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Location: Midland, MI | To my fellow plastic pullers I just found out that Frank's Great Outdoors has the SP Hot n Tot's again. I only found this out after looking on ebay and finding them that way but they do have them in the store. I wish I would have known earlier, after paying ebay prices for the summer of $10-$15 a piece. Boy Im glad my wife doesn't watch my credit card too close. Now if Dave's or Storm(rapala) will just come back out with the Rattle Tot. I know Im not the only one missing this bait.
James Edwards
[email protected] |
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Location: Essexville, MI./Saginaw Bay. | Holy Crap, your right James.
http://www.franksgreatoutdoors.com/items.asp?id=1140&manufacturerid...
And they have 4 of my best kept secret colors available, and I even like the hook change. Including my always favorite Naturistic Sunfish and my personal favorite for those tough days and a tribute to yours truly, the Walleye Express Paralyzer. Now if Franks can just bend a few arms at Rapala/Storm and get them to do some Rattlers, all the moons in my world would line up again.
Edited by walleye express 9/6/2007 8:00 AM
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| Hello....My Winning Streaks, Mean Streaks and Streak Freaks ALL Rattle (including many customs at Franks) with two free-floating steel balls....FYI, and, are closer in overall size to the Rattle Tot than the standard "H" Series Tot. Just thought I'd let you know! The only Streaks that do not rattle are the Prism colors and the SPARX colors.
Dave |
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Location: Essexville, MI./Saginaw Bay. | I smell a fight brewing here, but you guys know me.
We're not forgetting about your line of lures Dave. Your Streak lures particular size and dynamics have been killer on the Bay this summer in their present state as well as the Meat Freaks I modify them into. And I always said that if Hot-N-Tots and Rattles Tots married and had a baby, the Streaks would fit that bill to a Tee.
And I do see a few of those SP colors closely match the ones you originally came out with for Franks in your line, not to mention one being the exact color as one of the Reef Runner lines. But I remember a heated thread we all got into here a long time ago about the non-defined complications of copying color onto lures from anothers idea/processes, and that color schemes are (for the most part) hard to keep private and virtually not patented for that reason.
I also hear through the grapevine that part of the process in these newer Tot's manufacturing is done in China and shipped back here for the final stages of retail. And I also know that all of your lures are made from A to Z right here in the US.
All of this info of course is left up to the buyers own feelings about such things and about the patronage he or she feels when purchasing products made or partially made over seas. My personal feelings and post above, about the return of an old friend (original Hot-N-Tot) and the hope for a new Rattle Tot is very genuine. But if I hear that China takes over, is handed over, steals or totally copies the manufacturing process like they have so many other things we (the USA) have developed. There will be no walleye, Hot-N-Tot Starved enough to make me buy another one. Signed: The same guy who has over 350 original Tot's, but never bought a single Plastic billed Tot knock off. And I hope someone at Normark/Storm reads this.
Edited by walleye express 9/7/2007 8:55 AM
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Location: Oklahoma | No fight here!! Just letting everyone know that Franks also carries similar customs in Dave's like James mentioned. I was stating that my Winning Streak lure is actually sized larger than an H 1/4 oz Tot (in-between the H 1/4 oz and the RH Rattle Tot)....and mine all have steel rattles which is what James was askikng about, I was attempting to answer his thread! Hope Franks sells a ton of all brands of lures....as those colors have always produced fish...that is why we are making them!!! Yes, my lures are made here in the USA...but..that is not really this issue...everyone has their own opinon about that! Good fishing...and go see the lures at Franks.....they have a ton to pick from!
Edited by streakfreak 9/7/2007 4:01 PM
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Location: Midland, MI | Dave, your winning streak is by far the better of the two when it comes to 3/16oz. and your true 1/4oz. I do own a large number of your baits but we here in Saginaw Bay need more depth to your lures. I have talked with Romanack and he said he's been pushing both companies to bring the Rattle Tot back. I ment no disrespect, your dad is the original Storm and the original Storm Hot n Tot no matter what will always be his no matter who owns the company. But I promise that if you brought the rattle tot or similar back in your brand. It would out sell the Mean Streak 4:1.
Dan would you agree?
Dave it would be nice to here back and I know Im not the olny one paying up to 15$ a bait on Ebay.
Again your Family is the TRUE STORM. |
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Location: Essexville, MI./Saginaw Bay. | The fight I was talking about, was the Pandoras Box that can often get opened when subjects like this involving competing lure companies come up. And yes Jim I do agree. We here on the Saginaw Bay were spoiled badly and virtually permanently with many of the old Storm products, with the Rattle Tot near the top of that list. It's no secret that many of the old Storm lures enjoyed more success and popularity here with both our fish and our fishermen then almost anywhere else in the country. So we were the most upset when they were first taken off the market, then ultimately changed. All of us are slaves (so to speak) to fishing things that work for us. Me (as a charter Captain) probably a bit more then others. But I meant what I said concerning the China connection.
