TackleTour

I’ve got a number of lures with this reoccurring problem, including topwaters, jerkbaits and crankbaits. The rattle/ball slides to the back and gets stuck which messes up the lure action. Only happens this time of year, and I think it has something to do with the difference in air vs water temp. Anybody else ever had this happen, and was there anything you were able to do to fix it?

I’ve never heard of this happening before. And some of my lures are pretty old and abused.

Not that it is really stuck. Just a good twitch and the ball bearings would come back.

Hmm...Just this week I figured out why my Gancraft Rest 108SP (Vision 110 equivilent) was casting like a balled up paper towel. It was just the opposite, the magnet at the front was not letting go of a couple of balls very easily. Haven't had it back out since, but figured I would just have to sling it harder to get the balls to the back of the bait. We will see.

Reservoir wrote:I’ve never heard of this happening before. And some of my lures are pretty old and abused.

It is a weird problem. I have 4 lures that have done this, 1 older Daiwa SP Minnow, and 3 Lucky Craft Flash Minnows. It doesn’t happen to all of the ones I own, seems to be only the ones I used during the fall season this year.

slipperybob wrote:Not that it is really stuck. Just a good twitch and the ball bearings would come back.

Really stuck. I’ve flicked it, tapped it on the table, smacked it against the table they aren’t moving.

Aquaftm45 wrote:Hmm...Just this week I figured out why my Gancraft Rest 108SP (Vision 110 equivilent) was casting like a balled up paper towel. It was just the opposite, the magnet at the front was not letting go of a couple of balls very easily. Haven't had it back out since, but figured I would just have to sling it harder to get the balls to the back of the bait. We will see.

These weight transfer systems are sooo nice when working properly, but they can cause some headaches. Hopefully they let go for you, don’t want to let that bait sit around! These still cast well, but don’t stay down when twitched. Extra weight in the tail causes them to run straight to the surface.

Have you tried putting them in a bit of hot water to expand the plastic (and air inside) just a bit. Do it with caution though...

Maybe a tiny bit of salt water got in and then left salt crystals which are blocking the balls from moving. If the chamber is tight enough, this could cause what you're describing. Not sure how water would get in, though.

JBcrankaddict wrote:

slipperybob wrote:Not that it is really stuck. Just a good twitch and the ball bearings would come back.

Really stuck. I’ve flicked it, tapped it on the table, smacked it against the table they aren’t moving.

Wow, that's unheard of, but plausible. So are these weight and chamber visible? Like they are for sure stuck in the chamber? Where even putting a magnet to pull them wouldn't work?

y2k88 wrote:Have you tried putting them in a bit of hot water to expand the plastic (and air inside) just a bit. Do it with caution though...

Good idea, I’ll try some hot water next. Tried using a heat gun very briefly, and in and out of the freezer a few times but it didn’t help.

hoohoorjoo wrote:Maybe a tiny bit of salt water got in and then left salt crystals which are blocking the balls from moving. If the chamber is tight enough, this could cause what you're describing. Not sure how water would get in, though.

That has definitely happened before, after a lot of hard use they cracked at the front hook hanger. Usually see some streaks of rust inside the bait when this happens, but haven’t seen any so hoping this isn’t the case. Gonna double check now though.

slipperybob wrote:

JBcrankaddict wrote:

slipperybob wrote:Not that it is really stuck. Just a good twitch and the ball bearings would come back.

Really stuck. I’ve flicked it, tapped it on the table, smacked it against the table they aren’t moving.

Wow, that's unheard of, but plausible. So are these weight and chamber visible? Like they are for sure stuck in the chamber? Where even putting a magnet to pull them wouldn't work?

These are Pearl Ayu colored so can’t see directly through them, but when held up to the light, I can see one of the balls stuck in the tail. Other ball still rolls free. Not sure what they are made out of since I tried an old speaker magnet and it didn’t even draw the loose ball to it. Might just need a bigger magnet.

Thanks guys for all the ideas, really appreciated. Definitely an annoying problem that I hope no one else has to deal with. Gonna try some of these things and if nothing works will contact the companies and see if they will help. If not we may be drilling some holes and repainting

If you're prepared to drill, just drill a hole with the smallest bit you have underneath the stuck ball and just push it free with the bit or needle. Epoxy the hole afterwards. Would be pretty inconspicuous.