavy thinking to the folks who earn a living at this, but, heck, if someone wants to put me on a prostaff and provide me and friends all the lures we require for testing, as well as all the perks that in my wildest imaginings accompany such a position, why, then, I can be kind and soft spoken.

 

[Jim Stedke]

Gepetto, Just got off the horn w/Scott. He went into some detail as to how the 2 halves are glued together. And explained that gluing results in more water tight seems than sonic welding.

The mating is a hand operation involving all the hook hangers and the line tie. These preformed pieces are not always perfectly flat if you laid them on a table, are likely partially to blame for the problem. The assembled lure is then put into a press of sorts that applies pressure to the still green seem and some slight slippage can occur.

Scott went on to say "this is a 5 dollar fishing lure, not a 50,000 dollar automobile" and perfection is beyond our means.

He appreciated the input, and wants you to know he cares a lot about QC & customer relations. He has made 4 or 5 improvements in the lure in the last 3 years, and will continue to do all he can to get us the best lures possible.

There you go straight from the horses mouth....(if he's the horses mouth, what does that make me? HUH!!

Good fishing & be safe

 

[Gepetto]

No need to mince words, Jim. Are you telling me I have no chance for a position on the prostaff? C'mon. Not even a bigass decal?

 

[BFG]

this is a 5 dollar fishing lure, not a 50,000 dollar automobile

Well, I think he could have put it better than that, considering that I am guessing he's probably sold more than 50,000 of those $5.00 lures.

LOL....BUT I GET IT!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Jim Stedke]

No need to mince words, Jim. Are you telling me I have no chance for a position on the prostaff? C'mon. Not even a bigass decal?

I know for sure we can get you a 36" Reef Runner measuring tape, and probably boat decals as well if you'd like. But... you have to promise not to add "slovenly workmanship" to them.

 

[boatnut]

No need to mince words, Jim. Are you telling me I have no chance for a position on the prostaff? C'mon. Not even a bigass decal?

WHAT??? Are you farkin' nutz? how dare you assault the quality of thine holy reef runner! You should be banned to your woodshop for the rest of the fishing season, Gepetto. Prostaff? Decal? I'd say the only decal you might be getting is shown below. Shame on you!

On another note, hope ya get that big buck this weekend

 

[eyewannago]

Must be something in the water of Ostrander, because the 2 on here from there like to stir the pot a little bit.LOL Joe

 

[boatnut]

Must be something in the water of Ostrander, because the 2 on here from there like to stir the pot a little bit.LOL Joe

Joe,
the problem lies in there is NO water in Ostrander due to the drought. therefore we have no choice but to turn to the demon rum!!!. Therefore take all posts by us Ostranderian's with a grain of 'salt...kosher , preferably.

 

[tomb]

No, it's not the opposite of what I think. In my first post I stated: "This manufacturing flaw may contribute to the erratic side to side movement that seems to trigger strikes, I dunno."

Not sure how I missed that part Gepetto.

 

[Gepetto]

I know for sure we can get you a 36" Reef Runner measuring tape, and probably boat decals as well if you'd like. But... you have to promise not to add "slovenly workmanship" to them.

But Jim, didn't Mr. Scott confess? How about maybe he could retain the workers who assemble them wrong the right way, and fire those who mate them right the wrong way? I could get on board with that.

Think of the possibilities. We could advertise this as a virtue and turn Madison Avenue on its ear. Next year's promo code buzz words: "cheap and halfassed."

As for you, Boatnut, I'd thought past my own private gain in my prostaff fantasy to include you as a friend. I'd planned to split the decal straight down the middle and give you half. Am now reconsidering.

Jim, it's all good. I get my yucks where I can find them. SOmetimes I mfr. them, even when the parts don't fit together too well. I'm too old to take anything more than Mr. Death seriously, and sometimes I wonder about him.

 

[Jim Stedke]

Well, if you were trolling.... OK I bit!! But I take seriously any comments on Reef Runners. And as usual, if you ain't careful, you might just learn somethin.

 

[Buzzi]

For all you guys who put in the time . . . thanks for sharing what you learn. I wish I had something to add, but everything I know I've learned from previous posts!!!

I do have a question. This thread started with Bobinstow90 saying he was a "Reef Runner virgin." I'm not that, but RRs and I have a dysfunctional relationship. It's a love/hate thing. I don't trust them!

It never seems like they go as deep as the charts say they should go. I use the charts that were posted on the "Denied" site a few years ago, and they seem to go pretty well with the Precision Trolling charts. Anyway, many of the RRs never hit bottom when I think they should be hitting bottom. Seems to vary by 10' or more sometimes. Even at faster speeds they seem too shallow. I usually troll them at speeds between 1.8 and 3 mph.

I attach them to 25 lb spiderwire braid, with a small snap. Sometimes I have them on 15 lb fluro leader connected to the main line (25 lb spiderwire) with a snap swivel. I usually pull them behind off-shore boards. I've never used snap weights, but I should give that a try.

I know tuning is everything (I've read the posts and follow them to the letter!). I even have a genuine "reef runner" tuner, but it takes me longer than 15 seconds to tune one! It seems somtimes -- many times actually, that when I think I have it tunned properly I'll let out 100' or 125' of line and the RR will kick out to one side or the other and ride up shallow. Some of them do it and some of them don't. (I only own about a dozen of them).

I almost always run one shallow (20'-60' behind the boards) and that is my most productive method of catching with the RRs. I can't seem to make it happen consistently at the deeper depths -- plus, I'm never really certain they are down deep.

Am I alone in this??? Any thoughts???????

 

[eyewannago]

I have to ask when you tune them do you just run it beside the boat or rip them forward which I was taught to do because I think that is the most effective way to do it.Joe