Tips for fishing rapala jigs

[Jaron_K]

Just wondering if anyone has some tricks of the trade for fishing jigs. I recently purchased a few of them mostly Rapala brand and am wondering any tips on how to jig them. What technique works best? Lift up a foot and slowly drop down? Soft light jigging motion? Fast and aggressive? When a fish is on your hook do you stop or slightly jig it? I bought a couple of the flyer type and a couple of the new northland zip lure looking ones. Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

[Jim Almquist]

A couple of tips that I like to use.

On your jigging Raps get rid of the front and back hooks. They will only cause you to lose fish at the hole.

Increase the size of the treble hook by at least one size or more. It will up your hooking ratio.

Add scent to the treble hook. I like to pinch the head off of a Fathead minnow and use it as my bait. It is also nice if the air sack is still attached. It will give it a floating look when jigged.

I like to rip it a couple of times to attract the fish and then let it settle down and twitch it so it shakes. If you don't see any fish repeat. If fish come in keep twitching. If you rip it more than likely you will spook the fish. More time then not the fish will come in and just hit it. If fish keep coming in but will not bite you need to change your presentation to something like a jigging spoon or a plain jig with a minnow head.

[bassmann77]

I also remove the front and back hooks. I usually fish with the Gulp minnow heads on it and jig it pretty aggressively until I see fish on the Vex. Usually with that type of a bait the fish will smack it pretty hard. Just remember that the jig will not show on the Vex if you are jigging aggressively because it will go outside of the cone. Just let it settle and you can see the bait. Definitely one of my go to horizontal baits.

[Jaron_K]

I should probably clarify i am fishing walleyes mostly. But thanks for the info so far. As for the end hooks you really just snip them off? It makes sense they would catch the edge of the whole i guess i never thought of that.

[Jim Almquist]

As for the end hooks you really just snip them off? It makes sense they would catch the edge of the whole i guess i never thought of that.

I have never hooked a walleye or a lake trout with the front or rear hooks. I have lost a few fish because of them and that is why they are gone as soon as I open the package.

[fishwater]

I use jigging raps very often and would never consider removing the front and rear hooks; I've successfully landed many nice fish hooked by them. I do agree that a large majority are hooked by the treble and the hooks can cause issues at the hole on occasion.

If you take the time to use them, over time you'll polish your landing technique so it isn't as huge a factor. Yeah, I have lost a few fish when the front/back hook snags on the ice, but I'm pretty sure I've landed more fish hooked on them than lost at the hole due to the lure being snagged. I've had days were most every fish has come on the single hooks, fish are funny that way sometimes.

As far as tips for using them, don't be afraid to put a bunch of meat on it. I've had moments where a jigging rap with 3-4 minnows, plus and extra head or two was the ONLY way to roll. My jig technique varies, but most often it is a good pull up with a controlled slow decent followed by short twitch or two of the rod tip (repeat as necessary), on the river the walleye seem like the bait to dust the bottom quite a bit, let it sit on bottom a bit then rip it up.

[bgcountry00]

I am looking at buying a few this year what size and color would you go with for just starting looking to get 5 or 6 thanks

[bobbymalone]

i think dave genz or some other big name in the ice fishing world started the hook snipping craze.

I can't catch a cold with those things. I lack confidence and haven't put much time into fishing them though. Always have a couple in the box. Same thing with chubby darters. Apparently people catch fish with them though.

[Stick in Mud]

I snip the hooks, too, but I know others who do fine without snipping them. I lost a few fish the first few times out because the hooks caught on the hole, so I cut them off. I've stuck with that since, but if you do cut them off, you've got to upsize on the treble hook.

I have had a TON of luck with jigging raps (of any brand). I ALWAYS have a jigging spoon and a jiggin-rap on separate rods when I'm fishing. After lots of fish caught on either one, I'm no longer as amazed as I used to be to see just how much fish prefer one over the other.

I do a lot of sight fishing in shallow, clear water. Almost every weekend I'll have a fish come in, stare down one lure or the other, only to eat the other lure when I drop it down the other hole. Sometimes they don't hit either, but a lot of the times they'll much prefer one over the other.

[gunner55]

What is the best way to change the trebles?Seems like it would be very easy to get a hook in your hand or damage the lure.Thanks for any tips.

[Gillfisher]

I like the #3 and #5 sizes, the shiny perch, glow, chartreuse, red and silver

[Dark Cloud]

Great tips so far.

I use raps alot, dont fish eyes too much but they work great for a search bait for crappies and perch also...

Two tips for fish that charge in on baits but wont commit...

As fish are approaching try pulling the bait up away from them slowly - they think an easy meal is getting away.

If they are reluctant to follow try jiggling the bait just enough so that the bait filled treble hook just flops around a bit.

I know some guys fish them bare but I just have more confidence with a minnow head, gulp, or I like to put one spike/maggot on each hook of the treble for the smaller sizes.

[bassfshin24]

What size treble hook do you guys use as a replacement?

[slipperybob]

What size treble hook do you guys use as a replacement?

Typically up by one size. If I remember right, a size 10 treble for the size 2 and 3 jig'n raps.

[nolte]

I do the same as others and bump up the treble one size. I do not snip the front or back hooks. I'd say roughly half my fish come on that front single and half on the treble. There is only an occasional one that comes on the back. If I was going to snip one I'd snip the back single. The best closer move is to just wobble it lightly when one is eyeing it up. That subtle roll side to side seals the deal. Most times though the just come in and smack it. I also think the color is a key component. It just depends in the lake. I have one that has caught hundreds of eyes on one lake but can't catch a thing anywhere else. Other colors are marginal at best on that lake.

[stealth3350]

i have found that the front and rear hooks are very good for catching the carpet, your pants,and the inside of your rod bag..

[NAMASafetyDirector]

There's a good read in the latest In-Fisherman by Doug Stange talking about just this topic. He covers alot of the most popular jigging Rapala style baits and how to use them or at least how he does along with some good tips. I thought it was pretty informative for the most part...

[bigblue]

The set up in our zone is to tip the treble with a small Jensen egg red or chartreuse. Also a dropper and treble with a minnow head does well with the jumbo perch. Don't be afraid to deadstick that combo it sometimes works well same can be said for the Lindy Darter.

[bobbymalone]

What is the best way to change the trebles?Seems like it would be very easy to get a hook in your hand or damage the lure.Thanks for any tips.

Split ring pliers are your friend.