Smallmouth And The Rapala Xrap

[jchez444]

I am looking to get some jerkbaits for some largemouth but mostly smallmouth waters(gin clear reservoirs both rocky and weeds) and heard good reviews about the rapala xrap and deep xrap. Which size and colors for those type of reservoirs will work best.

[Packard]

I like the clown color. I'd get the size of whatever your rod will throw the best.

[Hooligan]

Gin Clear water, I'd be looking at a different bait for smallies, unless you're targeting them post spawn and through the summer. It's not my favorite bait for pre-spawn. For that I'd take either the Megabass Vision 110 or Slender Pointer 97 and a Staysee 90. Colors- Natural as to what's in the area, and what those fish are targetting, typically. There are instances in which a bright bait works, sometimes brown fish crush loud baits, but usually a better bet is a natural bait. Aurora Black, shad patterns, Ghost Minnow, Pro Blue are all colors that I prefer for clear water.

[kLuo]

I'm going to agree with Hooligan on this one. In gin clear water, I would highly recommend a transparent or translucent bait. You don't want the bass to get a good look at the bait, just force a reaction strike. I like the Pro Blue, Ghost Minnow, and Clear Chartreuse Shad colors. If you absolutely must use an X-rap, try one in Olive Green color

[smalljaw67]

I fish gin clear water and clown is great for smallies. I agree with some parts others have mentioned about natural colors in super clear water and largmouths, by all means do not use loud or bright colors in clear water but smallies, it seems to make them bite. If I were you and looking to get a few X-Raps which will work fine, get a clown and glass ghost in both the XR08 and XR10

[jchez444]

Thank you for the feedback, just one more question about a brand. the spro mcrips and mcsticks, i heard mixed reviews on them.

[oooSONwhatAbass]

I've had success on smallies with the clown xrap and the ghost minnnow pointer 78 and GM staysee. Also really like the team daiwa tdm2101sp in translucent minnow.

[Marty]

I think if you locate the smallies that you'll find the differences between brands and colors isn't as critical as you might think it is. I don't think they're that picky about baits and are more pugnacious than largemouth. From my earliest days it seemed like they were attracted to chartreuse, although they'll hit any color on the spectrum.

[RyneB]

I have good days on a clown colored XR6. There are times when it blanks, but when theyre on the jerkbait bite, this bait is what i throw. I smallie fish a small shallow river, so small baits are key.

[Wildbillb]

I catch most of mine using the perch color.

[ww2farmer]

The #10 X-rap has worked well for me in clear water in the olive green color. Lots of pike and LM too. When X-raps first came out that was my go to jerkbait, and I caught tons of fish on them, over the last 5-6 years I kinda forgot them, but picked it back up last year and had a several good days on them. I will say that I don't find an x-rap to be a very good early season cold water, long pause, bait. But on a cloudy day, with a little chop, and 50 degree + watet temps, it's as good as anything else out there.

[smalljaw67]

The #10 X-rap has worked well for me in clear water in the olive green color. Lots of pike and LM too. When X-raps first came out that was my go to jerkbait, and I caught tons of fish on them, over the last 5-6 years I kinda forgot them, but picked it back up last year and had a several good days on them. I will say that I don't find an x-rap to be a very good early season cold water, long pause, bait. But on a cloudy day, with a little chop, and 50 degree + watet temps, it's as good as anything else out there.

X2 !!! That is where the Pointer comes in, it suspends a little better in colder water than the X-Rap, that is why you must a few different brands. The Spro McStick and McRip are different from each other, the McStick is the typical suspending jerkbait, I find the Xcalibur EEratci Shad just as good if not better plus you can two of those to one McStick. The McRip is a rip bait, which I classify them differently than a jerkbait, like the LC Staysee is a rip bait. Rip baits dive deeper and have a tighter movement plus you use them differently. A jerkbait you move the bait by snapping or jerking your rod with slack line, the rip bait you sort of sweep the rod with a tight line.

[Will Wetline]

X2 !!! That is where the Pointer comes in, it suspends a little better in colder water than the X-Rap, that is why you must a few different brands. The Spro McStick and McRip are different from each other, the McStick is the typical suspending jerkbait, I find the Xcalibur EEratci Shad just as good if not better plus you can two of those to one McStick. The McRip is a rip bait, which I classify them differently than a jerkbait, like the LC Staysee is a rip bait. Rip baits dive deeper and have a tighter movement plus you use them differently. A jerkbait you move the bait by snapping or jerking your rod with slack line, the rip bait you sort of sweep the rod with a tight line.

I like this explanation of the difference between "ripping" and "jerking."

Since the mid-'90s, I have been ripping Bombers Long A 15APS (S for suspending, of course) and have interested more than a few clear water smallies when the water temp. is between 47 and 55 degrees, 50 being optimum.

I like a 6 1/2' medium action rod and 10 lb. Berkley Sensation.

For some real good info on suspending jerkbaits, get a copy of Lindner's Angling Edge "Crankbait Strategies Hardbait Bass." The segment, "Spring Smallmouths on the Flats" is all about early season smallies and, yes, X-Raps. It's as transparent as good smallie water what companies Al Lindner represents, but still, the general knowledge you gain is well worth listening to what is partly infomercial. (And I love Lindner's great enthusiasm in the winter when mine is dormant at best.)

One last comment on hard jerkbaits: I have been convinced from a number of reliable sources that the Pointer 100s and 78s are the best out of the package. I exercised my Mastercard and got a few for this season. However, for a relatively low priced bait, go for the Bomber 15APS.

[iceintheveins]

I would use #8 X - raps, pointer 78s, silent pointers and slender pointers. Natural baitfish or ghost colors.

[Hobie1Kanobe]

The brighter colored Xrap 8 is killer for ultra clear water smallmouth! They go crazy for them.

[TnRiver46]

Not sure what it's called but for some reason the one with a dark blue back and orange belly outperforms all the others for me. I don't have many of them though, so I haven't experimented with lots of colors. I use x rap because it's the only one that actually suspends for under $10

[padon]

I like the #8 xrap. Although for water under 50 I like the pointer better.the xrap seems to work better fished a little faster when the a ter is a little warmer .(50-60)as for color try some natural ones first but if they aren't working try the clown or hot head or hot steel.sometimes with smallies those brighter colors will flip the switch.

[Bluebasser86]

Original post was nearly 5 years ago. Hopefully he settled on some baits by now 

[Deleted account]

I see bad advise is timeless..