so i want to add some more rapalas to my tackle box. what rapalas work well? best go to rapala that almost always gets fish? not looking to spend more than 8$ a piece cause where i fish there is alot of snags and im not into spending 15$ bucks or more on something i have a high chance of losing.
if you know how to work a bait you wont snag much at all. i can run a crankbait through some nasty stuff and only snag once or twice in a while but even if i do i can almost always get the bait out.
i see but that doesnt answer my question. ive used them before but not as much as spinnerbaits. those are my main stuff
Shallow®ular Shad raps, the flat sided DT series. Black over silver works well in the places I fish.
DT series
Original Floater
Husky Jerk
I have'nt tried the crankin rap yep. If you are not shure, really anything rapala is good. The only one I was not impressed with is the rattlin' rap
-gk
My favorite rapala is the DT-6
Shad Rap & DT 10's.
May I suggest using Google and visiting the Rapala web site?
You will see all of their various baits.
I like the #5 Shad Raps in silver with black back.
I also have some #7's in the same color.
Selecting a bait means you have to take a number of items into consideration:
1. Spinning or baitcaster?
2. Light line or heavy test?
3. Structure where you will be throwing baits.
4. Rod's specifications to balance with line test and bait weight.
5. Time of the year.
6. Weather conditions.
I have a tournament on a local Virginia lake this Saturday and plan to throw #5 Shad Raps and either a DT-6 or DT-10 depending on where we find the bass.
I will also throw Rat-L-Traps and Bandits 100 and 200 until I find the depth the bass are holding.
Saturday will be a sunny day so I will also throw wacky and shaky head plastics under the docks and piers.
So to answer your query....it depends on your fishing techniques and the time of year as to which Raps and other baits you decide to throw.
Speak with others you know who may throw the baits you are interested in, especially the bass fishermen at your local tackle shop. Don't speak to people who do not fish your local waters or do not fish for bass. They really have no idea of what to throw and where.
But you cannot go wrong with a #5 or #7 silver with black back Shad Rap or a "Sexy Shad" color pattern for your DT series.
I have had my best luck using Rapala Shallow Shad Raps, Husky Jerks and X-Raps. I have also caught on jointed Shad Raps. My brother swears by the jointed Floater.
QuoteI have had my best luck using Rapala Shallow Shad Raps, Husky Jerks and X-Raps. I have also caught on jointed Shad Raps. My brother swears by the jointed Floater.
This pretty much sums up my thoughts as well. Maybe add Skitter Pop and DT series as well.
They all catch fish for me.
There was an issue of BASS a while back that had some information provided by Rapala about their sales numbers. If I remember correctly, their top 3 lineups, based on volume of sales, broke down in the following order:
1. Original Floater
2. Shad Rap
3. X-Rap
That should tell you what the most popular/successful products from them are.
The original floater size F11 in silver/black is one of my favorites. I use it in clear water over shallow vegetation. It doesn't dive as deep as some jerkbaits and it floats up quickly. I also like it in clear water because it has no rattles.
Every Rapala is going to catch fish, but remember there are no "magic" lures. Every lure is going to have a time a place, but here are my favorites:
Rapala DT 10, 14, 20
DT Thug
DT Flat series (Better hurry they are discontinuing)
What the heck Just buy them all! ;D
DT series (6 and 10)
Shallow and regular shad raps
X-raps (amazing)
X-rap Shad Shallow
X-rap Shad
The silver, olive and glass ghost xraps are the only baits you need in late fall/early winter fishing...
Actually, the only Rapala's I won't buy are the Clankin' Raps... They are great baits don't get me wrong, but they are over priced!
I 'm not going to say "the best", my all time favorites:
1.- Shad Rap in all it 's sizes and variations.
2.- Original Floater
3.- Fat Rap
I've done well with ...
DT series cranks especially the DT6 & DT10
X rap- real nice jerbait
Original floater- I like the minnow color
Shad Raps- terrific finnesse crankbait
number 5 or 7 shallow shad rap
rapala dt 10
hj-14
shad rap #9
most underrated- rapala countdown
Shad Rap SR-7 in silver black back and silver chartreuse back
DT Fat 3 , DT Thug, and DT Flat 3 are my favorites. The brown back, gold side, orange belly color Rapala calls "crawdad" is killer here in stained water, and the yellow perch is a great clear water color. On the Fat 3 I remove the sure sets and put a #2 Mustad KVD on the front and a #4 Mustad KVD on the rear. The Thug gets the same hooks but a #4 front and #6 rear, and the Flat 3 gets two #4's.
the old Risto Raps are still a go to bait for me.
stay away from those clackin raps I have two and I have caught nothing on either of them (olive green, and some crawdad color). Other than those I catch stuff on just about all of them. Almost all my cranks are Rapala.
I also really like the smaller sized skitterwalk in the bluegill pattern. No matter where I fish it I always catch big quality fish.
Quotestay away from those clackin raps I have two and I have caught nothing on either of them (olive green, and some crawdad color). Other than those I catch stuff on just about all of them. Almost all my cranks are Rapala.I also really like the smaller sized skitterwalk in the bluegill pattern. No matter where I fish it I always catch big quality fish.
Totally agree....They sink like a rock, which make them almost literally impossible to fish in shallow water without getting hung up
I like the Shad raps 5,7,9
the dt series Mostly use the 6 and 10 here in FL
also used to use the old fat raps
I need to try some of the deep diving Rapalas, maybe the DT-16 and DT-20. build up my deeper diving cranks some
I fish southeastern reservoirs and have caught more bass burning a Shad Rap RS-5 (plastic w/rattles) over deep week beds than any other Rapala. The jointed RS-5's work just as well. Balsa versions of the Shad Raps work great too but are too light for me to cast on baitcasting gear. Anything in the DT series is a good bet but I use mostly DT-10's and 16's for deeper water. Best new Rapala? the DT Thug has a lot of thump and gets bit regularly. But I hate those Sure Set trebles and change them out. What works best for you will depend on where and how deep you fish. Personally, I've never caught a fish on an X-rap after hours of fishing them. Maybe they work great in northern waters? Maybe it's just me!
Husky jerk
shad rap
fat rap