Rapalas for Trout

[EatSleepFish]

I saw a fishing show about a year ago, I thing it was butch furtman, and they were using little size 3 floating rapalas, and was just wondering if any of you guys have used them in the past, and if so what color do you use, any other kind of rapalas that would work?

[mitch]

I have a couple Rapalas like you mentioned that I use for trout. I don't use them very often, but I know some people that use them a lot and have success with them. The color that they use has a minnow looking pattern on it. When I usually use Rooster Tails thats what I have caught the most on.

[Redlantern]

I troll with black/silver and blue/silver number threes. I've had pretty good luck with them for Rainbows in small lakes. Haven't tried them in streams but I've heard of others having luck with them.

[troutman]

Rapalas are practically all I use when trout fishing.My personal favorite is the gold and black floating Rapala in sizes 3 to 11,depending on the water I'm fishing.If you are fishing water with big fish potential,don't be afraid to upsize to bigger Raps.I have seen big browns simply inhale a #11 Rapala and have wondered what the results would be if I went even bigger.

[DARK30]

I'm starting to use a twister tail more often these days. Yes, a big brown will hit a larger crank bait easy. I've caught plenty of stream trout on a SR5 Shad Rap but it doesn't do the fish much good to have a face full of treble hooks. A 1/8 jig and a 3" Mister Twister will also do the trick with a single hook.

I suppose the poetry method (flyfishing) would be the most gentle

Looking forward to some fall action on the Root.

[EatSleepFish]

Thanks for all the info guys(or gals), Today me and a buddy went to the blackhoof river.

While he was using nightcrawlers, I tied on a size 1 Hot mustard yellow chub countdown rapala, The first cast I made with it I didnt expect a bite, since we were in a foot and a half of water, but i made a cast, started reeling in and BAM! A nice size rainbow attacked it.

In all I ended up catching three other rainbows, and a small brown. My buddy only caught two bows and a small brookie.

The rapala beat worms!!! I think i might be like TROUTMAN and use them all the time. thanks again for all the advice.

If people concentrated on the real important things in life, there would be a shortage of fishing poles.

[troutman]

DARK30 brought up a very good point and one which I forgot to mention yesterday.Crimp or cut off the barbs on the treble hooks.I do that on all my Raps as soon as I buy them and it is one more reason that I use a big Rap...it's harder for them to inhale a #11 Rapala then it is a smaller one.One more thing,they can't get bigger if you don't c&r them.Dark,I might have to give that twister tail a try as I've heard that to be a good option.

[EatSleepFish]

The waters I fish are clear and small, so short casts and clear water allow me to see the fish take the lure, so the hooks are always on the outside of the mouth. The size 1 Countdown hooks are so small that the barbs are not a threat to the fishs release, Also I am not big on keeping fish, especially a nice and healthy trout, Its hard for me to even bring myself to keep walleyes or crappies. In my opinion, trout fight better than they taste, and the release is more rewarding than a creel full of dead trout.

If people concentrated on the real important things in life, there would be a shortage of fishing poles

[ice_shack]

If I could only afford one lure it would be a count down rap in gold flourescent red in size 3 or 5. Crimp the barbs and hang on. DO NOT tell this to anyone else!

Actually I think it is more of what lure do you have confidence in.