Ya, I don't usually put a dressed treble on a jointed bait because it takes away from the action...Then again I have put very small amounts of marabou on minnows (regular or jointed) when I am casting. Mainly because I do a pause retrieve and the added action of the marabou on the pause makes fish crazy!

The swimming action has improved a little bit for fast retrieve. The lure actually swims in a S pattern. At a slow retrieve, it still has that ugly funny shiver like the plain lure it was. The jerking and twitching on the lure comes really alive. It acts just like an Xrap should be acting.

I had actually got my first bite on the lure. It wasn't a pike though. Was a little bass barely larger than the lure. Curious fish, I guess. I guess I'll be looking more into doctoring up the other 4 lures or something.

The swimming action has improved a little bit for fast retrieve. The lure actually swims in a S pattern. At a slow retrieve, it still has that ugly funny shiver like the plain lure it was. The jerking and twitching on the lure comes really alive. It acts just like an Xrap should be acting.

I had actually got my first bite on the lure. It wasn't a pike though. Was a little bass barely larger than the lure. Curious fish, I guess. I guess I'll be looking more into doctoring up the other 4 lures or something.

It might work well for a trolled lure. Then again, trolling is something I know pretty much nothing about. All this rain we had and cold temps has killed all the algea and water is all murky stained. It's hard to get a better more clear view of lure action. I might have to try the original lures some more to get a better comparison on which speed works better. I'm partial to how the Super Shad Rap works as I like how that lure swims so much more. Always hear about how well they troll too.

I fished both the regular Jointed Shad XRap and modified one. The modified one, pulls with less wobble due to the drag of the marabou tail along with a slight less depth on the dive. It's only when it comes to jerking and twitching that the modifed one really comes out better.  It can dart side to side, turn and kick tail.  It's very similar to the just what an Xrap will do.  I like it well enough that I will modified the remaining of my Jointed Shad Xraps.  The regular one just doesn't perform the side to side darting action.  It merely wobbles and pulls forward mostly.

you could try taking the back half of a jointed minnow and adding a split ring to the front halfs joint screw then adding a hook
or dressed treble hook .
in the fishing library series they used worm hook and a plastic worm trailer rigged Texas style.

I've had a lot more luck with original floaters and husky jerks than xraps. Maybe I'm just not presenting it right but I never really caught a lot on them. Blaze jerkbaits are also pretty wicked for pike.
But like its been said already theres not much that doesnt work for them...a guy i work with caught a 43 incher with a barbie doll

Crankbaits are an integral part of every pike trip. It started on my first trip north when some the biggest fish of the trip came on tiny walleye wigglers and small rapala floaters. In the last 7 years I have spent a ton of money and a ton of my pike fishing time on crankbaits. Some trips the X-Raps are the ticket others its the lipless or husky jerks or sinking minnows.

I still toss jigs and spoons and swimbaits, but believe me crankbaits of all sizes and colors can make a good day of fishing phenomenal!

When the Pike are in the mood to feed, you can catch em on just about anything!

Posted By Pegsguy on 14 Apr 2010 11:38 PM
Got out on the local pond today with my son and an elderly gent caught a northern of about 25" and 2 1/2#. I had a Rapala Floating Minnow rigged  and immediatly worked the area with it. He then told me that this was a "bad" lure for pike!
Lifer in NE Illinois

A Rapala floating minnow?...bad for pike?...

HaHa! id love to see how that guy rigged up the barbie doll. im thinking it was the hair on the head that did it, like a fly rig or something.
i cant wait to get out there this year with a few new lures ive never tried: the taildancer, rattletrap, and a deep cut hammered colorado spinner. hoping to make that breakthrough in mostly muddy water. thanks to some of you guys.
one lure i always throw out in any body of water that i think is often overlooked is the kastmaster.