It's That Time of Year Again...

[.dsaavedra.]

well for many of us our season has come to a close. this is the time when most bass anglers (except you lucky southerners) put their rods on the rack and take a break from fishing. we clean, organize, re-organize, and just plain look at alllll of our tackle. well last night i decided to look at my crankbaits. while some of yours may put mine to shame, here is my personal collection of rapalas. the inline spinners on the right are actually made by bluefox (ownded by rapala) and it might be clear in the pic, but rapala makes the bodies for them....these are the best inline spinner i have found.

anyway, thought i'd post this just to keep us in the spirits....lets see some pics of your lure collections!

[bait__Monkey]

GO SHOPPING  great way to spend the down time  8-)

[Raul]

Unless you got a replacement for it I wouldn 't go fishing with that Mini Fat Rap, collector 's item dude.  

[.dsaavedra.]

Unless you got a replacement for it I wouldn 't go fishing with that Mini Fat Rap, collector 's item dude.

FER-REAL???

wow i got it for like 2 or 3 dollars at the local annual fishing fair. they dont carry up to date stuff, they always carry years old things. and this one guy is there every year and has 2 big cardboard boxes overflowing w/ rapalas. he has a deal where if you buy 3 you can get them for 3 each. its 5 each if you dont take the deal. i get alot of rapalas from him. only bad thing is thers no selection. its many duplicates of the same few baits in the same few colors.

if he still there next spring i'll pick up a few of his fat raps.

[.dsaavedra.]

oops i almost forgot!

heres one more rapala

do you think thats worth anything? its my dad's from when he was a kid. very old but as you can see its in ok shape. i could still fish it if i wanted to...the hooks are all rusted out tho. it was one of the originals that were made in finland, and finland is printed on the bill.

[JigNBig]

Replace the hooks on it.  I have never caught much size on those floatin rapalas but alot of bass in ponds where there arent monsters.

US LUCKY SOUTHERNERS  ;D ;D ;D ;D

[Raul]

FER-REAL???

Yup, I kid you not, it 's been discontinued for a good couple of years, there will still be plenty left so it 's not worth much right now but the point is, you already have it.  

The other one is not worth much either without the box, the original Rapala Minnow even though the one you have is old is still mainstream. But what gives it sentimental value is that it belonged to your dad and it 's still in good condition. Don 't change the hooks ( it adds panàge ) buff it up with a chamois and time to get one of those lure hangers so you can show your collection of vintage or strange lures.

[.dsaavedra.]

ok thanks for the input. i didnt think it would be worth much, specially cuz it doesnt have a box and since they are still very popular. i do have the box for the fat rap (i save all my rapala boxes)...next year i will pick one up and i wont open the box  

now...what about that risto rap? those are discontinued....

i love that thing...i caught a big ole south carolina bass on it. if it turns out they might be worth something, i'll have to get another one cuz i cant retire that thing..i like it too much.

[.dsaavedra.]

Replace the hooks on it. I have never caught much size on those floatin rapalas but alot of bass in ponds where there arent monsters.

US LUCKY SOUTHERNERS ;D ;D ;D ;D

hey buddy, guess what i caught on a floating rapala?

yup caught that baby on the orig. floater thats on the top row in the middle w/ the red bill and hooks.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

No doubt dsa, they can catch a monster from time to time but it's claim to fame is throwing it at edges, under trees, etc, typical bank beating.  Used in this application, you can fill a boat.  Great numbers lure and great lure for bringing someone to the next level (lots of action and they can now learn how to deal with double trebles)

I would do like Raul said and turn the one from your dad into an heirloom.  Sure, it's an everyday Rapala right now but 30 yrs from now when it's sitting on your sons trophy shelf, it will have a whole different meaning.

[Raul]

now...what about that risto rap? those are discontinued....

Yup, those been discontinued around 2000, went to St Louis in 2001 and saw them in a clearance bin at BPS, $2.00 a piece  , had to stuff in, then went back to BPS ( now DFW ) in 2002, saw them again in the cleance bin, not even in the bass fishing section ( they were right next to the door that goes from the store to the boat show place, well, I was already there ya know  , stuffed up some more, must have a good couple hundred of them in their boxes ( those don 't count for the crankbait count ). Turns out to be now that they are selling for around 8 dollars a piece and even more. I do fish the ones that are not in box, got replacements.  ;D

[Raul]

See if the guy selling the Rapalas has some Shallow Running Fat Raps at a good price, those are also discontinued for a long time, those are auctioning for 25 and more dollars now.

[bait__Monkey]

now...what about that risto rap? those are discontinued....

Yup, those been discontinued around 2000, went to St Louis in 2001 and saw them in a clearance bin at BPS, $2.00 a piece  , had to stuff in, then went back to BPS ( now DFW ) in 2002, saw them again in the cleance bin, not even in the bass fishing section ( they were right next to the door that goes from the store to the boat show place, well, I was already there ya know  , stuffed up some more, must have a good couple hundred of them in their boxes ( those don 't count for the crankbait count ). Turns out to be now that they are selling for around 8 dollars a piece and even more. I do fish the ones that are not in box, got replacements.  ;D

atsa my boy

[.dsaavedra.]

i like risto raps! im gonna check out his boxes of rapalas next time and see if he has any good ones.

so anyway, after a good, off topic, rant, anyone have any pics of their lure collections?

[BassinWill301]

a picture of my crankbaits

[.dsaavedra.]

nice cranks...looks like somebody likes bandits : lol a foot loose would be a nice addition.

[JigNBig]

2nd row the first 3 look like footlooses to me.

alright,buddy,i go to one lake and catch one of those at least once a week.Biggest is 13lbs,buddy. On a Revenge buzzbait.

Them little rapalas are so light though.  

[BassinWill301]

no they r not footloose they r just the shallowest of the regular bandits

[BassinWill301]

what does your second sentence mean fishingdude?

[.dsaavedra.]

2nd row first 3 are 100 seires. foot loose has a near vertical bill.

wow 13lbs..thats big!........bama boy

7lbs is seriously a lunker in md. state record is only 11lbs 2oz.

yea the floating rapalas are light. theyre kinda hard on casting gear. not all of their baits are light though. the DT's i can sling em a mile on casting gear. that big xrap jointed shad is huge weighs 1 5/8oz.

[JigNBig]

o ok yeah i see now. i like bandits but they aren't the best. I prefer Norman and Mann's.  I REALLY like the matte finish crawfish pattern.

yeah she was a hoss. I can't wait to go to that lake in the spring and chuck some swimbaits at them.

[.dsaavedra.]

i love bandits. they are cheap and very effective. i like (in order) rapala, bandits, bomber. those are really the only 3 brands that i have alot of experience w/. i have a manns baby 1minus and it seems kinda cheesy. it doesnt seem well built..hooks were very dull, and there are big rough seems all over it. also, i dont like how wide of a wobble it has and how fat the lure is. i would take a foot loose over a 1minus anyday.

swimbaits seem fun. i dont have any swimbait gear, and i only have one swimbait and it is a cheapy. ive only fished it once for like 10 minutes just to see how it performs. i found that to get any action it has to be retrieved kinda fast. i still like it. i will fish it in the spring for the spawn. here is a pic of it. its called a storm kickin slab:

[JigNBig]

If you have a flippin stick(you might not if you live in MD), you can use that w/ 14-20 lb line or braid.  I use 40lb braid for my swimbaits. I like Mattlures 5" Bluegill.

[.dsaavedra.]

no i dont have a flippin stick. i might get a swimbait rod if i feel like i really wanna start swimbait fishing. this bluegill isnt very heavy...1 1/8oz.