These bad boys are going with me to Quetico first week of June - I think I'm covered and have a good mix but any suggestions for a secret rapala weapon that isn't here?

Just my opinion, but you have way too many. Decide which ones are best and cut the number of lures in half.

But... be sure to include a perch-colored Floating Minnow like your blue & silver one. It has passed the Shad Rap in fish catching ability in my arsenal.

youre missing two of each style/pattern. gotta have a backup. ;-)

Looks good to me. Nice selection.

I used to be in the bring a few Raps along. Not any more. I bring a lot of lures along. I just hate it when one guy is catching all the fish on a certain lure and no one has anything close to it. If I base camp I will bring a lot of lures. If I travel then I have to limit to one Plano box.

quote kanoes: "youre missing two of each style/pattern. gotta have a backup. ;-)

"

That is a GOOD looking tackle system. Not enough equipment for the fish slaying I plan though :) .

I would love to carry only a few lbs. As it is, My tackle this year will be about 10 lbs. No fish finder, and 1/2 the lead for lakers. I suspect them to be REAL shallow, so no need to try to get the baits deeper than 20ft or so.

quote jgolfaholic: "These bad boys are going with me to Quetico first week of June - I think I'm covered and have a good mix but any suggestions for a secret rapala weapon that isn't here?
"

Add a rattlin rapala and your jedi powers will be complete. Very nice selection.

quote jgolfaholic: "These bad boys are going with me to Quetico first week of June - I think I'm covered and have a good mix but any suggestions for a secret rapala weapon that isn't here?
"

Really nice setup. Toss in a rattlin rap or two. Maybe a skitter pop depending on temps.

quote jgolfaholic: "These bad boys are going with me to Quetico first week of June - I think I'm covered and have a good mix but any suggestions for a secret rapala weapon that isn't here?
"

You can never have too many shads. I'd add a skitter pop, a scatter shad, and a flicker shad, perch and crawdad colors. And don't forget the spoons.

My go-to is the floating black/white.

Fire Tiger Fat Rap for lakers

good selection. I like minnow raps in firetiger and silver/black. Another really good walleye lure for the Q in the Flicker Shad. Maverick put me on to it, often does better than the more expensive Raps.

T

I swear by Flicker Shads as well, prefer them to Shad Raps even last two years...

That's a beauty. Gotta go with BP's advice on the Rattlin'. Everybody has their favorite colors. Mine are chrome/blue and bluegill.

Started putting my tackle box together last night and the Rattl'n Rap was the first item that went in!

Sounds like I better add a couple of Flicker Shads too. :)

Magic

You are missing the only one you need - the (029)Silver Fluorescent/Chartreuse Shad Rap.

FatRap. Crawdad color.

Think TROUT, Tail Dancers, you could lose two in the first day. Just my input, if you aren't interested in Lake Trout then you are set.

Husky Jerks

-FT

quote FishermanTed: "Husky Jerks

-FT "

Agree.....try one in gold. You might also try an original floater in the black and silver color, size 11 or 13.

+1 on the original black and silver size 11.We have caught a bunch of nice smallmouth both surface fishing and trolling those over the years.

Fat Rap you pick the color so glad to see others list this lure. They dont make the really great colors anymore but boy is a great lure.

Some DTs or Scatter Raps could be added to it. Helsinki Shad or Gold Alburnus color should do well.

I would add a shad rap, jointed shad rap, DT or scatter rap in Dark Brown Crawdad. Smallies will gobble it up.

A good start... Is that a husky jerk in top right? I'd add a couple more. Would also add an x-rap or two and minnow rap or two. I like to have a mix of natural and bright colors. Good luck...

I'm sure TGO will weigh in with some sage advise on proper rapala options....

My favorite top water lure is an old school Hula Popper. It moves a lot of water, doesn't travel very far in the water with each pop and makes a nice noise when popped correctly.

rattlin' raps and rippin raps

Thanks guys. Hitting Gander Mountain tomorrow for some reinforcements! Updated pic to follow.

