28
Apr
Posted by Taro in Fishing. No Comments
The Rapala X-Rap is already a popular lure amongst anglers, but a new 1-1/2″ size has been released for 2011. This new size is perfect for trout and panfish. There were also 4 new colors added to the X-Rap lineup, and we were lucky enough to get one of the new tiny sizes in an all new Olive Green Muddler color.
Construction
The X-Rap is well made and durable. The trailer holds up well too. The VMNC Black Nickel Hooks are sharp and resist rust. The lure runs perfectly true out of the box, it is common for lures in this size category to not run straight out of the box.
Appearance
The lure is available in some great colors. It’s hard to find any other jerkbait on the market that has the same type of detail and flash as the X-Rap series. The Olive Green Muddler has some extra details in a versatile and effective color pattern.
Usage
I used this lure for catching perch in the spring. I needed to get it a little deeper than it normally runs, so I used a 3-way rig to get it to the bottom. It was extremely effective when the action slowed down – other lures would stop producing, but the X-Rap kept catching them. I varied the retrieve a bit by jerking the lure three times and then letting it set for a few second before jerking it three times again. It accounted for some of my biggest perch, including one that weighed in at 1.8 lbs.
Conclusion
There are many suspending slash style baits on the market like the X-Rap, but I have never seen a bait like this in such a tiny size have the ability to slash like the original. This is one lure that panfish and trout anglers are going to have to add to their ultralight arse
20
Apr
Posted by Taro in Fishing. No Comments
Construction
Appearance
Usage/Effectiveness
Innovation
Price
$14.99 MSRP:
Introduction
The Clackin’ Minnow is a jerkbait that Rapala introduced for 2011. It has a similar shape and action as the popular X-Rap, but features Rapala’s signature Clackin’ Cadence Rattle. This rattle is a metal chamber in the middle of the bait that creates a lot of noise and transfers the sound through the water better than plastic.
Construction
This lure is built well and is very durable. It comes with excellent VMC SureSet hooks. Lots of thought went into the construction of this bait.
Appearance
The Clackin’ Minnow is available in some great colors. It will be hard to find any lure on the market that has the same flash. I would like to see even more colors, but maybe I’m just being greedy!
Usage/Effectiveness
On my first outing I smashed several smallmouth in a row while fishing next to another angler using a very expensive Japanese import jerkbait. I believe the score was something like 5 to 1 in favor of the Clackin’ Minnow in a ten minute time frame. My buddy claims it was because I was back boating him, but I believe it was the lure. It has such a unique sound and action that I believe fish cannot resist. The bait is also heavy and casts a mile, which allowed me to cover more water.
Innovation
The Clackin’ Minnow is an original bait. It has a sound and action like no other on the market thanks to the clacker and amazing finish. It definitely should be in every serious bass angler’s tackle box. I am addicted!
Price
It is definitely worth the price. The Clackin Minnow fishes like lures that are in the $21.99-$23.99 category.
Conclusion
The Rapala Clackin’ Minnow catches plenty of fish and is a cost effective alternative to expensive Japanese imported jerkbaits. The loud clacking rattle and impressive finishes make it a great choice for a variety of species, but has proven to be especially successful for smallmouth bass.
