Help Me Break Away From Rapalas

[Toeshots]

I've grown up almost exclusively using Rapala #7 Shad Raps, and while they have been fairly good to me, I'd like to expand and try out some new brands. I do most of my fishing in 0-12 ft of water, so I am looking for suggestions on some crankbaits that can cover various depths in that range.

The two main places I fish are 1) clear water with a weedy bottom, and 2) stained water with a rocky bottom.

So, what are some of the good, non-Rapala cranks I can throw? It would be nice to throw something that's a bit heavier...

[BenBassmaster]

Normans are some of the other cranks I throw. I also throw bomber and h2o express all good cranks.

[The Next KVD]

Storm WiggleWarts, Strike King Series 4, 5, and 5x, and unfortunately for you nothing compares to Rapala DT6 and DT10s.

[Toeshots]

Well, I guess more specifically I have fallen into too much of a comfort zone with Shad Raps. The DT series is something I'd certainly try out.

[Bluebasser86]

I won't be spending any money on DT baits anymore, they're way too fragile for me. I still have a few but it seems every time I fish one it will bounce off a rock during the retrieve and the bill will break loose from the body. Strike King makes quality baits at very good prices, sounds like the 1.5 or 4S would be good for the water you're fishing. Bandit also makes good baits that don't break the bank. The 100 and 200 series are by far my favorites in their line up.

[Tmmytomato]

Bomber definitely makes a great crankbait. If you send broken Rapalas into the company they will replace them no charge - I've done a few myself. Rapala makes a great bait - they also have some 3' and 5' and deeper Crankin' Raps that are more sturdy than the DT series. There's a lot of good cranks available - Spro Little John series, Bomber 5A and 6A, Rapala Crankin' Rap, Lucky Craft Rick Clunn and BD series, Strike King, Norman Little N, Excaliber, Storm WIggle Wart, Luhr Jensen Speed Trap...lots to pick from and lots of good baits. Try a couple of whatever you can afford. Talk to your buddies, read fishing forums. Everyone has their favorites and there's a lot of trial and error and your favs will no doubt change from time to time. Fingers crossed for you - have fun!

[HomerCircle2]

Hands down - step up to the "Humpback Mule" surface popper; twitched like an injured minnow, chugged like an angry frog - there's never been a better surface lure for black bass than MirrowLure's topwater plug: http://www.mirrolure.com/freshwater/12ls.html

Have used it for 50 years now; my Grandfather used it 40 years before that... Rapala is for "perch"... Humpback Mule is for "lunker bass"...

[SirSnookalot]

If I'm catching fish I'm sticking with what I'm using within the same genre of lures. As Blubasser said, I myself have broke off quite a few lips on Rapala lures. Although I do use other brands, my preference is Rapala regardless of the damage.

[Tuckahoe Joe]

Strike King makes quality baits at very good prices, sounds like the 1.5 or 4S would be good for the water you're fishing. Bandit also makes good baits that don't break the bank. The 100 and 200 series are by far my favorites in their line up.

X's 2. I like the Strike King 1.5's and the Bandit 200's. Id say that I probably caught most of my fish this past summer and fall on these 2 baits in various colors.

[LgMouthGambler]

I was mostly a Rapala man myself, but since I found a really good deal on Bomber baits last week I bought a lifetimes worth. I have been fishing the Shallow A's and Square A's and they are very impressive baits. In fact I like them better than the KVD 1.5's I have. Rapalas warranty is tough to beat though, they will send you a new one if you have a broken lure. As a matter of fact I recently sent them a firetiger rattletrap that I bought back in 1992 that the hook anchor had ripped out, and they sent me a brand new one no charge.

[MCS]

Love the bomber square As and Balsa Bs. The flat As are pretty good as well to me. I also like the Rebel craw cranks and the wee R. Very good craw imitation at the best price.

[Hanover_Yakker]

You did say different crankbaits right? Unless I am mistaken, I have yet to see anyone mention what should be considered the two most versatile crankbaits out there - square-bills and lipless cranks. The lipless cranks can be used at any depth and can be worked in a variety of ways. The squarebill I think would be a good option to throw into the arsenal.

Of course, my favorite shallow running Rapala crankbait wasn't mentioned either so far, so I'll throw it into the mix just for good measure - the Mini and Baby Fat Raps - I have caught more varieties of fish on that one crank than all other cranks combined. The Black back, silver body one was absolutely deadly when I had it tied on. Hard to come by now though since it was discontinued - mostly on eBay now.

