Casting Rapalas

[Evan Pease]

Is it just me or are their smaller balsas next to impossible to throw on BC gear? The minnow-rap for example wieghs 5/16oz but is 3 1/2 inches long so I gave up and just used my spinning gear.

[burleytog]

You need a small Shimano.  

My only gripe with a lot of the Rapala balsa stuff is that it's too light.

[bassin_man]

I once tried casting one of their shallow runner cranks on my baitcasting setup.  The only thing I can say about that is that I got the holy grail of bird nest in my reel and ended up wasting about 1/2 spool of line.  Now I use spin gear for casting them. ;D

[Guest muddy]

I have one spinning rig on the boat Fenwick 7' med fast/pflueger president x6735 reel with 8# test

This is specifically for the Balsa Rapala's from the Original Floaters to the smaller Shad Raps, works better than great for me. 8-)

[HesterIsGod]

I can usually cast them all day with my bc gear if there is NO wind and if the casts do not have to be very accurate. Otherwise I go with spinning gear.

[Guest muddy]

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[RiskKid.]

#5 Shad Rap is a great bait on Percy Priest in Nashville....I use strictly spinning gear for it....way too light for a baitcaster IMHO

[Jimzee]

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[islandbass]

No, it is not impossible, but it does help to have a casting rod rated to toss them and a line with a thin diameter (eg, 6-8# test).

Another minus is that these lighter rapalas, (ie, floating originals, shad raps, etc.) are not that aerodynamic which can compound the problem of tossing them with a casting reel.

It is also helpful to have a reel capable of tossing these lighter lures. For example, my round abu g doesn't have a prayer of a chance to toss them, but my Curados can and we all know that a Pixy would make short work of them.

So:

The right line (lighter - thinner diameter)

The right rod (rated to throw them)

The right reel (not all bc reels are equal - some reels cast lighter weights much better and more easily than others) and

The angler

all contribute to the success of tossing lighter weghts.

As already mentioned, it is far less a hassle and more convenient to use a spinning rig, especially when it is windy.

[Hot n Tot]

I almost always use spinning gear to fish the balsa floaters and Shad Raps. With spinning you don't have to be concerned as much with wind direction, etc. I enjoy using spinning gear as much as casting gear, so it's not an issue for me.

[roadwarrior]

We have several seasoned members who use baitcasters for all applications. Throwing light lures takes a combination of skill and the right equipment. For most of us (me), spinning tackle is the best fit for light lures and a number of presentations. As an example, I fish spinning tackle almost exclusively with soft plastics. I wouldn't consider throwing an original Floating Rapala on baitcasting gear.

8-)

[Raul]

Throwing light lures takes a combination of skill and the right equipment.

8-)

Like a Daiwa Pixy/ Alphas Itö and a GLoomis CR721/722 rod or a Shimano Chronarch 50 Mg/ Daiwa Sol on the same rod.  

[Evan Pease]

Thanks for the replies. Looks like its spinning until I become a true master lol.

[.dsaavedra.]

yeah i throw the light unweighted balsa rapalas on spinning gear too. just too much of a hassle to try and use casting gear when i have a spinning rod right there that i can toss it on.