Favorite rapala ?

[jr231]

I am an avid rapala user. I own lots of tackle , soft plastics , tons of different cranks but I always find myself enjoying a rapala. It's what got me hooked on artificial lures when I was just a young boy . Astonished that I could catch fish on a fake minnow trolling with my buddy in a paddle boat . Anyway , I was wondering what your favorite rapala model is ? And why ? Also your favorite color. 

[lo n slo]

#7 Shad Rap in shad or gold

[EvanT123]

Huskey jerk hj08 blue silver and orange one. 

[U-boat Aficionado]

Jointed #7 in Gold or Perch. Fantastic lures. I happened to get my PB smallie on one. 

[lakeannaangler]

Either the x rap 8 in olive green or DT6 in blue back herring

[Master Bait'r]

I've literally plucked more rapalas out of trees and off lily pads than I've bought 

[Jar11591]

Love that Skitter Walk.

[Raul]

I have caught more bass with Shad Raps than with my all other 800+ crankbaits alltogether. 

[ghost]

Scatter Rap Crank Shallow, any color. Caught more bass for me than other lures

[scaleface]

 . The Crankin Rap both shallow and deep divers have quickly become a favorite the past two years .

[Crestliner2008]

My favorite is the X-Rap in "hot head" pattern. Has taken a lot of smallies for me over the years.

[jr231]

9 hours ago, Master Bait'r said:

I've literally plucked more rapalas out of trees and off lily pads than I've bought 

If you're suggesting you don't care for rapalas.  I would be glad to take those pieces of junk off of you . To dispose of , of course 

[Master Bait'r]

2 minutes ago, Yeajray231 said:

If you're suggesting you don't care for rapalas.  I would be glad to take those pieces of junk off of you . To dispose of , of course 

 

No, not at all!  I just seem to always find them.  If I see something stuck someplace, 9/10 times it's a slender-bodied Rapala of some kind.  They're everywhere, and used by everyone!  

[fishballer06]

DT6, DT10, and Shad Raps are my favorites. But their jerkbaits and Skitter Pops are also a solid go to as well. 

[Gundog]

I'm stuck between the old school original floating minnow in black top, silver side for largemouths and the Husky Jerk in gold for smallies. Both work.

[jr231]

Yea that always leaves a bad taste in your mouth. Leaving 8 dollars behind in a tree . 

[chubaka]

The X-Rap has done well for me

[jr231]

Just now, chubaka said:

The X-Rap has done well for me

Yea me too. Especially the shallow shad version 

[Master Bait'r]

1 hour ago, Yeajray231 said:

Yea that always leaves a bad taste in your mouth. Leaving 8 dollars behind in a tree . 

 

I have done it too!  Makes me think though, someone with a long telescopic retriever could probably pretty consistently put a couple gallons of gas back in the boat if they stay observant out there.  

[primetime]

Original Rapala F-9 through F-13 for topwater or waking, and the F-18 if looking for a big fish and for casting gear. Long and slim, hard to find another lure that duplicates that big F-18. I tend to like the Gold and Black most of the time. I throw the Floating Rapala as much as any lure I own, and I tend to like the Jointed Floater at night slowly waked and paused on top. Only issue is I find I need to use light line on spinning tackle to get the right action on most and that is an issue in Florida during the summer.

I love the way the new BX Wake bait looks and acts in the water but I have yet to gain confidence in the lure since I have never really done well with it. I do much better with the Red Fin. I have also tried the BX floater which is actually pretty good since it is a wide body and has great detail, can stay shallow over weeds, and when I think of it, and tie it on , I have done Ok.

The Floating Flat Rap is good when the water is calm, and or fish are not active. The added Flash from flat sides helps.

I fish the DT series both flat and standard, DT fats for wakes, and can't say I like them better than say a Strike king etc....But they are good, I am just not as confident with a Rapala as I am with say a Spro Crank or Strike King and a few other models.

The X-Rap Prop has replaced all my Devil's horse double prop lures that are slim. That is a great lure, and I have heard the X Rap Popper is really good as well. I love some of the Rapala colors that are chart head and white body. The Skitter walk is my favorite topwater for Saltwater however.

Rapala makes great lures, I am sure if you put the time in they all work well, Bills often break but that happens with all balsa lures I have used from Bagley's to Ac Shiners. X Raps are much more durable.