Meant to ask...what's the first rap in the water?

quote kanoes: "youre missing two of each style/pattern. gotta have a backup. ;-)

"

Those ripple shads are solid

quote TeamTuna06: "

quote kanoes: "youre missing two of each style/pattern. gotta have a backup. ;-)


"

Those ripple shads are solid"

hope so

I like the smaller assortment...except...I try to bring a couple of shallow with a tight wiggle...and a couple with a wide wiggle. Deep with a tight wiggle, and deep with a wide wiggle. Kinda covers all active fish, and a lot of neutral fish.

Tight shallow: Shallow SR
Wide shallow: floating Rapala minnow, Bomber Long A
Tight deep: SR8-9 Shap Rap, Countdown
Wide Deep: hot-n-tot(3/16oz to 14ft....3/8 to 25ft.)

May issue of In-fisherman has a couple of excellent articles on working cranks.

I take more perch and black and silver and leave the rest at home.

Two additions:

I'd add a craw pattern/color scheme, especially if you're going to fish while the water is still cool/cold. Your red/orange shad raps are close, but if you're in the market to buy more Rap's ...

Rapala BX minnows! Not only are the gorgeous works of art, they simply catch fish. I've had great success with the silver and smelt patterns.

First lure in the water:

Trolling: Perch taildancer
Casting: The craw pattern you're going to buy :)

You're definitely set of Rap's for awhile! Good luck!

quote jgolfaholic: "Thanks guys. Hitting Gander Mountain tomorrow for some reinforcements! Updated pic to follow.


Meant to ask...what's the first rap in the water?"

If the water temp is over 60 then the rattlin rap is the first one in the water for me, searching for the most active fish.

quote kanoes: "youre missing two of each style/pattern. gotta have a backup. ;-)

"

Which is the cavalry?

I like x-rap minnows for twitching/jerking the shorelines. Shad with a contrasting natural color.

BassPro....how does the Rattlin Rap compare to the Clackin Rap? Entirely different actions?

quote Boarstalker: "BassPro....how does the Rattlin Rap compare to the Clackin Rap? Entirely different actions? "

The Clacking Rap has a metal chamber in the middle with one rattle inside. It makes for more of a "knocking" sound as the lure moves through the water.

The Rattlin Rap or the Rippin Rap contain multiple rattles inside two rattle chambers. These make for a louder rattling as the rattles move back and forth in their chambers.

I just picked up a few Rippin Raps and will be trying them out soon. Chartreuse shad, Firetiger and Yellow Perch are what I picked up.

quote Boarstalker: "BassPro....how does the Rattlin Rap compare to the Clackin Rap? Entirely different actions? "

I havent tried the clackin rap, I will defer to someone that has tried both. The thing I like about the rattlin rap is it is not only a search lure, but it specifically targets hyper aggressive fish who chase it down, or opportunistic fish that happen to be close as it passes by and you get reaction strikes.

i agree with many on the rattl'n raps, my fav color chrome/blk. pike will hit them all year long and good for lakers early spring(from shore,cast it out ..count it down....then rip it back). i always have to have 2 F-18 floater blk/gold. pic

quote Boarstalker: "BassPro....how does the Rattlin Rap compare to the Clackin Rap? Entirely different actions? "

They do have different actions: different profiles and sounds. For me, the rattlin' has been great as BP describes: search lure for aggressive fish or opportunistic fish. Cast, reel, maybe pump once or twice, bounce it off structure, count it down to fish different depths, catch, repeat. The clackin' has been a miss for me. Most people seem to fish it as a jerkbait or in ways that you would fish the original floating. Some on this forum have tremendous success trolling it. So far I am not one of them. But given the reports on here, I'm not giving up on it yet.

If you are going to fish a rattle type bait you should try this technique. I first tried it up in Quetico last year and caught fish. Actually caught a nice smallie on the first try. Let the lure sink to the bottom and then rip the heck out of the lure, then let it drop again, then rip it again, and continue this process all the way back to the canoe. Worked for me.

You can run a rattle bait just like a blade bait. Works.
Also husky jerks in cold water are money. Stop it dead on the end of a sweep or jerk, or just stop reeling, and fish will hit it "on the sit."

Added a few more to the arsenal from the suggestions here. If I spend any more time in the rap aisle at Gander I'm gonna need a second job!

