Rapala Crankbaits

[buzzy4p]

I've never used crankbaits much when fishing for Largemouth Bass, but I'd like to start.Can anybody think of any good Rapala Crankbaits for Largemouth? Also, has anybody tired Rapala's new Clackin' Rap?

Thanks!!!

[Gangly]

what kind of waters will you be fishing and where (what part of the country).  we need to know more about what types of water and where you will be fishing to help provide you with some information on what types of crankbaits to be fishing with.  Don't be so quick to disregard other lure manufacturers, Rapala is good, but its not the only one that catches fish, and other manufacturers offer great products at less cost that catch fish as well (Bandit, Bomber, Norman, H20 Express, Rebel, smithwick, Abrogast, etc.).

[Bassinkorea]

I do like the Rapala deep cranks from DT10, DT14 and DT16. I prefer the baby bass and bluegill colors.

I have used the Clackin Rap before, but I am not all that keen on the weight and action of it.....there are a lot of better lipless cranks out there.

[Camden]

there are numerous crankbait companies out. I would say some of the most affordable fish catchers would be rapala,rebel, and my favorite bomber. bandit and h20 make some awesome ones as well.
I recently became an avid crankbait user. they can be fun but frustrating at times as well.

so far im not a huge believer in the sound issue of crank bait. i think the action and presentation has more effect than anything.

[fisherdad]

I just got a clacklin rap about a month ago... havent caught anything on it. I'm not too keen on the action as well... I like to have that rattlin' feedback and too be able to feel the fall went I stop the retrieve. I like to use braid on my lipless to really feel whats going on, but the rapala just doesnt give that feedback as well (maybe because it just has the "one knocker" in it)

I also have a shad x-rap... I dont like it too much as well... it doesnt cast too well.

I use mostly Strike Kings and Bomber

[Dug]

I have tried several of the 1 rattle lipless crankbaits, and the clack-rap is not the best of the bunch.  The one I have had the most fish on is the yozuri hardcore drum.  Reminds me I need to get a couple more in painted shad... The best color I have used.......  I have also tried a couple other versions, rivertosea and the Xcalibur XR50 and XR75 which are okay, and better than the rapala. 

Dug

[buzzy4p]

Thanks for all of the ideas guys. I fish mostly in small lakes/ponds for Largemouth bass, and occasionally in a large lake. Most of my fishing takes place in Western Pennsylvania

[Gangly]

Thanks for all of the ideas guys. I fish mostly in small lakes/ponds for Largemouth bass, and occasionally in a large lake. Most of my fishing takes place in Western Pennsylvania

clear or dirty water, rocky or sandy bottom, weeds or no weeds, any structure (stumps, brushpiles, sunken trees), and top water cover such as lily pads etc?

[Creel Limit Zero]

I was using the DT series for crankbaits for a while, but I'm really getting tired of them.  You just can't slap the water after you bring in those DT lures to get the weeds off or you break the bill.  I can't stand that it costs $8 for a rapala and the bill breaks when you slap the water and the bandit costs 1/2 that much and never breaks...   

[coldfront]

I was using the DT series for crankbaits for a while, but I'm really getting tired of them.  You just can't slap the water after you bring in those DT lures to get the weeds off or you break the bill.  I can't stand that it costs $8 for a rapala and the bill breaks when you slap the water and the bandit costs 1/2 that much and never breaks...   

I continue to be very happy/impressed with the Bandit cranks in 100 and 200 series...  and when I go deeper, like the Norman Deep Little N or the big bruiser:  Norman DD22...

I think you'll get a lot of good results looking at the Bandit cranks ... and don't overlook the 'footloose'...

[Gangly]

I was using the DT series for crankbaits for a while, but I'm really getting tired of them.  You just can't slap the water after you bring in those DT lures to get the weeds off or you break the bill.  I can't stand that it costs $8 for a rapala and the bill breaks when you slap the water and the bandit costs 1/2 that much and never breaks...   

The lure was designed for rapid aquisition of desired depth without the ultra fast reel down to get there.  It gets down to the desired depth faster than most any other lure, with much less effort.  You can cast closer to your target and still get to the desired depth  before passing the object, and thats great when the water is clear and you need to distance yourself from your target location.  Thats the major benefit of the DT series.  The bill was designed to do that and it does, but the drawback like you mentioned is a thinner bill than normal.  Its a trade off, one that some people choose to make, and others don't.  I like them and use them frequently, and have never had an issue with the bills breaking or cracking.  However, i never slam my lures into the water to get the weeds off, I simply pick the lure up and clean it off by hand.  I also own bomber and bandits and like them both as well.

