Category: rapala lures

Dear Italo. My favorite lure was the Rattlin Fat Rap (RFR-4) 1-1/2″ 5/16 oz. I liked this lure because it casted well, but I lost my last one. It looks like this item is no longer manufactured. Can you suggest a similar lure I can try that can be my new favorite lure? Thank you! :)

Posted on August 20th, 2023

Hi Kota, every Rapala lure is designed uniquely. It may be difficult for you to find another model that will produce for you like the Rattlin Fat Rap. My suggestion is that you search the web like eBay, Kajiji, and even Amazon to see if you can find the size and color that was your favorite….God bless you.

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Good day , I have been watching your shows specially the episode on the bay of Quinte. I am finally taking some time off and I am taking my two boys to go fishing spend some time together. My question is. Where and the heck do you you find the Rapala tail dancer 9 in hot chub. On your show you said that’s the only lure you need. I can’t find it anywhere. I know other lured out there but I am going to need all the help I can lol. This is the first time we have been to the bay of Quinte. So any fees back would be much appreciated. Thanks for your time.

Posted on July 30th, 2020

Good Day, not sure where you live. You may want to try calling SAIL to see if they have them. Very important that it is the TD9HC . If all else fails call Normark Canada (Rapala Canada), at 905-571-3001 and ask them which retailer has them close to where you are. Fish with a Passion. God bless you, Italo

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Hey Italo,Sorry if this is a strange question. I do alot of fishing for large and smallmouth bass in snaggy areas and break off a lot. I usually use Rapala’s DT or arashi flat 7 series cranks, however am thinking about purchasing a few cheap crank baits to quickly tie on when i want to make casts around fallen trees etc, then switch back when in the clear. My question is do you think that cheap lures such as bass pro brand crank baits or cabelas brand crank baits will catch less fish than a brand name one?, i can see the Rapala’s have better hooks and paint jobs but the cheap ones have a similar action. So assuming the cheaper ones run true and i have good hooks, do you think they should do just as well?Wanted to hear your opinion before i grab some. Thanks for your answer.

Posted on June 6th, 2019

Hi John, good question but I have a tough time giving you a good answer since I don’t use cheaper crankbaits. I work with Rapala and they cover the whole gammon of crankbaits and hard lures that anglers need. I would suggest you keep using Rapala’s but if you fish in “sticky” areas remove the front treble and replace the back treble with a “softer metal hook”. Most crankbaits with a lip run with the head down and it’s the front treble that most often gets hooked-up, especially on wood. If the back treble gets hooked-up if you use a heavier line, like 30 lb. braid, when you pull on the crankbait, the hook that is stuck should bend allowing you to get it un-hooked before the line breaks. But if you hook a fish, the hook should not open if your drag is set right…God bless you.

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Have you tried the new rip stop size 12

Posted on March 2nd, 2019

Hi Matthew, yes I fished it all last year, worked great just  like the #10 Rip Stop and casts farther and swims a little deeper…God bless you.

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Today, Sunday Jan. 28, 2018 I was watching your show in Edmonton on YES tv. It was about bass and pike fishing in a Kayak.You ended by using a crank bait with a large beak, so it went deep, but if you stopped it would float. It was by Rapala, and you called it the ‘Irachi’ d18 or something like that. What is it’s name, so I can purchase it?Thanks so much, love your show!Rob.

Posted on January 28th, 2018

Hi Rob, glad you are enjoying our TV shows. Just so you know, we have all of our TV shows and many educational fishing videos on our Italo Labignan YouTube channel. I would encourage you to subscribe so that you can receive weekly notifications when we add new video tips and TV shows. That lure you are referring to is made by Storm and it is indeed called the Storm Arashi Rattling Deep 18‘ . They come in 10, 18 and 25’ running depths….God bless you.

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Hi Italo, do you have any experience with the Blue Fox super vibrax minnow? Looks like something that might be good for smallmouth bass and trout?

Posted on April 30th, 2017

Hi Angler, I do. I have used it for trout, panfish an small gamefish. It works especially well for smallmouth bass and white bass…God bless you.

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Italo,I watch your show often and noted that you had good success with a Rapala DT “Flat” series (particularly the Chartreuse brown). I have searched high and low and have come to realize that they are not available in Canada (only the U.S.) – why?

Posted on March 25th, 2017

Hi Jeff, glad you are enjoying out TV shows and tips. The Rapala DT “Flat” series has a very different and more erratic action than the regular Rapala DT family.  That action is produced in-part by the “coffin” shape  of the lip, the downward angle of the lip and it’s flat body. It has produced fish for me when other crankbaits have not. I checked the, https://rapala.ca/products/dt-flat  , and they are listed in Canada, so you should be able to find them here. If your favorite tackle shop does not have any, they should be able to order them….God bless you.

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Do you have any favorite jerk baits for brown trout for the spring time? Also, how big is too big when it comes to lure size? I fish Fergus, Grand river area sometimes. Thank you for all your responses Italo!

Posted on January 7th, 2017

Hi Dako, my favorite crankbait for resident stream brown trout is definitely the Rapala Countdown in the smaller size (CD3 & CD4), in the Italian Minnow or Brown Trout color.

saugeen_brown_trout

They cast well and you can fish them in water as shallow as 6″ or deeper.

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Hi italo i have 2 questions. What are your thoughts on the new rapala shadow rap jerkbait and what conditions is it good for and what size vibrax spinners are good for bass, i have used a #4 but am not having much sucsess. Thanks for your help, i love your show.

Posted on August 23rd, 2015

italo_largemouth03

The Rapala Shadow Rap is an excellent twitch-bait both in the regular model and in the deep model. I have caught lot’s of fish on both this summer. I would suggest you fish a smaller Vibrax in the #2 size. I have a feeling your success rate will increase!

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