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Rapala Jerkbaits 2025


fishing user avatarTriStateBassin106 reply : 

What are some Rapala Jerkbaits you guys would recommend for bass? I've been using the Berkley cutter 90 before everything froze over and I loved them. 

 

A buddy of mine uses the Xrap series and swears by them. I've also had family members who fish for walleye recommend the Huskey Jerk series. 

 

 

What would you guys recommend?


fishing user avatarDwight Hottle reply : 

Xraps are good. The husky jerks & deep diver husky jerks are great for all species, walleye, smallies, largemouth, lakers & pike. The HJ14DD in glass perch put at least 30 smallies over 6lbs in my boat. Killer bait. 


fishing user avatarwebertime reply : 

Rip Stops work too.


fishing user avatarBassinCNY reply : 
  On 12/6/2019 at 12:49 AM, Dwight Hottle said:

Xraps are good. The husky jerks & deep diver husky jerks are great for all species, walleye, smallies, largemouth, lakers & pike. The HJ14DD in glass perch put at least 30 smallies over 6lbs in my boat. Killer bait. 

I know what just went on my Christmas list!


fishing user avatarcgolf reply : 

The shadow rap series has been very good to me. I haven't compared it to the high test baits, but it catches plenty of bass for me.


fishing user avatarcrypt reply : 

husky jerk,rip stop,xrap all great baits.


fishing user avatarCam R reply : 

husky jerk in 4 3/4” and 5.5”


fishing user avatarprimetime reply : 

I would never go fishing without the original floaters, and one Husky Jerk and Xrap. I have confidence in Rapala lures because they are the first ones I ever used when I started fishing.

 

I would also get the Countdown Jerkbait, they flat out catch fish, especially the smaller sizes....


fishing user avatarTnRiver46 reply : 
  On 12/6/2019 at 12:49 AM, Dwight Hottle said:

Xraps are good. The husky jerks & deep diver husky jerks are great for all species, walleye, smallies, largemouth, lakers & pike. The HJ14DD in glass perch put at least 30 smallies over 6lbs in my boat. Killer bait. 

Good gracious......


fishing user avatarSmells like fish reply : 

I have always been a big fan of the Ohio made A.C. Shiner which is very similar to the floating Rapala. I use the shiner the same style as I do the floating minnow or Husky Jerk which is an erratic jerking retrieve without pausing at all, that method of retrieval has caught many hundreds of smallmouth for me in the warm months.  Any brand of hard floating or suspending  stickbait-jerkbait-ripbait is a winner to have and use year around.

 

btw, my largest accidental musky catch came on an HJ-12... They will catch fish!


fishing user avatarPickle_Power reply : 

I've caught countless fish of numerous species on X Raps and Husky Jerks.  Honorable mention to the Countdown.


fishing user avatarTriStateBassin106 reply : 
  On 12/6/2019 at 7:56 PM, Cam R said:

husky jerk in 4 3/4” and 5.5”

Where can I find those in that size?


fishing user avatarTizi reply : 

rapala.com


fishing user avatarTriStateBassin106 reply : 
  On 12/7/2019 at 6:46 AM, Tizi said:

rapala.com

Thanks man, any color recommendations?


fishing user avatarTizi reply : 

Where I live, perch and rainbow trout are a staple food for bass, so I choose colors accordingly.

 

Perch

Trout 

Colors in that range


fishing user avatarwaymont reply : 

I catch tons of fish on the HJ12 and HJ14 regular and deep versions. The blue chrome, bass, and yellow perch colors are the best for me. X-Rap is also fantastic XR-8 and XR-10 in silver,  silver blue, perch, and gold are my colors. Iv'e caught lots of 4-6lb bass and tons of big pike on them. Walleye eat them too, but I usually get them by mistake. The 2.5" X-Rap is a great smallie bait in streams.

Actually the 2.5" catches every kind of fish everywhere.


fishing user avatarCam R reply : 
  On 12/7/2019 at 6:43 AM, TriStateBassin106 said:

Where can I find those in that size?

Tackle warehouse, karls bait and tackle. Cabelas bass pro field and stream sportsman warehouse. Pretty much anywhere the price is about $7-$8

 

clown and fire tiger are good colors. Match the hatch is key so if you have perch around fire tiger is a great option.


fishing user avatarPickle_Power reply : 

Olive Green is my best X Rap color.  Firetiger and Silver/Black are my best Husky Jerk colors.


fishing user avatarMichigan Finesse reply : 

Love Rapala Jerks! They are affordable (at least compared to many others ) have good variety, and catch the heck out of bass in my area. I love the husky jerk and ripstop in natural colors. I recommend the perch color for both, and also the olive ghost for the husky jerk. 


fishing user avatarThe Bassman reply : 

I'm trying to build confidence with winter jerkbaiting. Used a 08 Husky Jerk to catch several the other day. A couple were between 3-4 lbs. Caught 4 fish in 30 min. then couldn't buy a bite on it as the day went on.


fishing user avatarHook2Jaw reply : 

I've caught plenty of fish as a kid with Rapala original floaters, black and silver, and as a young man, several on X-Raps and Shad Raps.

 

On @Dwight Hottle's recommendation, I'll be giving the Down Deep Husky Jerks a go.  That many giant smallies is amazing.


fishing user avatarcgolf reply : 

Just curious why there is no love for the shadow rap series? One mention of the ripstop and I am the lone shadow rap fan.

 

I have the others, but really had a breakout year with the shadow rap in 2019. They are a bit pricier than the husky jerks but not by much.


fishing user avatarTriStateBassin106 reply : 
  On 12/12/2019 at 9:47 PM, cgolf said:

Just curious why there is no love for the shadow rap series? One mention of the ripstop and I am the lone shadow rap fan.

 

I have the others, but really had a breakout year with the shadow rap in 2019. They are a bit pricier than the husky jerks but not by much.

This was me but with the Berkley cutter 90s, great jerkbaits for beginners. Caught my first smallmouth on one here in NY, great search bait too. 


fishing user avatarPaul Roberts reply : 

I use X-Raps and Husky's, mostly. X's run a bit shallower, and can "slash"/glide more -great in warmer water. Husky's run a bit deeper, and can be twitch better, for cold water. X's are also surprisingly weedless, due to their lip design than is smooth, rounded, and contiguous with the body. I use two X-Rap sizes here, the 8 and 10. The little 8 is great in very cold and very clear water.

 

I like the Shadow Rap too. It's not quite as good a direction changer as others, but it's flat sides, and finishes, has me using them.

 

I too like the Cutter.


fishing user avatarDon51 reply : 
  On 12/7/2019 at 6:43 AM, TriStateBassin106 said:

Where can I find those in that size?

Those are the most common sizes. Walmart carries a good selection and Dick's Sporting Goods.


fishing user avatarsoflabasser reply : 

Rapala X-raps and Rapala Husky jerks are good for bass and many other species.


fishing user avatargimruis reply : 

I bought 4 shadow raps in 2017 because I got a pretty good deal on them. I picked out 4 different colors in different depths and didn’t catch a single fish on them for 2 seasons. Fast forward to this past season. The perch colored shadow rap was effective, as was a rip stop in blue shiner. It’s possible that I simply wasn’t using them correctly or in the best conditions. The treble hooks aren’t great on them, that is my only complaint.




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