Edited by walleye express 9/7/2007 5:04 PM
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Location: Lincoln Park, Mi | (for the most part) hard to keep private and virtually not patented for that reason. >
I know you love hearing from me  , but since my painting business is mostly copying color schemes onto other baits, PER REQUEST, for pro's, and the fact that I have ran it by my buddy's brother, a patent attorney, here's basically his take on it with some of my color knowledge. Technically, you can patent a color or scheme, but it's a waste of money and time. As far as colors, there is usually at 3 or 4 different ways/pigment combo's, or more, to achieve a color that looks identical to the naked eye or even near to a color computer. Unless there was that very, very slight chance nobody ever offered that color for sale, you could patent it. But, there's the other 2 or 3 or more combo's to achieve it. Then the fact of "what" is your color defined by? Do you use a spectrophotometer reading to define it? Chances are you yourself can only hit that EXACT color one in 100,000 chances, even computer aided. I was a master color tech in the OEM auto biz. for over 10 years and I never remember a 100% exact match ever happeneing. As far a schemes... you would have to basically use colors you have patents on and be so detailed in the application process of those colors, the patent could easily be worked around or "improved". You layer yellow on first? Someone else layers it on second, then maybe come back with it again to achieve the exact same look with an "improved" or non-infringing process, or make it slightly wider or narrower than you spelled out in your patent. Bottom line is that even if you did pull it off, you'd probably have more money wrapped up in reproducing it yourself than you would in the raw materials and the entire manufacturing process itself. |
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Location: Midland, MI | Dave, I did not know you were making the SP color schemes though and I will definately be picking up a couple this winter. I have to be honest I used to work for a TV program that was sponsored by another Outdoor Sporting Goods store so I rarely if ever went in to Frank's. And again I respect you and your family 100% I'm not trying to open (pandoras box). I to like Dan have hundreds of the true original Tot's being as my dad gave me all his old ones since he no longer fishes eyes. |
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Location: Manitowoc, WI | Hey.....is that Dave Storm I see replying here? I thought maybe he went to live with the great luremakers in the sky??? Welcome back Dave!!! |
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Location: Oklahoma | Ha Ha! Yes, it is me, Dave Storm! I am still alive!  Although some people may wish I were not! lol
I only post on these things when I feel the need to clarify a question or statement that interests or concerns me.
Yes, Franks started carrying many custom colored Winning Streaks from me over 4 years ago! Custom colored lures are always popular with anglers, but sometimes a dealer has a hard time getting a manufacturer to make them for them....not me!
As I mentioned, try any of the customs you can...if you had an old favorite, Franks may have them, or other dealers near you now, as I am not the only manufacturer producing custom colors.....as we all know. However....let me know if you have a question about my lures, I back up my lures with a fantastic warranty and many times produce colors that others cannot or will not produce. Let me know what you think about my lures anytime, best way is to e-mail me.. |
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Location: Essexville, MI./Saginaw Bay. | Walleyehookup - 9/7/2007 7:51 PM
Dave, I did not know you were making the SP color schemes though and I will definately be picking up a couple this winter. I have to be honest I used to work for a TV program that was sponsored by another Outdoor Sporting Goods store so I rarely if ever went in to Frank's. And again I respect you and your family 100% I'm not trying to open (pandoras box). I to like Dan have hundreds of the true original Tot's being as my dad gave me all his old ones since he no longer fishes eyes.
James.
I't took me a while, but I dug up the picture (James on Left Mike Avery Right) I took of us after the night time TV shoot we did a few springs ago on the Saginaw Bay. I still see this episode every now and then on the re-runs of your step dads TV show. Man we put a hurt on them that night hey?
For those who don't know, James real dad (Jay Edwards) was one of that first small group of people who's ideas and vision helped our DNR back in 1984 in their renewed quest to bring back the Saginaw Bays walleye populations. He also spearheaded the idea to start our very first local walleye club, so public volunteers in this club could help the DNR in the rearing of those first brood stocks that brought back the Bays walleye populations. He also became that clubs first president, and I one of it first 10 members. His name and the others will not be written on some stone I'm assuming for their dedication and help in brining back this great fishery. But I won't forget about what he and the others did it in my lifetime James. Tell your dad I said Hi when you see him next.
Edited by walleye express 9/15/2007 9:44 AM
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Location: Midland, MI | Dan, my dad my be moving back again sometime soon at least he's toying with the idea. No matter what he is up for retirement in 10 years in which time he plans on buying a house on the bay. He is wanting to be closer to the grand kids and also the fishing I've been keeping him posted on the fishery. Theres no denying the bay fishery is stronger than it ever has been.
As far as the river fishery I personally haven't fished it in a long time but with the low water your one of if not the only one that can get to some of the best spots( red house hole, Borkivich's bend,etc.) Let me know how the river goes for you this fall.
Good luck this fall. |
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Location: Essexville, MI./Saginaw Bay. | James.
Check your regular mail. And talk to your step dad about doing a night trip show up on the Tittabawassee this late fall, if you can get him out of that tree stand. We tried it for the first time last year, and even though it's was kinda scary and not for everybody, the results were impressive.
Edited by walleye express 9/15/2007 4:20 PM
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Location: Midland, MI | Dan,
I dont work for Mike any more. I have a 7 month old at home now and couldn't leave my wife at home with two kids for weeks at a time. Since that time comunication between the two of us has not been regular. You might have a better chance calling him or e-mailing him directly. I think it would be a good fit though specially if you could get Garret Gear or even somebody from Jay's like Dave Cronk(fishing buyer). If you couldn't get Mike the next TV guy I would recomend would be Steve Gruber with Wolf Creek Productions. He is a real nice michigan guy and also produces probablly the best TV show in the midwest.
By the way you fishing high or low. |
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Location: Essexville, MI./Saginaw Bay. | Wow, you have 2 kids already. Man, I'm getting old. I remeber you at your Ma and Dads first house as an infant yourself trying to cast that hook-less Tot on that snoopy rod your dad gave you. As for the river. We were fishing high, but only because heading down river can be even more treacherous when coming back up, if they close the dam while your down there. And that Red Cottage finally fell into the river on high water a few years ago. I remember the last time I seen it, the people were having their dinner in the dining room as 1/3 of it hung over the river. Soon after that the house was condemned and the people moved out. The deepest part of the hole for a while was right under their house. Made you Kinda nervous fishing it though.
Edited by walleye express 9/16/2007 7:49 AM
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