Rapala Jerkbaits

[TriStateBassin106]

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?

[Dwight Hottle]

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. 

[webertime]

Rip Stops work too.

[BassinCNY]

7 hours ago, 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!

[Cgolf]

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.

[crypt]

husky jerk,rip stop,xrap all great baits.

[Cam R]

husky jerk in 4 3/4” and 5.5”

[primetime]

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....

[TnRiver46]

On 12/5/2019 at 11:49 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......

[Smells like fish]

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!

[Black Hawk Basser]

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

[TriStateBassin106]

10 hours ago, Cam R said:

husky jerk in 4 3/4” and 5.5”

Where can I find those in that size?

[Tizi]

rapala.com

[TriStateBassin106]

3 minutes ago, Tizi said:

rapala.com

Thanks man, any color recommendations?

[Tizi]

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

 

Perch

Trout 

Colors in that range

[waymont]

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.

[Cam R]

On 12/6/2019 at 2:43 PM, TriStateBassin106 said:

Where can I find those in that size?

Tackle warehouse, 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.

[Black Hawk Basser]

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

[Michigan Finesse]

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. 

[The Bassman]

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.

[Hook2Jaw]

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.

[Cgolf]

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.

[TriStateBassin106]

2 hours ago, 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. 

[Paul Roberts]

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.

[Don51]

On 12/6/2019 at 5:43 PM, 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.