[Creel Limit Zero]

That's great Gangly, I understand what you are saying.  But the DT series when it first came out did not have the problem.  I believe in my heart they changed the components of it to save on costs, and that is the difference.  I have not changed the way I fished with them, but for some reason they do not just hold up anymore.  I still have several of the first DT series crankbaits that I still use and beat up with slapping the water to get off weeds.  Frankly, I do not know anyone that does not fish this way, there is just so many more casts you can get in during a tournament by not having to pick the grass off the lure.  It's not out of laziness, it is out of sheer competitiveness.  And there's not one pro that doesn't do the same thing when I watch them on TV, they slap that water to smack off the grass and cast away again. 

Just 2 weeks ago I pulled out a replacement, and I was not fishing for more than 1 hour and the bill broke.  That is unacceptable. 

Anyway, that's my 2 cents...   

[buzzy4p]

clear or dirty water, rocky or sandy bottom, weeds or no weeds, any structure (stumps, brushpiles, sunken trees), and top water cover such as lily pads etc?

It is mainly clear water.... It's a small pond, but not super small. There is a somewhat good amount of weeds, and a sunken tree or two. There are no lilly pads. In mid summer their are a good bit of weeds on the bottom, so I'd have to say the bottom is mostly covered with vegetation. I hope this helps narrow down my choice of crankbaits! 

[coldfront]

It is mainly clear water.... It's a small pond, but not super small. There is a somewhat good amount of weeds, and a sunken tree or two. There are no lilly pads. In mid summer their are a good bit of weeds on the bottom, so I'd have to say the bottom is mostly covered with vegetation. I hope this helps narrow down my choice of crankbaits! 

okay...skip the cranks...go with the Horny toad...

[Gangly]

Exactly, Horny Toad, worm, jig stuff there.

If you are set on Rapala, get the Shallw Shad Rap, DT4, Shad Rap RS, JSR4 and 5, and make sure you get them in natural colors like Baby Bass and Bluegill.

[gillrod2728]

There is allot of good advice on here but there is some over thinking also. You do not have to put so much thinking into a small pond no matter what the structure is a small crank or 1/4 ounce lipless crank will catch fish after fish and quality ones. Rapala is a great brand I purchase allot of there stuff. For regular cranks I go to bomber or norman. With Rapala I mainly use there x raps/flat raps, and shad raps. These 3 models from Rapala no matter what size will catch fish anywhere you can go in my opinion. There are 3 guys I fish tourneys with that throw nothing but shad raps and they will catch nice bass almost every time out.   Rapala is a very very good brand. The clackin rap I have is the biggest size and I don't like it but they did just come out with a smaller one that looks like it would be way better. Color wise on any lure would be natural colors shad,bluegill,baby bass,crawdad colors,"woops"y shad. For more tinted water I love clown color and chartreuse colors

[Swede]

I've caught a lot of quality bass this year on the Rapala DT10 - DT16.  Favorite colors are: Shad, Silver, Hot Mustard, and one of their their newest colors in the new DT Sure Set Series - Helsinki Shad.

Also recommend taking a look at Mann's Loudmouth series which are not as hard on the pocketbook going $5.29 last I checked.  The Loudmouth has been on the market for a long long time because they are so effective.  They make quite a racket and have also put a number of quality fish in the boat this year.

[phred]

I have used the DT6 that looks like a Bluegill. It is great!

Scott

[Brandon_Shook]

Rapala DT4s are excellent - I highly recommend them.

[bassindude]

Ive used many Rapalas and also slap them now and then, but I've never broken a lip doing it.  The one thing I havent seen mentioned about the Rapalas is that there are two main divisions of the brand, and that is the ones made of plastic, and the ones made of balsa.
I have used both, but because I prefer balsa, that is what i use.  The DT series, whitch include the 6,10,14,16,20 and also the DT Flat, and the DT Fat are all made of balsa, as well as some of the minnow lures.  Balsa has a different action than plastic, and it also does not have rattles.  I feel that it is easier to bring balsa through brush, due to its quicker rise time.  If it does get snagged and you free it somewhat, the boyancy usually brings it up out of the brush.  Just a few other things to consider.  There are many quality cranks on the market, and just as many poor ones, and price isnt always an indication of quality, however many of the high end lures are very well made.  One other note about balsa, it is NOT as durable as plastic lures, however I feel that it is worth the trade off in many cases.  Jim

[gillrod2728]

Hot mustard and Helsinki shad are great colors also baby bass is nice.

[phred]

I do like the Rapala deep cranks from DT10, DT14 and DT16. I prefer the baby bass and bluegill colors.

The Bluegill color is my #1 for pond fishing.

Scott

[pawpaw]

bassindude made some really good points there. Being made of Balsa and haveing no rattles puts them in a little different category to me. It's what I would use when the fish are under a lot of pressure and are not responding to a regular crankbait like a Bandit. I keep some old Poes crankbaits for this but the Rapala DT's are good too. I don't know of any wooden crankbait I would want to slap the water with.

[rjn cajun]

I live in the pacific north west and the only crank and color I have caught ant fish on is a rapala original in fire tiger. I`ve tried alot of other cranks and this sems to do it in every lake I go to. But then again I`m still a rookie.