Super Shad Rap

[Bodeen]

I was thinking. Since SSR14 came in SFC and B, is it too farfetched to think that they should have also been released in GFR, G, and S?

Just a thought.

[Bodeen]

I take it that this is one of the unknowns for now I think I need to pick the Guru's brain a bit

[RapalaGuru]

Nope, It wouldn't be too farfetched....However..

When you sit back and look at when the super shad rap was intro'd
The colors patterns you listed (GFR, G & S)
Had already been in several lures production run. (And had proven themselves)

Now, keep this in mind,
When I look at things, I come from a different angle.

The SSR14 was intro'd in the mid 1990's,
they went with some great patterns for the first couple of years.
Then as they began to make color changes,

"Why not use the 'SIZE' of the super shad rap to test/try out new color patterns."

I believe (I'd have to check to make 100% sure)
but I belive the
Gold shiner & silver shiner color patterns were first used on the SSR14.

Think about it,
You got a big canvas (SSR14)
The color patterns so far have had a good response,

Do we 'want' to overkill our current color patterns or
Seeing that this lure series is fairly new, can we try out so NEW colors without effecting our sales.

Color patterns I think are one of the most difficult things for the Rapala people to figure out.
Which lure series do we try out ?? color pattern on?

if it were easy,
there would be every color pattern on every lure series.

Another example,
Magnum (floating)
I love the perch pattern, any version, just give me the perch pattern.
I have that color in most every lure series and I do really really well on it.

Well, I start looking around and I find myself having to go
"OVERSEA'S" to get a Magnum (floating) in the perch pattern.
As good as a seller the perch pattern is in this country.
I would have thought that you'd be able to find a magnum in perch in this country.

So while we'd all like to think a lure series would have been in certain color pattern.

The people at Rapala have other thoughts about the color patterns that fisherman want and in what countries (markets) that the lures should go.

hell, Rapala about the only 'fishing tackle company' that has shown any market growth over the past 5 to 10 years. (or longer)
So I guess they are doing something right.

These are just my thoughts...

Steve "Rapala-Guru"

[Bodeen]

What you are saying is making a lot of sense. I just have to look at all the overseas colors that are now out in this model alone. As a prosecuting attorney, I would have to cross examine this with just one question.

They have such a big canvas to try out all this new color patterns, then why the SFC, B, old school SD colors?

The old SD is pretty bland. The only reason I pick them up is they are not that easy of a find anymore. In most cases.

Lets look at the SD color. If you consider the SSR14 a shallow shad, which I do, then the shallow shad raps have had 3 different SD color patterns. The black dot silver sides version, the ugly version that I have on some SSR-7 lures, and then the awesome SD on the SSR14 that is the current color. Even the FT, in its third coming, hasn't been altered as much as the SD has. I believe there is more "tiger" colors out then any other variations though.

Just my ramblings.

[wallcat]

I think you put the SFC and Blue color on the SSR14 to sell a few and keep the model line alive. Once they messed around with introducing colors on the line they had to spice it up to keep it selling or else get rid of it. Sadly, I've never seen the GFR, G or other standard colors on the SSR. As far as the boring Shad color on the SSR, that was probably in part to satisfy fall Musky Fisherman as that color most closely resembles a large Sucker. I think a true sucker color in SSR would do quite well.

[Bodeen]

MN, FH, SSB, and MD would rock as well, but ain't gonna happen