One For The Lure Annals

[ArdentAngler]

Thought it would be good to start a post on the static angle of lures. There is a lot to be learned from how a lure sits, so here is my contribution. I apologize for the picture quality but it presents the idea. What stunned me was how much this angle changed with water temperature...unfortunately these are all done with cold water and doesn't show the difference in hot and cold. For example the Rebel Cat'r Crawlers stood straight up after adding a little warm water.

 

2" Rebel Crawfish all different models; the oldest 1 1/2" (cream colored one) is from the seventies with the tow point in the body, the others are from the 80's and up to the current model. Surprisingly these all float the same considering the internal housing is different for each model.

 

The others are Lazy Ike, Rebel Cat'r Crawler, Rapala X Rap, and a traditional Rapala Minnow.

 

Figure these may help the builders out there who do not own or have access to these lures.

 

[joliepa]

I appreciate this post  but at the same hand...

 

I'm trying to understand the importance of static angle.  I get that you want the lure to sit centered, but what significance in having a bill up versus a bill down angle.

 

does the angle of the bait to the water affect the diving depth? 

 

Why does the xrap sit bill down while the rapala minnow bill up??

[littleriver]

@joliepa

Static angle lets one have an idea how the bait is weighted. This is most important knowledge if your trying to copy a particular bait and you want the end result to have the same action.

The rapala is tail heavy while the xrap is tail light. This different ballast configurations will produce different wiggles. One wide and slow while the other short and fast.

Edited November 3, 2013 by littleriver

[ArdentAngler]

@Littleriver

 

You took the words out of my mouth.

 

When I first started learning about lures static angle was not something that seemed important...how naïve I was! It was my assumption that all lures sat level, clearly I didn't pay much attention.

 

* "Surprisingly these all float the same considering the internal housing is different for each model." They do not float the same, the older models are heavier towards the business end where the new model is centered. The smaller version 1 1/2" surprisingly has a nose down angle. I should test several of the same models and see if there is any difference in quality?

 

Had a laugh as the sinking craw did exactly as its name states...sinks! I actually expected this to be a slow descending lure.

 

As for the X-rap it contains a magnetic casting system which explains why its light in the tail.

 

Interesting to consider which Rebel craw is the better build?

[mark poulson]

I find that the more nose down lure hangs, the more quickly it begins it's dive.