Fishing the X-RAP.....Help me! 2025

Del from philly reply :

Just got the X-Rap by Rapala.....what a beautiful lure...especially in the water

my problem is, i cant fish it...

I have never caught a fish on a hardbodies lure since I was eleven (and it was just a 10" perch)

How do you fish them, and more importanly when???

lately, the river is all muddy from the rain, and my soft bodied lures and jigs are coming up empty

so i got a x-rap and rat l trap and attempted to teach myself......after 4 hours and no fish, i decided i need some help!!!

i tryed bringing it in slow and steady, fast and jerky, really fast and steay.....jerk and pause.....nothing worked,.....

it looks great in the water, but just no action from the fishies.....at over 6 bucks a pop i should be happy it made it back in the tacklebox!

I use spinnning gear and 8 lb test....do i need to use a stiffer type of line?

Any HELP IS APPRECIATED!!!!

THANKS

roadwarrior reply :

The Rapala X-Rap is a type of jerkbait. Rapala likes to call it a "slash-bait."

Nothing is written in stone, but these are some general guidelines:

1. Clear or slightly stained water.

2. Low light.

3. A slight surface ripple helps, but is not mandatory.

4. The lure can be worked fast or slow, but not with a steady retrieve.

5. A standard retrieve might be a jerk-jerk-jerk-pause-jerk-jerk-pause...

6. Make the pause complete, on slack line.

7. Fish on or near structure as you would another jerkbait or topwater lure.

Your equipment is fine.

joez2872-ct reply :

rw said it all ////good luck ,,,,

Micro reply :

I agree with what RW said, except for the steady retrieve part. These work well with a slow to moderate steady retrieve. I fish these baits a lot. And you can fish them in just about any manner you wish - like a topwater, jerkbait or crank. Just keep working with them.

My favorite local lake is loaded with big pickerel and these thing will catch the pickerel. I have several that feel like sand paper from all the teeth scratches.

MALTESE FALCON reply :

I agree with Micropterus, the steady retrieve works well with the X-Rap, although my most productive presentation is a sweep pause, sweep pause.

Falcon

jb_adams reply :

The bigger question here is, do you know there are fish present where you are throwing the bait? Not trying to insult you or anything. It just took me forever to learn that. Now that I know how to read a sonar, lake map, know where the fish are based on conditions, etc., it's a lot easier to know if it's me or the fish that don't like the bait.

I agree with RW on most all points. I like to fish it a little faster but I fish clear water. The smallies like to chase it. It's recently become one of my favorite baits. I've reduced to a shad rap but I'm thinking that both are needed based on what the fish want. One day, they want a big bait, the next day they want a smaller one like the shad rap.

Since you're in muddy or stained water, make sure there are good fish present either by sonar or by topwater action. Then try varying your retrieves again. I would think 2 good jerks & a pause, 3 jerks & pause, then 4 jerks & a pause would be a good way to intice a bite. The first two get their attention if they are close by and the progressional jerks should get a reaction strike.

Try the shad rap too. You may find that they want a smaller bait depending on local forage. Right now, there are thousands of 2-3 inch shad in my home lake in the back of coves. No bass are around though. They are out in deeper water chasing larger prey. Why eat 20 a day when you can eat 2-5 larger prey and use less effort? Again, check the local forage and select your baits based on that.

jb_adams reply :

Oh, one last thing. Color can play a huge factor. I've learned that there is one particular color right now that has a good natural looking contrast in the green water my home lake has. Now that I know this color pattern, it's easier to select any type of crankbait, plastic, etc. Funny thing is, my spinnerbait color is totally different which tells me it's relating to a different source of prey. So, find out what they are eating in your area and then try to select a color close to that. It doesn't have to be identical, just relates to what they are looking for.

Easier said than done? You bet! If you keep your fish, check their belly when you are cleaning them. That's the best way to see what they prefer at a given season or time of year. Also, ask around at the local bait shops. They should be able to shed a little light on what colors are hot. That's not as dependable but better than nothing.

Jake. reply :

The x rap is great looking in the water, but I only caught one fish on it in 4 outings. I switched to a pointer and now average about 4 on it per outing. I am not saying the x rap is a bad bait, but I just couldn't buy a bite on it. It might have been a confidence isssue though. :-/ Fish it erraticly with short pauses.

guest reply :

The x rap is a great looking lure that is not especially productive for me.

I do fish them and do catch bass on them, but I have other jerk baits that are much more consistent producers.

