Rapper

Rapala's X-RAP is a clever little lure. Well if the definition of clever is catching bass then it is an Albert Einstein of the bass lure world. It has only two weaknesses; firstly it is quite light and can be a trouble to cast into a breeze and  secondly it swims at around three metres. Both of these critical factors never made it a star choice for me when I was working the shore. I was often fishing significantly less water than three metres and nearly always are you casting into or at least, across a breeze.

However from a boat this little 10cm lure is a rap king. It loves to be trolled if trolling is your thing, its not mine nowadays as I prefer the activity of the cast but if trolling is your thing then get one. Indeed a trio of a J11 (or J13), a sliver and an x-rap is an all you need trolling kit - it seems that Rapala dominates the trolling scene. 

The xrap is best being cast and retrieved and its a bumble bee of a lure on the retrieve. Its buzzes back with an action that I have never seen on any other lure; it is tight in its wobble, fast and buzzing, creating noise and disturbance. Bass must feel this thing coming from metres away and that may be a big part of its success. But colour is key as well; so the fish obviously like what they see as well as hear. I like the one that has a mackerel livery and I like the spotted minnow and all the rage at the moment is the Ayu as seen above. Its the wanted one and a really tough find on the internet. I was lucky enough to get my hands on two recently and I can't wait to swim them. Size 10cm is the one - the bigger one simply doesn't fish; or never did for me anyway.

There is two simple ways of working this baby: - 1. Fake and burn it. Make it buzz back then stop it dead and then start again. Remember my golden rule though never stop any hard lure for longer than it takes to say the words 'stop and start again'. 2. Steady retrieve then short sharp rod tap to accelerate the little fellow for 6 to 8 inches (its a critical distance in many ways). Short and sharp... the thing is with bass if they are following a shallow runner back (and they like to do this) then you need to provoke the hit. All the provocation they need is a simple tap of the rod tip, this induces a dramatic increase of speed on the lure, the bass thinks hello its getting away and bang....................