Lurelip — Fishing lure lips (crankbait bills) | lurelip.com
Six Rapala DT models with their published depth ratings in feet and metres, plus the caveat that your line and retrieve decide the actual depth.
This chart compares six published manufacturer ratings. Rapala DT04 is rated at 4 ft (1.2 m), DT06 at 6 ft (1.8 m), DT08 at 8 ft (2.5 m), DT10 at 10 ft (3 m), DT14 at 14 ft (4.3 m) and DT16 at 16 ft (5 m). DT16 is the deepest of these six compared models.
These figures let you compare models to each other. They do not predict your depth on the water. Rapala states that line weight and retrieve or trolling speed affect the actual running depth, and there is no universal correction percentage that applies across baits.
| Model | Published depth (ft) | Published depth (m) | Position among the six |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rapala DT04 | 4 ft | 1.2 m | Shallowest of the six compared |
| Rapala DT06 | 6 ft | 1.8 m | Second shallowest of the six compared |
| Rapala DT08 | 8 ft | 2.5 m | Mid-range of the six compared |
| Rapala DT10 | 10 ft | 3 m | Mid-range of the six compared |
| Rapala DT14 | 14 ft | 4.3 m | Second deepest of the six compared |
| Rapala DT16 | 16 ft | 5 m | Deepest of the six compared |
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The bill creates diving force as water presses on its face during the retrieve. The balance of that force against buoyancy and line pull sets the running depth, and your line and speed shift the balance. That is why a published rating is a starting point rather than a result.
Use the chart to pick a model near your target depth, then confirm on the water. A shoreline retrieve checks tracking and roll; assessing depth needs a proper cast or troll in known-depth water with your line.
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