No X-Rap's, Rattlin' Raps or Skitter Pop's?!?!
You have not completed your training young padewan!

The trick with poppers is it's not the noise of the pop, but the amount of water it can "spit". And a Skitter Pop spits better than any other popper I've fished. Even in small 6" jerks it will spit three feet infront of the bait. Takes me ten minutes per cast to work one in, but a mule smallie crashing it in 20FOW on a misty morning is one of canoeings greatest pleasures!

Another way to fish a Rattling Rap is to vertically jig it right under the boat. Catches Lakers & Pickeral all summer long, needs a FF to properly see the fishes mood though. Some days they want it slow on bottom, other days they want it quick and will follow a bait right up to the boat before hitting. Hooking a big Laker 5' under your butt after it has chased your bait for 50' and watching the whole thing on a fishfinder is another one of those great canoe fishing moments.

And X-Rap's just catch fish. All kinds of fish, I've even caught Chinook salmon on X-Rap's. I'll throw an X-Rap before a Husky Jerk nowadays.

I don't even like Rapala's much anymore, but I always have those three in my box.
I wouldn't use a waterproof sealed box with them though, the cheap bronzed hooks will rust overnight if you don't air out your tackle religiously.
I love the two tier Plano Stowaway's, 3700 & 4700. The most tackle in a compact size.

And yeah, if I could only bring ten lures I'd rather bring five pairs than ten different lures. You just know you'll find the "hot bait"...then immediately lose it!
If you bring two of everything, the fish gods will never steal another lure from you again!

(atleast that's my theory and it's working well so far, hee hee!)

quote jgolfaholic: "Added a few more to the arsenal from the suggestions here. If I spend any more time in the rap aisle at Gander I'm gonna need a second job!
"

Great picks! Those BX minnows will treat you well. I've used them both as a steady retrieve crank and as a jerkbait. The latter outperforming the former 3 to 1. They aren't cheap, double check that knot before you throw it out there, haha!

I saw the recommendation for husky jerks and I just have to add. Husky jerks cast like a soda straw. Ok for trolling but for casting try xraps. Better action with a feather/hair tail, suspending and throw like a rocket.IMO

Good looking group.

the blue/silver 3rd down on right and the 4th down on left... Bring more than 1 of each!

Also, its hard to tell if we don't know what else you are bringing. if this is just the cranks and are bringing jigs, spinner baits, inline spinners and spoons...maybe this is good. but if you are doing this as a "fishing trip" and you are mainly using just cranks...Like another poster said.... Great group, now double everything up and then bring 3 of the two I mentioned above. You only need one...but the right one is hard to guess. And then, inevitably you will loose that ONE.

Also, I would find a few of my most beat up but "true" lures that swim well still and paint them flat black, then put new hooks on them. Very low and no light conditions are when the big boys love cranks...and believe it or not they will find the black lure easier than a colored cranks. They can pick out the totally black object against the lighter water/background. Much like we see shadows better at night rather than actual shapes. Full moon at night...you will be glad you had a few with you.
At the same time, tossing them in the early AM and early evening isn't a bad choice either. Don't wait till you cant even see your hand in front of your face...but don't throw anything but these once you cant! <----Theres your super secret weapon and I will bet a cold beer and hot pizza on the day you come out that no one else will have anything like them. (they will come close with an old perch lure that has faded colors...but you will have "the weapon")

