What is a good trolling speed while running Rap's

[Shwangman]

What is a good speed while runnings Raps? We run number 5 Fire Tiger and run from 9-13 FOW.

Thanks

[PerchJerker]

Which Raps are you talking about?

I'd guess you're talking about Shad Raps, they are a tight wiggle high action bait that's good for warm water temps. A good range is 2 mph on the low end all the way up to 3.5 mph, with 2.5 as a good starting point.

Straight or minnow style baits like Husky Jerks and the Rapala Minnow are wider wobble slower action baits. They're typically better when the water cools down, 2 mph is a good average speed for them with a typical range of 1.7 to 2.7 or so, although you can speed them up and try them when the water is warmer.

Hope this helps, good luck.

[Team Otter]

Um, yea', what he said.

[Muddog]

On days with a brite sun try a gold/black or gold/orange. The higher the sun the better! Jointed grapler shads and Hot & Tots (1/4oz) for 9-13 FOW in those 2 colors have been HOT, HOT, HOT. Low sun or cloud cover use the Perch or Firetiger.

The speeds above are spot on!

From what I've been seeing as of late, feeding is going at full speed and fish are biting like crazy. I can beleive that fish eat 1/3 there weight a day this time of year. They are like dogs or bears if you stand there and look at them not much happens. Now if you run from them, well your going to get bit.

My $.02 .

[Borch]

Speed is a very fickle discussion. I've pull shad raps from 1.4 - 4.0 mph. I'be pulled rattlin shads as fast as 4.4 mph and hammered them. Late fall I'll pull floating rapalas as slow as 1.0 mph. Gotta change it up until you find the sweet speed.

But most of the time what has been posted will work,

[vikingmeatwad]

I've been testing this as well to see what works best but what line do you guys use and do you just tie it right on to the rap or use a swivel snap?

Thanks!

[PerchJerker]

No swivel snap (kills the lure's action). Use just a smap. I think Norman Speed Clips are the best but a lot of guys don't like using them.

The line I use is all over the board depending on the situation - 10 or 12 lb mono for boards, leadcore with a leader, and lots of different diameters of superlines from very thin (10 lb test) to pretty thick (65 lb test) depending on how deep or how far away from the boat I want to be.