[Christian M]

You did say different crankbaits right? Unless I am mistaken, I have yet to see anyone mention what should be considered the two most versatile crankbaits out there - square-bills and lipless cranks. The lipless cranks can be used at any depth and can be worked in a variety of ways. The squarebill I think would be a good option to throw into the arsenal.

Of course, my favorite shallow running Rapala crankbait wasn't mentioned either so far, so I'll throw it into the mix just for good measure - the Mini and Baby Fat Raps - I have caught more varieties of fish on that one crank than all other cranks combined. The Black back, silver body one was absolutely deadly when I had it tied on. Hard to come by now though since it was discontinued - mostly on eBay now.

X2- I really like the Fat Rap in pearl shad, another one of my favorite Rapalas is the Flat Rap DT 3' in Yellow Perch

[fishking247]

Manns -1 for the shallow water

[roadwarrior]

Crankbaits:

Norman Fat Boy

KVD 2.5 & 3.5

Bandit 100, 200 & 300

Jerkbaits:

Lucky Craft Pointer

Megabass Vision 110

[ww2farmer]

I kicked Rapala and there overpriced garbage to the curb a few years ago now. I am still catching plenty of fish. I use Strike King and Spro hardbaits. The little john series of cranks from spro are very capable cold water cranks.

[flyfisher]

I like rapalas myself too and haven't found them to break any more often than other baits and the warranty is good enough that i don't really worry about it. I started throwing the KVD 1.5, 2.5 and 3x this year as well and they seem to do pretty well. I am not as skilled in throwing cranks to notice all the subtle differences between baits yet but i am sure others are and can pick apart a bait. To me if you are catching fish then why change.

I have used the DT series as well and i really like them and also the rapala clackin' rap.

[5fishlimit]

The lipless cranks can be used at any depth and can be worked in a variety of ways. The squarebill I think would be a good option to throw into the arsenal.

These are the only crankbaits I use, and can cover anywhere along the water column with them. I was exclusively using the bill lewis rat-l-traps's, but just came across the cotton cordell brand for $2 and don't see much of a difference.

For the squarebill cranks I'm not too specific on the brand.

[gripnrip]

Give Luck E strike square bills a shot. My largest bass this year has come off the 1.0

[Bigbarge50]

Still waiting to land one on a rapala..... last time out one took my clacking lipless rap for a run, yet somehow got off. Love cranks, would love to love rapalas, they just don't love me.

I will be trying to land some on the cold water on the husky jerk here the next few months..... but the lack of confidence makes me want to go to the pointer and rogue far more.

[tholmes]

I won't be spending any money on DT baits anymore, they're way too fragile for me. I still have a few but it seems every time I fish one it will bounce off a rock during the retrieve and the bill will break loose from the body. Strike King makes quality baits at very good prices, sounds like the 1.5 or 4S would be good for the water you're fishing. Bandit also makes good baits that don't break the bank. The 100 and 200 series are by far my favorites in their line up.

Ha! That's funny, Bluebasser. I've had the same problem with SK cranks, especially the squarebills. I still use SK baits, though along with Norman, Bomber, Bandit, Storm and H2O. They all make great crankbaits at reasonable prices, IMHO . Oh yeah, i still use Rapalas too.

Tmo

[The Next KVD]

Rapalas warranty is tough to beat though, they will send you a new one if you have a broken lure. As a matter of fact I recently sent them a firetiger rattletrap that I bought back in 1992 that the hook anchor had ripped out, and they sent me a brand new one no charge.

Now thats some impressive warranty!!

[flippin and pitchin]

Take a serious look at the Normans line up. The Deep Little N is my favorite crankbait hands down. For mid-depth, the Luhr Jensen Speed Trap will catch them cold to warm. A sleeper is the Luhr Jensen Hot Lips when you need small profile and depth. Bandits are right there too. This selection will not break the bank either. Lots of great suggestions provided.

[flipin4bass]

I still collect Rapala cranks, but other than the older Risto Raps and Fat Raps I seldom use them. I mainly use LC and Bomber cranks today and for durability the Bombers are hard to beat when you're wanting to crash into logs and rocks.

[Bankbeater]

Manns -1 for the shallow water

X2. This time of year brown crawfish is a killer around here.