I find the x rap works best for me when fished with alot of wrist action.

this is good because it makes it fun to fish. I also do better, check........make that MUCH better with the bait in the smaller sizes.

good luck and have fun.

avid

BassFishingMachine reply :

I do pretty well with the x-rap, but I only fish jerkbaits during the colder months, don't know why thats just a rule of thumb for me. As a retrieve I just do the standard jerk jerk pause, jerk jerk jerk pause, etc.

Ghetto_Basser reply :

This is a great bait with great action. Jerk Jerk Pause

bass109 reply :

Johnnydel to are doing everything right really it just might not be the wrong time of day. Keep using the x rap and i am sure that you'll catch a good size fish.

roadwarrior reply :

Well, there are many ways to skin a cat...

Generally speaking, the main reason a lot of guys never have any luck with jerkbaits is because they fish them like a crankbait with a steady retrieve. After a few unsuccessful attempts, they quit trying. Also, the technique is difficult for some fishermen because it requires patience: the pause in the cadence needs to be complete.

I suggest starting with a quick retrieve (jerk-jerk-jerk-pause-jerk-jerk) which is how a "slashbait" is intended to be fished. If after awhile that cadence doesn't produce, slow down. When the fish are very active is when the X-Rap shines. At other times a more traditional jerkbait (Rapala Husky Jerk, Lucky Craft Pointer or Smithwick Rogue) might be more productive.

Jerkbaits are my favorite class of lures to fish. In low light, they seem to always out produce topwater lures, but there are a lot of similarities in the presentation. Stick with it and I'm sure you will be successful.

bass109 reply :

all true roadwarrior 8-)

Tokyo Tony reply :

Johnnydel, glad to see you're trying out the old X-Rap. This is by far one of my favorite baits, and I have more confidence with X-Raps and LC Pointers than with any other lure, even senkos. If I'm not sure if there are fish in an area (that isn't too heavy with cover), I throw an X-Rap, and if nothing, I'm confident no fish are there. I really feel that fish hear and see these things from a long way away, approach it out of curiosity, then attack it either because it makes them angry or triggers some kind of reflexive reaction out of them. Love 'em.

All good tips above for sure, but I have one thing to add, and it applies moreso to smallies, but also to a lesser degree to largies. You'd be very very surprised how fast you can work these baits sometimes. Not so much this time of year in the northeast now that the fishing is starting to slow down, but especially when the fish are active. If you see fish following your bait but not committing, speed that thing way up. I'm talking reeling fast while making fast erratic jerks and twitches. When you do this, sometimes it's important to let it come to a dead stop right in the middle for a couple seconds, but definitely experiment with this really aggressive approach. Smallies can't resist. You won't trust it until you start getting fish with the super fast retrieve, but when you do get the confidence, it's a lot of fun. The types of jerks that seem to work best for me are very short and sharp - I prefer braided line with a flouro leader and a medium action rod, but mono or flourocarbon will work well too. I just like the feel with braid more and the tighter, more erratic action that comes with zero stretch line.

I actually feel kinda stupid when I'm fishing around other people and they see me working the bait this way because I'm pretty sure I look pretty stupid, but that self-consciousness goes away when the fish start piling in ;D

And someone said color is important with these - sometimes it is really important. Last weekend in NH they wouldn't touch anything but an all-white X-Rap. It was crazy. White/blue, white/black, no dice. Just white on white.

Shadcranker reply :

Suspending jerkbaits really shine for me in the late winter, early spring time, and post spawn periods (pre-spawn b/w 45-65 degree temps). I prefer the more subtle action of the suspending Rogue early in the year.

The X-Rap really gets good when the fish get fairy aggresive in the late pre-spawn and post spawn when on the feed and moving back out. This bait will call them up from a long way in clear to lightly stained water.

I throw it on a med action jerkbait rod (tip action is key), on 15 lb Pline. Crank it down to around 3-4 ft, stop reeling, and jerk it real hard one time, then pause, jerk-jerk, pause, etc. Earlier in the year, you may have to pause 10 seconds (seems like a lifetime). Mix up the retrieve and let the fish dictate how you work it.

A suspending jerkbait will catch you some of the biggest fish in the lake. Just stick with it. It's a visual lure, so it really shines in clear water in the Spring.

T-rig reply :

I don't like the x-rap at all. I much prefer LC pointers and slender pointers. My favorite jerkbaits are the megabass vision 110 and the evergreen sledge.

roadwarrior reply :

Quote
I don't like the x-rap at all. I much prefer LC pointers and slender pointers. My favorite jerkbaits are the megabass vision 110 and the evergreen sledge.

