Jointed vs. non jointed

[FishinBill]

When do you use your cranks?

I typically start the year with originals and huskies then move into shadraps and jointed shads then into the DT and fat raps. Never used the minnow jointed lures much. when and what do you like to use? Use lipless late summer and fall. any ideas? and this is fishing for anything.

[cheektowaga]

I fell in love with the jointed shad raps last year. Worked all season but primarily early summer and fall bass fishing. Early season hammered the smallies and had to buy more mid trip, later season caught our best LM on them. If you're using these I hope you don't mind the pike because they will inhale these all year.

I like these best because they suspend and when there's a front moving in or in bad weather you can use a real slow retreive, couple of jerks, deadstick it suspending and work them real slow without them rising to the surface. My box is now full of them.

[Bobb-o]

was using a jointed perch colored shad rap the small size for bass one day and was surprised to start catching gill after gill off of a weedline, some of the biggest gills i have ever caught, the biggest went just over 10"

[LEECH21]

I second the jointed shad rap. The first time I used one (on the first cast) as soon as it hit the water a 4 pound smallie inhaled it. I know right away this lure would be spending a lot of time on the end of my line. Since, I've had very good success with them for both smallmouth and largemouth year-round. I only wish now Rapala would make a shallow diving jointed shad rap!

[cyberamish]

I too have had great success with the jointed Shad Raps. Even pulled them on Superior with very good results for Coho and 'eyes. I have heard from a couple of guys that have had them seperate at the joint with a big fish but I have never seen it happen.

[cheektowaga]

I've never had the joint separate, but did have the bill pull out of one last fall with a monster smallie on the other end. I've got some pics and I think I'm going to send it into rapala for a freebie. Think it'll work?

[outdoor ran]

I do alot of trolling with stick baits on Lake Superior and I just have problems catching fish on the jointed ones. I thought for sure they would out produce the the straight ones but they don't. I know jointed baits are suppose to make the bait look like its moving faster then it is. One day last year I put out the same color sticks, one straight and one jointed and the straight one got 6 strikes to the jointeds none. Could be just me, I'll keep trying them and one day they'll be justs the action there looking for.

[MinnesotaMuskie]

We fish western Minnesota pretty heavy. We have had the best luck with blue countdowns when we work a point to locate fish and blue floaters when we troll. We are on Amelia and there is a lorge flat in front of our cabin...trolling non jointed cranks have been the ticket.

I keep going back to my jointed raps, as I lake the action, but the walleys do not seem to agree with me.

Any other thoughts out there?

[ikes71]

I have had great luck trolling jointed shad raps for walleyes. I have one fire tiger rap that has taken quite a beating and still consistantly catches fish. I have taken fall walleye's up to 29", and also took a 48" muskie on the same bait. I don't know what it is about that one rap, but it definatly catches the fish. Must be all the teeth marks.

[Northlander]

Randy my hottest bait on the South Shore last year was a jointed gold fasttrack. Caught fish on it every time out. 100-120' back most days in 25-45' of water. At times deeper but not often. Green Bombers and Reefrunners as well as Hot n tots worked well on some days. Daves Nitro Shiners were a seldom seen sleeper that produced fish.

[danfall]

depends for me

I've done well with jointed small rapalas for walleyes shallow on points, just hammered 'em.

Smallies casting all the time jointed seem to outperform.

The jointed have failed to produce well for me trolling, but they are usually a floating lure, so maybe its depth. I haven't tried using them much behind a baitwalker, too costly to lose, but I tend to think the depths are running different.

[steel24]

the floating jointed original Rapala has worked great for bass early in the year. I use it as a top water bait. I cast it out, twitch it a few times and the Largemouth pound it. I use the jointed shad raps for Walleye's and have had great luck.

[walleyefisher0990]

I always catch alot of northerns and bass on a regular jointed floating rapala early on in the year. I also like to troll a regular floating rapala for northerns.

[LocalGuide]

I think rapala should come out with a jointed shallow shad rap.

I love using the JSR's for walleyes also but when Im trolling in 5'-8' at night they go to deep. It would be nice to see a jointed version of SSR's too.