I thought I would start a thread on one of the most popular lure manufactures, Rapala.  I am going to post pics of some of these lures which I hope will spark some discussion on how they are used or if you collect them.  I hope everyone will join in this topic and especially post some pics!

 

These first two pics are of my "Deep Tail Dancers" (first pic) and "Tail Dancers" (second pic).

 

These will dive to 30'.  I believe these are a size 11...

 

All but the red one will dive to 15'.  These are a size 7...The red one is new for this year.  It is a size 9, it will dive to 20'...

 

Every where that I have seen them advertized it has been for bass fishing.  But I must tell you, I use them strictly for pike!

So if you have a special Rapala, please take a pic, post it and tell us about it!

LM since 2005 Bushwacker Deputy Sherif from S.E. Pa.

I have a couple of there Shad raps that I believe dive to 7-11 feet, but have only used them a couple of times and haven't caught any bass on them. Have you tried them.

 

 

 

I love there DT series baits, I know they work.

My brother has quite the crankbait collection. So for his birthday I ordered him some new ones from cabelas. I thought those sebile blood red cranks with the mineral oil looked cool in the picture. Turns out, they didn't have them in stock, so I paid an extra 10 bucks to ship from dealer. So after paying 25 bucks for one crankbait, It arrives in the mail and it doesn't look anything like the picture. It looks cheap. But he loved the new rapala clackin' rap! Rapala rules.

LM since 2005 Bushwacker Deputy Sherif from S.E. Pa.

These are Shad Raps that I carry in my tackle box...

Those shown above have all caught fish.  I guess you could say the are the medium size and swim to 11'.  I have some bigger ones but they have not arrived yet!

The ones below are smaller, swiming 5' - 8'...

The pink one(s) are very good for crappie.  The LMB, walleye and SMB like the two white with black spot.

In the last pic are my shallow shad raps.  They run 1' - 3'.  I have had limited success with them...

    

All in all I would say that these are a very popular lure, worthy of a place in any tackle box!                                      

 

LM since 2005 Bushwacker Deputy Sherif from S.E. Pa.

Nice pics Pete.

 

And ya Yano....tweaking baits has been going on for around 100 years or so. You'd be surprised at how many folks do something as simple as adding a tied treble to a lure....then up their catch rate.

 

You can also use other hooks and soft plastics.

 

I'll be doing a "lure tweaking" topic sometime later  so start saving your pics of what you have done

Life Member David BB Linkmeister US Army '78-'85 West Central Wisconsin

Rapala DT series, some Bombers, and Lucky Craft RC series work well in all the lakes and rivers here in the northeast.
Delaware Bass Fishing For Trophy Bass

http://delawaretrophybass.com

Life Member Since 1996

I like the DT series baits, but to be honest the only fish I caught on one was a 24" northern (DT16).

I keep these in the same Plano box as my RistoRaps.  I decided to give myself a larger depth range and so I added the DT10...

And the DT6.  Of course this led to a wider range of patterns!!

The DT4 seemed to complete the depth range I was looking for.

Although I'm not sure why, I like this lure!  So I have promised myself to use them more often...I think I need a wider pattern selection for the DT16 & DT10...

 

 

LM since 2005 Bushwacker Deputy Sherif from S.E. Pa.

When the "minnowrap" first came out I purchase one that had a black back and silver sides.  The first time I used it I got wacked by a tiger musky and lost the lure.  I got another one from the "lure trading game" and a tiger musky got that one too!  This past Christmas a dear friend sent me a set (Actually I think she felt sorry for me!).

 

I have now declaired war on the tiger musky at Blue Marsh!  No more mister nice guy-steel leaders for sure!

I like the action of this bait but so far the only interested fish is the tiger musky...

 

 

LM since 2005 Bushwacker Deputy Sherif from S.E. Pa.

You have a nice collection there Pete. What about jointed rapala's?
Lifemember and Bushwacker SMF upstate NY

In the DT series the baits you have pictured on the top left and the one below it have accounted for numerous bass including smallmouth on both the Ptomac river and the Susquehanna.
Delaware Bass Fishing For Trophy Bass

http://delawaretrophybass.com

Life Member Since 1996

When I first met davesett2000, he introduced me to one of my favorite deep diving lure, the Ristorap...

 

I have a duplicate of each one of these, with their box, put away for collection.  The ones pictured above are in my tackle box!  I am not sure why they stopped making them as they were popular then and even more so to collectors now.  When I am fishing for bass or walleye, these are in my boat!

 

 

LM since 2005 Bushwacker Deputy Sherif from S.E. Pa.

In my opinion, the DT lures are definitely the best fish catcher, at least for me. I have no problem with them. I had lost one of the DT-6(perch pattern) to a log underwater, but a day later I came back in my swimming suit and got it back, and because it is made of Balsa it absorbed the water. now I have a custom DT-6 that suspends in the water instead of floating back up.

Pete, you got too much time on your hands! I'll have to take a vacation day soon so we can get out fishing! I think I have two floating days left. I'de like to see some fat raps.

Southeast PA LM '99

Nice Rapala's Turnip,Whats your thoughts on the jointed shad raps??I got a few of them one in a crayfish pattern that always catch bass out at Rose Valley Lake.I caught a few perch on a count down CD01 sunday The lure wasn't much smaller than the fish
Sam, NAFC Life Member ,North Central PAwww.reinstatehank.org

These babies are great for walleye...

 

I have had much success with these lures over the years.  It seems that all species like them!

The two below are "down deep" raps...

I have not used these yet.  I hope that someone can shed a little light on these babies!

I'm gonna have to slow down a little and take some pics of jointed shad raps, jointed minnows and minnows for trolling...I'll be back!

 

 

LM since 2005 Bushwacker Deputy Sherif from S.E. Pa.

To answer your question Sam, I'm not sure what to think...

As you can see, I don't have many.  I have used them from time to time, even spending an entire day using them, but I have yet to catch a fish with them.  I haven't given up on them yet!  I will try to add one every now and again, continuing to work with them...I know folks that swear by them!  Wish me luck!

 

 

LM since 2005 Bushwacker Deputy Sherif from S.E. Pa.

These are the jointed minnows that you will find in my tackle box, almost every where I go...

These babies do catch fish!  I mostly use them when I am trolling, but I do use them for casting on occasion.  I have discovered, like with all other lures, that they do not always grab the attention of fish!  The ones above are all the j18.

The ones below are used strictly for trolling, brown trout mostly...

The ones above are j5, 7 & 11.  I have just as many Rebel this size, used for the same thing!

Some of these should be in a collection some where rather than my tackle box!  I use these (above) along with Rebel, Smithwick and Bomber minnows for trolling.  If you notice, the only hook on these baits is a single siwash hookon the end.  The reason for this is to save wear and tear on my net.  That little tip I got from Walleyeking!

LM since 2005 Bushwacker Deputy Sherif from S.E. Pa.

These are the new "Subwalk", and boy do they catch fish!  These guys will entice a big boy from the bottom...

If ya don't believe me just ask my son-in-law!

 

 

LM since 2005 Bushwacker Deputy Sherif from S.E. Pa.