There are days when the X-Rap is THE BOMB!

Crestliner2008 reply :

I love the X-Rap and the Pointers. But to reiterate: clear water, fish structure you know holds fish and fish during the cooler periods - fall & winter months. Smallies love these darn things. The "pause" is the most critical part of the retrieve. This is when the bait suspends and sits there wiggling. Hard for a bass to pass up. Vary the pause time according to water temp. and the temperament of the bass. If you see a bass following but not taking; switch a quicker/slower retrieve, or to another color or size. The fact that you have a fish following indicates that they are interested; you just have to modify your presentation slightly to get them to commit. Early winter is the best time by far. Especially when the water is between 40 & 50 degrees.

Vyron reply :

Quote
I don't like the x-rap at all. I much prefer LC pointers and slender pointers. My favorite jerkbaits are the megabass vision 110 and the evergreen sledge.

~$175 worth of visions

Baitmonkey likes u

Vyron reply :

Quote

Quote
I don't like the x-rap at all. I much prefer LC pointers and slender pointers. My favorite jerkbaits are the megabass vision 110 and the evergreen sledge.

There are days when the X-Rap is THE BOMB!

I agree with u , sometimes an xrap out fishes everything

T-rig reply :

Quote

Quote
I don't like the x-rap at all. I much prefer LC pointers and slender pointers. My favorite jerkbaits are the megabass vision 110 and the evergreen sledge.

~$175 worth of visions

Baitmonkey likes u

I have a few more! ;D ;D

Del from philly reply :

thanks guys

so i was wasting my time in the muddy river with these things....

low light, m,ostly clear water......and jerk jerk pause

i think i know the body of water to try these on now?

thqanks a bunch guys....now if you could only teach me the rat l traps im in good shape!

T-rig reply :

Quote

Quote
I don't like the x-rap at all. I much prefer LC pointers and slender pointers. My favorite jerkbaits are the megabass vision 110 and the evergreen sledge.

There are days when the X-Rap is THE BOMB!

It's just a confidence thing, that's all.

Sam reply :

I fish them in the early spring and late fall when it is getting cold and the water temperatures are in the low 60s and then 50s.

Do what is said on this post and be ready for a strike when you STOP THE BAIT and let it sit.

Jerk...jerk...jerk...pause...strike!

When it first happened to me I don't know who was more surprised, me or the bass?

Just keep experimenting with this family of baits and you will find out what the fish want on a particular body of water on a particular day.

And by the way, stripers and pickerel love 'em, too.

jb_adams reply :

I've recently began trying crankbaits more frequently considering Fall is the "season of crankbaits" around here so I've noticed color, size, and retrieve all play a huge role in presentation. Just yesterday, the fish seemed to want an easy meal. It's hard to figure out a cadence or rythem of sorts that the fish want. I had a Tenn Ghost Shad Rap tied on had a small bass follow it. I realized then I was going too fast. Slowed it down a bit and tried the pause method. No bites. I think slowing it down gave them time to look at it and either they could discern that it was fake or they just lost interest.

I only fished for 1.5 hours so I didn't have enough time but I am very glad I have learned what I have by reading posts here on the forum. I feel so much more confidant in crankbaits now than I ever have. If I'm not getting bites, there are multiple reasons. No fish present where I'm casting, poor presentation, wrong color, wrong size, etc. It's not that "I don't like crankbaits" because they hang up. I've slowed down my retrieves and now that I have a sensitive rod, I can tell when I cross a log, bump a tree, hit the rocks, etc. Quality equipement is just as important as the presentation itself for a beginner.

So with all of that said, keep trying the X-Rap. There may be a time where that bait is just right. I personally think the bass are very aggressive and like an active bait when the X-Rap bite is on. That may be why the Lucky Craft pointer is working better for you because it's lesser in action or you're working it differently. My buddy and I just ordered some more X-Raps off Ebay. Eight for like $30. We will put these to good use on the smallies I assure you!

bass109 reply :

good luck 8-)

lubina reply :

I use jerkbaits all the time and in any season. The X-rap is one of my favorite, the size #8 is more productive for me, specialy in colder waters. I frecuently add a couple of weight disc ( Stom ) by late Fall and Winter. My winner color are Hot Steel. and White.

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Fishing the X-RAP.....Help me! 2025

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