Fishing with Rod Discussion Forum

Fishing in British Columbia => General Discussion => Topic started by: HKSR on June 05, 2013, 11:58:05 AM

Title: Rapala lures on what species?
Post by: HKSR on June 05, 2013, 11:58:05 AM
Was gonna post in the other thread I made, but it didn't make sense, so I started a new topic.

Other than bass, what other species would target rapala lures?  I've heard that stocked Fraser Valley strain rainbows won't be very interested, is that true?
I could see cutthroat going after them, and blackwater strain rainbows (where is the nearest place for blackwater rainbows?).

Any other thoughts?
Title: Re: Rapala lures on what species?
Post by: buzzbomb on June 05, 2013, 12:31:00 PM
Any fish that eats minnows should hit a Rapala.  Here in southern Sk pike and walleye are likely what they're used for most, but I've seen occasional catches of carp, perch, and suckers too.  They use them for the trout up north and in Diefenbaker as well, but my expierence up there, (including once with the steel line and everything) wasn't a catching kind of thing.  I have a lot of original floaters.
Title: Re: Rapala lures on what species?
Post by: Rodney on June 05, 2013, 03:00:11 PM
Bull trout should grab a crankbait pretty easily since their prey are mostly larger baitfish (sculpins, juvenile salmon, steelhead smolt, kokanee, etc).

The nearest fishery where Blackwater rainbow trout are available (assuming that you are referring to Vancouver), is probably Weaver Lake near Harrison/Agassiz.
Title: Re: Rapala lures on what species?
Post by: HKSR on June 05, 2013, 03:13:42 PM
Thanks Rodney.  Where's a good place to go after bull trout?
Title: Re: Rapala lures on what species?
Post by: zap brannigan on June 05, 2013, 06:07:18 PM
use the real small rapalas and the trout will take them.
Title: Re: Rapala lures on what species?
Post by: bobrunning on June 06, 2013, 06:38:24 PM
Larger Pennask trout, will absolutely slam countdown rapalas size 5 and 7, Blackwater  trout,.small or large ones in the Logan Lake/Savona in the spring when they temp ignore chronies and later in the fall.  Like mentioned, for urban fishing, smaller sizes will do the job. Vary your retrieve. Rapalas are outstanding and versatile. Tight lines.
Title: Re: Rapala lures on what species?
Post by: clarki on June 06, 2013, 07:34:28 PM
Treblig caught a coho off the beach this past fall with a Rapala. THAT I took notice of...

I have always toyed with using a Rap off the beach for cutthroat but never gotten around it. Since they are gorging on sandlance, no reason why it shouldn't work.
Title: Re: Rapala lures on what species?
Post by: The White Indian on June 06, 2013, 10:54:34 PM
They work awesome for cutties, I highly recommend using the one that looks like a baby rainbow/smolt. One of the only lures I buy if that says anything for ya.
Title: Re: Rapala lures on what species?
Post by: HKSR on June 08, 2013, 11:29:11 AM
Do you guys think salmon would go for rapalas?
Title: Re: Rapala lures on what species?
Post by: zap brannigan on June 08, 2013, 12:39:11 PM
coho do in the salt and streams.
Title: Re: Rapala lures on what species?
Post by: bobrunning on June 08, 2013, 08:51:04 PM
Springs hit rapalas in rivers. Every keen game  fish anywhere in the world hit rapalas whether its the original floating, countdown, husky jerk, xrap, etc.
Title: Re: Rapala lures on what species?
Post by: buzzbomb on June 09, 2013, 01:19:28 PM
I used to have the Life magazine from the '60s with the article about Rapalas in it.  Finnish immigrants around the great lakes were getting them sent over from the old country and out-fishing everyone else and keeping the lures a secret.  Eventually the cat was out of the bag.  I would imagine lakers and salmon would of been among the species targeted.
Title: Re: Rapala lures on what species?
Post by: rickjames_2 on June 10, 2013, 06:48:10 AM
Springs hit rapalas in rivers. Every keen game  fish anywhere in the world hit rapalas whether its the original floating, countdown, husky jerk, xrap, etc.

Loll! do you work for Rapala by any chance?  ;D
Fascinating none the less, curious, I wonder how the Rapala is run in the river for springs?
Title: Re: Rapala lures on what species?
Post by: 300zxfairlady on June 11, 2013, 12:48:36 AM
since they have treble hooks.. how does this work in a fishery that only allows you a single barb?
Title: Re: Rapala lures on what species?
Post by: zap brannigan on June 11, 2013, 02:49:36 AM
replace the trebles with a single.
Title: Re: Rapala lures on what species?
Post by: clarki on June 11, 2013, 11:06:46 AM
This thread has got my "I wonder..." juices flowing  I have a couple of almost 30 yr old small floating raps that worked great in the day on bass ponds back in Ontario. A couple of twitches, and then let it float to the top and hang there for a sec. Always fun to see the fish smack at it as it floated.

Think I will switch out the trebles for singles and see if it can entice a cutthroat of the beach with it this season.
Title: Re: Rapala lures on what species?
Post by: Tuckster on June 11, 2013, 12:33:59 PM
In Ontario we troll all manner of Raps for Trout and Salmon. Anything that feeds on smelts really.
Title: Re: Rapala lures on what species?
Post by: Rodney on June 11, 2013, 01:36:46 PM
While I was fishing in Denmark, topwater crankbait (poppers, swimbait) are often used for targeting sea trout (sea-run brown trout) on the beach. I would think the same technique can be used for big cutthroat trout and bull trout around here since they all share similar predatory behaviours.
Title: Re: Rapala lures on what species?
Post by: FlyFishin Magician on June 11, 2013, 11:01:50 PM
Was gonna post in the other thread I made, but it didn't make sense, so I started a new topic.

Other than bass, what other species would target rapala lures?  I've heard that stocked Fraser Valley strain rainbows won't be very interested, is that true?
I could see cutthroat going after them, and blackwater strain rainbows (where is the nearest place for blackwater rainbows?).

Any other thoughts?

I used to catch lots of Fraser Valley trout from Alice Lake using an orange countdown rapala lure .  This was almost 20 years ago now...
Title: Re: Rapala lures on what species?
Post by: HKSR on June 12, 2013, 11:17:58 AM
I used to catch lots of Fraser Valley trout from Alice Lake using an orange countdown rapala lure .  This was almost 20 years ago now...

How big was the lure?  1.5"? 2"? 2.5"?
Title: Re: Rapala lures on what species?
Post by: zap brannigan on June 12, 2013, 08:23:16 PM
1.5"
Title: Re: Rapala lures on what species?
Post by: jump14 on June 12, 2013, 11:57:46 PM
I use them here on the Island in creeks and small lakes, just switch to singles and they seem to work wonders on almost anything. Also according to my old man, he used to use the huge ones (nearly a foot long) in the Alberni Inlet and do fine in the early 80s-90s....
Title: Re: Rapala lures on what species?
Post by: FlyFishin Magician on June 13, 2013, 05:16:07 PM
How big was the lure?  1.5"? 2"? 2.5"?

I'm thinking 1.5 inches.   :)
Title: Re: Rapala lures on what species?
Post by: HKSR on June 13, 2013, 05:30:02 PM
I'm thinking 1.5 inches.   :)

You thought right :)  I have a couple 1.5" countdowns and a few 1.5" xraps to try out.  Any tips on how to cast such light lures out a longer distance?  Rod length make a difference?