What method do you all use more often with Rapala originals and other similar floating lures: float it over the top of the water? or, put a split shot above the lure to retrieve at a particular depth underwater?

Both. Sinker in spring at dusk and after...I like topwater in fall mostly. top is more exiting.

I know that walleye tend to eat about a foot above the bottom, give or take, but are there any conditions under which they would take something from the top of the water?

quote kayakrookie1: "I know that walleye tend to eat about a foot above the bottom, give or take, but are there any conditions under which they would take something from the top of the water?"

I use them over shallow reefs at night and during low light conditions for walleyes all the time. They are also a great topwater lure. Just cast them out and work back with a steady retrieve with occasional twitches and jerks to mix it up, active walleyes will smash it as will smallies. Its a great topwater lure for smallies also.

Original Floating Rapala, size 11, black and silver, 4-3/8” lure. This lure will catch all four of the grand slam species, walleye, northern pike, lake trout and smallmouth. It can be retrieved in a steady fashion, trolled to all kinds of depths depending on the amount of weight added to the line, twitched on the surface, or brought back in using a stop and go retrieve. I would add a titanium leader to the front of the lure.

The steady retrieve will catch all four different types of fish depending on the season. You have a better chance of catching a lake trout on a steady retrieve in the early spring phase. Walleyes can be caught around current or weed beds during the spring using a straight retrieve. Smallmouth and pike can be caught during all open water seasons using this method.

Trolling this lure can produce all four species during each of the open water fishing seasons. Walleye and trout can be found shallow in the spring and deeper in the summer. By adding weight to your line you can reach the depths where these fish are typically feeding during the summer months.

Twitching this lure on top of the water can bring smallmouth and northern pike crashing through the surface for this balsa bait. The stop and go retrieve will also bring a reaction type of hit from the smallmouth and northern pike.

As above by Basspro69...also no need for fancy colors, silver/black or gold black great. Great lure, cornucopia of ways to work it. Really good hooks.

The original floating - ("F series")? Most sizes of that lure dive 3' to 6' without weight. Is that the lure you are talking about?

As above.... An awesome bait, a bdub must have. Not much love for my firetiger. I've had as much success with that as any.

An original floating rapala behind a three-way rig is tough to beat for walleyes in rivers when they are deep.
Twitch it like a top-water, too.
THe list goes on.

I use the orange F13s on the surface for smallies and troll the blue and silver F13s for pike without weights.

one good thing is the lipless rattler crankbaits. They sink, but they get a lot of movement, make a lot of noise, and are great for smallies, pike, and walleye.

quote lundojam: "An original floating rapala behind a three-way rig is tough to beat for walleyes in rivers when they are deep.
Twitch it like a top-water, too.
THe list goes on."

Has anyone had experience doing this 3-way rig with a stick bait to catch deep summer fish in lakes?

Do any of you remove any of the tri-hooks, or do you leave all of them in tact? I think it was in Furtman's Fishing the BW & Quetico where I read that removing the front hooks, at least in his opinion, won't negatively effect the number of fish caught. I wonder if removing the hooks will effect the action of the lure...

Frenchy,

I dont THINK so. I remove the front trebles on my deep diving cranks and I haven't noticed a change in action.

Anyone else?

If theres three I usually remove the middle treble .

I do like not having to deal with so many trebles when removing the Rap from a feisty northern...less likely to get self hooked!

On a lure with two trebles, I often clip the single shank facing front on the front treble. Depending on the lure, it bounces over easier instead of snagging.

I too tend to either clip the leading hook from a treble or replace them with singe hooks. I hate trying to release a pike or other large fish that has multiple hooks in it's mouth.

As far as floating lures, even though I have a good stockpile of floating Rapalas, I seldom use them. Don't know why. I think I'm more of a collector of lures lol. I do however love to use a Zara Spook. I remove the trebles and replace them with singles facing the rear. Love to see the water explode from Large mouth Bass or Pike. Gets the heart going dontchaknow.

Curious how much weight, more or less, one would run in front of a Floating #11 to get it to Lake Trout depth, 35 feet or so, trolling? Ballpark?
My dad used to do this on Dogtooth Lake in Ontario when I was a kid and
we saw alot of 11-14lb walleye come on that rig, gold/black F11
trolled with weight in front, just don't remember how much 'cause at the time I was just a snot-nosed kid!
Thanks!
W

quote Whitaker: "Curious how much weight, more or less, one would run in front of a Floating #11 to get it to Lake Trout depth, 35 feet or so, trolling? Ballpark?
My dad used to do this on Dogtooth Lake in Ontario when I was a kid and
we saw alot of 11-14lb walleye come on that rig, gold/black F11
trolled with weight in front, just don't remember how much 'cause at the time I was just a snot-nosed kid!
Thanks!
W"

This depends on your trolling speed and your line diameter. That said, if trying for 35 feet, in a canoe, trolling at somewhat slow speed, go with a 2 ounce weight, esp if using a thin diameter braid. If using heavier mono, say 14-20lb, I'd say use a 3oz weight. Two ounce will also work but you'll need more line out, have more stretch in the line with the mono, and perhaps lose miss some fish. Always keep in mind the more vertical you are, the more precise your depth control and awareness of what your lure is doing. I've found snap weights are by far the best method to get deep.

In regards to the original question, gotta concur with Quetico Mike, so many ways to use a rap and it all really depends on the situation and your knowledge. The one thing I will say, and I know it may be a bit controversial, is that the original floating rap, is a far better lure than the host of imitators. Not saying other lures are crap, or won't catch fish, cause they will (and I have tons of non-rapala minnow baits), just that day in day out, a rapala will catch more fish in more situations and that if you fish a lot, you will notice the difference. QM, likes the natural black/silver, I used to agree completely, but over the last 10 years or so I've found I do a tiny bit better with the perch version in the waters I fish most often, but the difference is very small, and either one will put plenty of fish in the boat.

Moonman.