Now, if you really want to mess with them, here's the crank secret that will amaze when it works:
We were neck in neck with a team many years ago, on the MWT. they pulled cranks mostly and we are a "rig pulling team". They couldn't figure out how we caught our fish with rigs when no one else did, and we felt the same about them pulling cranks. yet we were each others competition in pre-fishing contests we had set up ourselves and also in the series. One night, after several drinks, I thought it best to drop the secret weapon we kept hidden and used often. So I walk the guys over to the boat, proudly open a locked compartment and present them with the "magic". one of my wives old fingernail polish travel bags complete with 15-20 base colors of polish! The more vocal of the crank users team lets out a laugh and noise that could best be described as a howl laugh. then, to my surprise walks me to his boat and proceeds to pull out his own finger nail polish collection. Stripes and dots. At the ready. Vertical black lines drawn down the side of a lure that's working can become the magic lure for the day. the finger nail polish dries fast and stays on, but is easily peeled off when the combo isn't the right one. They would buy "glass" (not really glass) style (very smooth with no texture)lures in a single color, then add different basic patterns...Stripes, bots, 1/2 and 1/2 solid colors to the lures. We did the same thing on our spinner blades on our rigs we pulled. A single red line slanted across the blade creates a great spiral effect when it spins. On our floats a dab of red on the tips would sometime double the bite. Black dots also were very popular. I always bring 6-7 main colors with. When your buddy is catching eyes on a black jig with a red dot and out fishing you because you just lost your last one, you will be very glad you have the polish with you. When done, your finger nail easily peels it off.

Good fortune my friend.

Chad-

Thanks for the advice sirlips. The pics I posted are just the raps...I have some poppers and a bunch of spinners (mostly chartreuse and black). I'll throw in a few more blue/silver raps on your recommendation. I'm trying to keep the tackle reasonable but its hard not to bring EVERYTHING!!! We're also armed with a bunch of soft baits/plastics, green pumpkin tubes, ripple shads, senkos, etc...lots of jigs in the box too. Because we're going into Quetico (no live bait) - we're bringing some pork leaches made by Uncle Josh. I'm the sales director for a web development/marketing firm in Milwaukee and Uncle Josh is a client so they're hooking me up with those bad boys to jig with; of course they are telling me that its as close to the real thing as there is on this planet. I read your Walleye fishing 101 post last night and picked up some light up slip bobbers today, anxious to see if the late night fishing pays off! This is my first trip to the bwca (10 days from now / week on the water first week of June) this forum has been a real blessing to prep for the trip. I've never targeted walleye when fishing and we really were planning to primarily work the shallows for bass and pike (despite the consensus with all the hardcore guys, we really like to hunt the structure and cast with cranks) but all of you purists have me amped up to try for some walleye now! We don't get to fish very often and don't really know what to expect action wise from this trip. Honestly, it can't get here fast enough. We're outfitting with John Herrick at Moose Bay Co. and heading to basswood, then up into the Q from there. Thanks again to all for the tips! And of course, any further advice is welcomed!

quote jgolfaholic: "Thanks for the advice sirlips. The pics I posted are just the raps...I have some poppers and a bunch of spinners (mostly chartreuse and black). I'll throw in a few more blue/silver raps on your recommendation. I'm trying to keep the tackle reasonable but its hard not to bring EVERYTHING!!! We're also armed with a bunch of soft baits/plastics, green pumpkin tubes, ripple shads, senkos, etc...lots of jigs in the box too. Because we're going into Quetico (no live bait) - we're bringing some pork leaches made by Uncle Josh. I'm the sales director for a web development/marketing firm in Milwaukee and Uncle Josh is a client so they're hooking me up with those bad boys to jig with; of course they are telling me that its as close to the real thing as there is on this planet. I read your Walleye fishing 101 post last night and picked up some light up slip bobbers today, anxious to see if the late night fishing pays off! This is my first trip to the bwca (10 days from now / week on the water first week of June) this forum has been a real blessing to prep for the trip. I've never targeted walleye when fishing and we really were planning to primarily work the shallows for bass and pike (despite the consensus with all the hardcore guys, we really like to hunt the structure and cast with cranks) but all of you purists have me amped up to try for some walleye now! We don't get to fish very often and don't really know what to expect action wise from this trip. Honestly, it can't get here fast enough. We're outfitting with John Herrick at Moose Bay Co. and heading to basswood, then up into the Q from there. Thanks again to all for the tips! And of course, any further advice is welcomed! "

I believe the Q does not allow barbed hooks. I'd hate to see you have to flatten all the treble hooks on those brand new rapalas.

