Rapala Dives-to Metal Sure Set 20 Fishing Lures

I used this to catch my new personal best largemouth bass (5.3 lb) and 4 others over 4 lbs in one week last Fall

all ok

Works great

For bass, it's great for any time in the spring when weeds are thin. I used to use shad raps a lot for crankbaits but this has basically replaced it. It is a perfect size and action for larger fish in colder water. I've done best with it for big pre-spawn smallmouth, in classic silver pattern with a slow steady or stop and twich retrieve. These are always the biggest smallmouth of the year for me.The DT20 casts far and doesn't tangle much, but on a casted retrieve dives about the same as a regular DT20. This version for me is really useful for trolling. When summer Largemouth are aggressive but in deep water I like troll it by ripping ~4mph along the deep edges of weedbeds with a Perch or bluegill finish in 30-40 feet of water. Occasionally move the rod back and forth or loosen the drag for a second to make it stop and go. This lets me reach bigger more active fish without resorting to slow methods like drop shotting or jigging. Later in the summer the DT20 is a bit too small and to avoid smaller fish I use bigger crankbaits like the 10XD.It can be great for Lake Trout on light tackle, especially in the mid-late spring when water is 45-55*F. It's my most productive trolling lure then, when they are 30-40 feet down. It will actually run very deep if you want it to- long-lining with 100+ yards out of fresh 6-8lb fluorocarbon line it is pretty easy to reach fish below 40 feet. When I troll deep water with a metal DT20 on one rod and a big "deep diver" plug on another if one of them reaches bottom to snag weeds it's usually the Rapala DT first. I have at times caught Lakers that were on sonar suspended in 70+ fow with it, and it lets me catch lake trout into early summer without weighted line, bigger lures, downriggers, etc. The regular non-metal DT20 (without the weigted lip) just doesn't dive that deep.Other tips- Summer bass will throw it on jumps so slower action rods, heavier line, and sharp hooks are important. I also add an extra split ring to attach the line and to each hook. The hooks themselves also are definitely worth replacing with short shank wide gap trebles with an angled bend- Mustad or Gamakatsu, which are also sharper than the factory hooks and hold fish better. I keep them protected with snap on hook covers. I have never had a bass swallow this bait or get hooked in the gills too badly to be released so I never flatten the barbs.Only complaints about it:1-the factory U shaped hooks including the "sure-set" hooks, add drag, get tangled more, also don't hold fish well. I have even broken them off before landing fish.2-The plastic lips could also be more durable. After running them against rocks on bottom the lip gets roughed up and don't dive or run as well. I also one time had the plastic lip detach completely from the lure body on a long cast.3-Some of the colors/patterns are really hard to find. I'd love to have the Pumpkinseed, Yellow Perch ones but can't find them. And the most popular classic silver finish that has worked best always seems out of stock. I don't see why Rapala themselves can't make them all available on amazon. Also would be nice to see new patterns in bleeding silver, rockbass, and straight black or metallic mirror finish4-Would be nice if they were sold with extra split rings already on them

Good 4 winter time