Rapala Launches New “Custom Ink” DT-Series at Classic
OutdoorHub 02.21.12
Every tattoo tells a story. The ‘ink,’ as the street calls these permanent markings, are individual works of art, indeed. Artisan bass angler Mike “Ike” Iaconelli has offered his unique talents to assist in the development of a masterpiece series of lures that are destined for tournament success.
Ike inspired crankbait patterns include a cadence of colors and patterns for his most beloved baits, the DT-Series. The paint’s dried, fading finalized, and Iaconelli’s new Ike’s Custom Ink DT-Series will debut at the 2012 BASSMASTER Classic in Shreveport-Bossier City, Louisiana, February 24 – 26.
“I’m used to giving baits my own personal touch, tweaking them,” said the 2003 BASSMASTER Classic champ and longtime DT crankbaiter. This time, says the mighty Ike, those oh-so-special modifications come right out-of-the-box from the crankbait masters at Rapala.
There are three key traits that make Ike’s Custom Ink DT-Series more natural, more fresh-to-the-fish than anything else with treble hooks and a bill. First, it’s their purposefully muted colors. Before these baits came along, Ike used to “bake them in the sun” on his Toyota’s dashboard, even line his windowsills with body-baits for months to get that lifelike, muted skin tone.
Typical crankbait colors, says Ike, sometimes need to be toned down, made more subtle to mirror reality. The subtler colors can be fantastically effective when bass aren’t attacking conventional patterns, too.
Next, Ike had Rapala polish the finishes like the translucent candy apple red on a ’57 Chevy. Pearly finishes are native to numerous baitfish species, namely shad.
For the third pivotal ingredient, Ike went super sparkly… with glitter. Not just any glitter, but super fine sprinkles that actually add depth to the appearance of the lure. Tediously worked into the final cosmetics of Ike’s Custom Ink DT-Series, the reflective dust particles again aimed to emulate actual baitfish.
At the end of the day; end of the tournament; business end of the microphone up on the podium with The Cup clutched in hand; it’s about “using something different, something unique to catch more fish.” Hey, Ike…Rapala couldn’t agree more. Nor will the curious crankers who put these pre-worn, intentionally subdued, favorably-faded baits to work.
Those old worn out waters and so-called ‘conditioned bass’ have been waiting for a change. Well, it’s here.
Ike’s Custom Ink DT-Series comes in 8 unique color palettes: (color names). As well, like the rest of the DT (Dives-To) Series, each model is designed to achieve a specific depth. The DT-4 (4-feet), DT-6 (6-feet), DT-10 (10-feet), DT-14 (14-feet), DT-18 (18-feet) and DT-20 (20-feet).