Shad Rap #7 is my favorite Crankbait to throw during winter and the shallow Shad rap is highly under rated but they need light line in the 6-8lb test range so they can be hard to use at time. I don't like braid and treble hooks, but braid gives the floater better action in stained water where I don't care about line color, and I just make sure I use my drag, but casting distance is an issue with all Rapala lures. I never have caught a fish on a scatter rap but I am sure they work. Not enough time to use them all, but guys who are really good with cranks seem to love the DT series.

[jr231]

1 hour ago, primetime said:

Original Rapala F-9 through F-13 for topwater or waking, and the F-18 if looking for a big fish and for casting gear. Long and slim, hard to find another lure that duplicates that big F-18. I tend to like the Gold and Black most of the time. I throw the Floating Rapala as much as any lure I own, and I tend to like the Jointed Floater at night slowly waked and paused on top. Only issue is I find I need to use light line on spinning tackle to get the right action on most and that is an issue in Florida during the summer.

I love the way the new BX Wake bait looks and acts in the water but I have yet to gain confidence in the lure since I have never really done well with it. I do much better with the Red Fin. I have also tried the BX floater which is actually pretty good since it is a wide body and has great detail, can stay shallow over weeds, and when I think of it, and tie it on , I have done Ok.

The Floating Flat Rap is good when the water is calm, and or fish are not active. The added Flash from flat sides helps.

I fish the DT series both flat and standard, DT fats for wakes, and can't say I like them better than say a Strike king etc....But they are good, I am just not as confident with a Rapala as I am with say a Spro Crank or Strike King and a few other models.

The X-Rap Prop has replaced all my Devil's horse double prop lures that are slim. That is a great lure, and I have heard the X Rap Popper is really good as well. I love some of the Rapala colors that are chart head and white body. The Skitter walk is my favorite topwater for Saltwater however.

Rapala makes great lures, I am sure if you put the time in they all work well, Bills often break but that happens with all balsa lures I have used from Bagley's to Ac Shiners. X Raps are much more durable.

Shad Rap #7 is my favorite Crankbait to throw during winter and the shallow Shad rap is highly under rated but they need light line in the 6-8lb test range so they can be hard to use at time. I don't like braid and treble hooks, but braid gives the floater better action in stained water where I don't care about line color, and I just make sure I use my drag, but casting distance is an issue with all Rapala lures. I never have caught a fish on a scatter rap but I am sure they work. Not enough time to use them all, but guys who are really good with cranks seem to love the DT series.

Thorough explanation. ! I caught my PB on a rapala skitter pop. An oversized one in a frog pattern.  

[timsford]

F-11 original floating minnow in silver

[primetime]

5 hours ago, Yeajray231 said:

Thorough explanation. ! I caught my PB on a rapala skitter pop. An oversized one in a frog pattern.  

I forgot about the Skitter Pop. I have that huge one in a frog pattern that I found at a garage sale years ago, I used to love that lure but happens to be one I forgot about. It is a great lure, it has an unusual sound and action, but I need to pull that out. I have the brown frog color and it is really big, bigger than many walking baits.

Rapala just makes good lures. I never mind spending the money for a Rapala, or Bomber, or Strike king, Bill Lewis etc..I find Rapala and Bomber along with Cotton Cordell covers most of my needs, I rarely use any Chinese made JDM lures unless I buy them from China for only a few bucks. I am sure hate will be coming soon, I forgot "They are assembled in Japan. I can change out hook brands on my own. Rico poppers for $30. Tackle Retail magazine online just did a number on them. I will leave it at that. Different strokes for different folks, some lures are worth it, some are nothing more than a pradco lure with nicer Eyes and paint. hard to beat a Rapala or Bagley's or if looking for a wake bait, comparing the IMA roumba to an AC shiner is easy. AC shiner is much better, not even close imo, but then again they are not cheap and hand made I believe. I should not hate on IMA, I used to love the IMA skimmer until I realized the Rebel T-10 was better for what I do in Florida, and they do make good baits. It seems high priced lures are coming down, except for big swimbaits which is not an area I really get into as I can't afford a $100 Lure, nor would want one. But if you can afford it more power to you, just make sure it really is hand carved, not all advertising is what it seems. I love buying Deps Frogs for under $3 per. Oops.

[avidone1]

5 hours ago, timsford said:

F-11 original floating minnow in silver

ditto here. and smaller

[crypt]

F3 floater,ultralight favorite lure of all time.silver. other is husky jerk in ghost,skitter pop any color ,any rapala will work.