Rapala Jointed Minnow Problem

[.dsaavedra.]

im having a problem w/ my jointed minnow. when i reel it in it just does barrel rolls across the surface, it doesnt dive and wiggle. it will have a swimming action if i reel it very slow, but at that pace, i cant get it to go subsurface! whats the problem here!?!? i tried adding a split ring thinking maybe since my line was directly tied that took away from the action. well it didnt help. i wonder if i tied a rapala knot if it would work better.

any suggestions?

[jwo1124]

I had a 1/4 oz. Jointed minnow from rapala that I used once for bass fishing. I found that all this lure did was sit an inch or two below the surface and just snake back to the boat. I find them to be horrible lures. Maybe you need to use a loop knot or something. I like the original floaters much better anyway.

[Guest muddy]

One of my most used and favorite baits. Loose the split ring and do not tie the line directly on AND NEVER USE A SANP SWIVEL all of these mess the action up! Get some plain lure clips ( Like the Norman Speed Clip or a Duo-lok clips) tie one of those on with a Polymar knot and then snap it on It will go subsurface and with the built in action., and when you cast it out, leave it for a minute , and use a stop and go or you can learn how to twitch you rod tip to get it to look like a struggeling and dying minnow on the top. THIS IS ONE OF MY TOP PRODUCERS and this is my experience using it sucessfully 8-)

[joez2872-ct]

take muddys advice ,i also tie up  with no ring and lure snaps good luck////

[BIG M]

That bait is ment to be fished slow and I also say go with a snap.  That is all I use on my own baits.  You can get some lead wire and wrap around the belly hook to get a more nose down attitude and few inches deeper.

[Raul]

The bait is meant to be fished slow, you tie it either with a snap or with a Rapala knot or you kill the action of the bait.

[islandbass]

The bait is meant to be fished slow, you tie it either with a snap or with a Rapala knot or you kill the action of the bait.

X2 on this.  I see this more as a twitch bait. You are right in that it does not dive too deeply and I too was not impressed. Heck, it never even occurred to me to twitch that puppy. Since then, I have changed my mind about it and it really works well, with a topwater bite. I would prefer the Rapala knot. If you go with a duo lock snap, try to find the smallest you can get away with.  A direct tie will kill the action with split ringless rapalas.

[.dsaavedra.]

thanks guys. i dont have any snaps, but im gonna look for some next time im out. till then i think im just gonna learn the rapala knot and use that.

[Guest avid]

thanks guys. i dont have any snaps, but im gonna look for some next time im out. till then i think im just gonna learn the rapala knot and use that.

I urge everyone who is new to the sport to learn to tie some basic knots.  A loop knot, like the rapala knot is a strong reliable knot that will allow complete freedom for the lure to do it's thing without being cluttered with hardware.

Being able to tie a variety of knots is a skill.  Not terribly difficult mind you, but a skill nonetheless.  Practice practice practice.  Impress your friends, catch more fish.  Be the first kid on your block to throw away the snaps and the swivels.  

http://www.animatedknots.com/rapala/index.php?LogoImage=LogoGrog.jpg&Website=www.animatedknots.com

[Guest muddy]

Heres where I differ with you ol buddy. After years of using Rapala bau=its , and trying the Rapala knot, there is no really noticable difference in fish catching ability with a knot or a snap. The snap makes it easy to sitch to different rapalas to cover various depths of the  water coloum. I would rather the ease of the snap then having to retie all day! Just my preference 8-)

[bass109]

snaps limit the action of the jointed rapala, but go with what works for you.

[tyrius.]

snaps limit the action of the jointed rapala, but go with what works for you.

Compared to what?  I started another thread about the use of snaps/clips/knots and haven't seen anything that shows that snaps would limit the action.  Are you talking about using the snap directly to the lure or the snap to a split ring to the lure?

Speaking in purely factual terms, how can a snap limit the side to side wobbling action of a jointed rapala?

[.dsaavedra.]

actually it does limit the action. i tried it one day, and it makes floating lures sink. it puts way too much weight on the nose, so it sinks down nose first, very slowly. all that weight in the front doesnt allow the bait to work properly.

[tyrius.]

actually it does limit the action. i tried it one day, and it makes floating lures sink. it puts way too much weight on the nose, so it sinks down nose first, very slowly. all that weight in the front doesnt allow the bait to work properly.

Hmm, what size lure were you using, what size snap, did you remove the split ring?

I'm still trying to figure this out so don't take my questions as being patronizing or anything.

[.dsaavedra.]

its all good man, just saying my experiences. now that i think of it, i was using a steel leader w/ a snap at the end cuz there are toothies in that pond, so that probably added some weight. i was using a size 9 original floater, no split ring.

that leader probably weighted it down more, but even just a regular snap swivel would mess up the action. rapalas are very sensitive baits....ive had a tiny piece of grass get wrapped around the hook and it completely kills the action.

[tyrius.]

that leader probably weighted it down more, but even just a regular snap swivel would mess up the action.

I'm not talking about a snap swivel, just a snap. A steel leader would make a LARGE difference, so much so that it shouldn't even be compared.

Something like this

or

And if you use a snap you should take off the split ring which should be nearly an equal tradeoff in weight.