Rapala's History
Every serious bass angler has likely used a Rapala Lure at some point in their lives, and many use these baits every time they're out on the water. The hard bait manufacturer Rapala has built a reputation for producing high-quality, carefully designed baits that are a ton of fun to use.
Many anglers believe that Rapala is the best lure manufacturer globally, as they were one of the original creators of our popular bass fishing lure designs. As the sport has evolved, this technology has only become more advanced. Swimming actions are tested in tanks to refine designs, and as a result, Rapala lures have won countless bass fishing tournaments.
Fishing Rapala Lures
There are Rapalas for all game fish species, not just bass. A set of these baits can be thrown in any water body around the world and catch local fish species. Most anglers own a handful of these lures because they'll get bit even when nothing else is catching.
This guide will walk you through the best Rapala lures for bass fishing currently available for purchase. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced angler looking for new tackle, we're confident our advice will help you land more fish on your next outing.
Rapala Original Floater
The Rapala Original Floater is a versatile lure that can be fished in many ways. Two popular techniques are using the steady and stop-and-go retrieve styles. This classic bait never fails to catch fish, no matter the conditions.
Three treble hooks positioned along the bottom help to ensure a hook-up every time. It's floating effect comes from balsa wood construction instead of traditional air pockets, a far more durable design.
Rapala X-Rap Jerkbait
Rapala's X-Rap Jerbait is a suspending style lure that's extremely popular among bass fishermen. As it's retrieved, the bait slashes back and forth with a super aggressive darting action. Anglers love their ability to cast this bait a mile, and the fish love the classic Rapala rattle sound the bait gives off.
One modification you can make is trimming the rear feathers down a bit. This will increase your hook-up ratio by reducing short strikes.
Rapala Rattlin 05 Baby Bass
The Rapala Rattlin 05 is a sinking bait, unlike the first two styles. It's designed to have lifelike action at both slow and fast retrieval speeds, making it a very versatile lure. High-tech rattlers are placed inside the body that have been proven to mimic sounds from nature. While there are many unique colors to choose from, the baby bass color catches bass extremely well.
Rapala Rippin Rap
As is apparent in the image above, the Rapala Rippin Rap has a tall profile but a thin body. These exaggerated characteristics make it stand out amongst a crowd of baitfish. Many small BB's are inserted into the body to make it louder than most Rapala lures. As a result, this is one of the best Rapalas to use in murky waters when fish rely on more than just their eyesight. The Perch color is our favorite model because it increases its visability.
Rapala Jointed Deep Husky Jerk
The Rapala Jointed Deep Husky Jerk is a bait made from two-pieces, attached at the middle by a small joint. Since this is a suspending lure, you'll likely get the most bass strikes while the bait's sitting still in the water. Like the Rippin Rap, this bait has a loud rattling sound to it. It swims nicely back to the boat, has good action at slow and fast speeds, and is offered in many effective color patterns.
Rapala Shad Rap 07
A bait that Rapala took a long time to design is the Rapala Shad Rap 07. Their design team hand-tuned each piece for months and constantly tank-tested the swimming action to refine the design. It was all worth it when they were left with this masterpiece of a bass fishing lure.
The Shad Rap 07 has a natural baitfish profile that's wide enough in just the right areas. Great for both casting and trolling, this is a versatile lure that can be successfully fished year-round. Rapala's wounded baitfish swimming action shines to perfectly imitate the swimming action of bluegill or shad.
Rapala X-Rap Magnum 40
The Rapala X-Rap Magnum 40 is the manufacturer's best trolling lure. The super-long bill allows the bait to reach depths of up to 30 feet, which is simply incredible. While Rapala's claim is true that the X-Rap Magnum can be trolled at speeds up to 13 knots, many will find that 10 knots is the maximum speed to retain the realistic action.
As you can see in the image above, the X-Rap has some great patterns. This selection of designs means these baits can be used to catch nearly every species of fish. You can fish this lure for freshwater bass in the morning and catch fish with it later in the day out in the ocean.
Rapala Jointed Minnow J11
The Rapala Jointed Minnow J11 is a tried and true bass fishing lure. This jointed two-piece suspending lure has all the right qualities to slay largemouth and smallmouth year-round. Long casts, balsa wood construction, and precise swimming action are just a few of its best qualities. Overall, the Jointed Minnow J11 is an essential lure that every angler should carry with them in their tackle box.