quote TheOnion: "

quote jgolfaholic: "Thanks for the advice sirlips. The pics I posted are just the raps...I have some poppers and a bunch of spinners (mostly chartreuse and black). I'll throw in a few more blue/silver raps on your recommendation. I'm trying to keep the tackle reasonable but its hard not to bring EVERYTHING!!! We're also armed with a bunch of soft baits/plastics, green pumpkin tubes, ripple shads, senkos, etc...lots of jigs in the box too. Because we're going into Quetico (no live bait) - we're bringing some pork leaches made by Uncle Josh. I'm the sales director for a web development/marketing firm in Milwaukee and Uncle Josh is a client so they're hooking me up with those bad boys to jig with; of course they are telling me that its as close to the real thing as there is on this planet. I read your Walleye fishing 101 post last night and picked up some light up slip bobbers today, anxious to see if the late night fishing pays off! This is my first trip to the bwca (10 days from now / week on the water first week of June) this forum has been a real blessing to prep for the trip. I've never targeted walleye when fishing and we really were planning to primarily work the shallows for bass and pike (despite the consensus with all the hardcore guys, we really like to hunt the structure and cast with cranks) but all of you purists have me amped up to try for some walleye now! We don't get to fish very often and don't really know what to expect action wise from this trip. Honestly, it can't get here fast enough. We're outfitting with John Herrick at Moose Bay Co. and heading to basswood, then up into the Q from there. Thanks again to all for the tips! And of course, any further advice is welcomed! "

I believe the Q does not allow barbed hooks. I'd hate to see you have to flatten all the treble hooks on those brand new rapalas. "

Man that would be a ton of barbs to pinch down.

Husky Jerk in Gold, the size with 2 treble hooks. Good luck!

Try the X-Rap in Purple Ghost, otherwise, you and I have the same mix. The purple one on the center right of your picture is a twin to one I lost to the biggest pike of my life a few years back on Boot. snap on the steel leader broke. Never again, no more snaps for me. Good luck, I will be out again in late June. So I hope they don't learn too much from your selection.

quote mgraber: "

quote TheOnion: "

quote jgolfaholic: "Thanks for the advice sirlips. The pics I posted are just the raps...I have some poppers and a bunch of spinners (mostly chartreuse and black). I'll throw in a few more blue/silver raps on your recommendation. I'm trying to keep the tackle reasonable but its hard not to bring EVERYTHING!!! We're also armed with a bunch of soft baits/plastics, green pumpkin tubes, ripple shads, senkos, etc...lots of jigs in the box too. Because we're going into Quetico (no live bait) - we're bringing some pork leaches made by Uncle Josh. I'm the sales director for a web development/marketing firm in Milwaukee and Uncle Josh is a client so they're hooking me up with those bad boys to jig with; of course they are telling me that its as close to the real thing as there is on this planet. I read your Walleye fishing 101 post last night and picked up some light up slip bobbers today, anxious to see if the late night fishing pays off! This is my first trip to the bwca (10 days from now / week on the water first week of June) this forum has been a real blessing to prep for the trip. I've never targeted walleye when fishing and we really were planning to primarily work the shallows for bass and pike (despite the consensus with all the hardcore guys, we really like to hunt the structure and cast with cranks) but all of you purists have me amped up to try for some walleye now! We don't get to fish very often and don't really know what to expect action wise from this trip. Honestly, it can't get here fast enough. We're outfitting with John Herrick at Moose Bay Co. and heading to basswood, then up into the Q from there. Thanks again to all for the tips! And of course, any further advice is welcomed! "

I believe the Q does not allow barbed hooks. I'd hate to see you have to flatten all the treble hooks on those brand new rapalas. "

Man that would be a ton of barbs to pinch down."

The ones in the box don't need to be pinched, just the ones on the line. I pinch all of mine, because when I'm not in the quetico, I'm fishing with an 8 year old and those barbed trebles catch on EVERYTHING!

quote shock: "i agree with many on the rattl'n raps, my fav color chrome/blk. pike will hit them all year long and good for lakers early spring(from shore,cast it out ..count it down....then rip it back). i always have to have 2 F-18 floater blk/gold. pic "

I love them f-18 blk/gold. Look just like a nice walleye snack to any predator fish. I love trolling them. I leave it out there when I pause for various reasons. Have had fish hit it so many times as it sits there stationary on the surface or as I start out paddling again.