Favorite Rapala to troll ?

[surfisher]

What is your favorite rapala to troll at kayak speed? Looking for one to use while trolling a live bait. I recently stuck a good yellow while trolling a cd-18 on a boat but clearly it would be difficult to do 6-7 knots on a kayak. Anybody have any suggestions on one that you can use at slower speeds and are kayak friendly?

[Johnny Hirn]

You could always just troll the real thing and pin on a greenback. If not i have trolled x-raps in the 5 inch size around succefully but you have to hot rod them with new hooks and split rings.

[WestFork]

Originally Posted by Johnny Hirn

You could always just troll the real thing and pin on a greenback. If not i have trolled x-raps in the 5 inch size around succefully but you have to hot rod them with new hooks and split rings.

Johnny, can you be more specific about the hooks? Lighter or heavier than as sold, single or treble? Is the idea to go lighter with the hardware to get more action at lower speed? Thanks!

[FISH11]

Hi Brian. I used either a Rapala count down 5 1/2" magnum or a Rapala X Rap 5 1/2" magnum both in a green back mac color. I used to troll those a lot when bait was hard to find or in the shallower area when there were too many sea lions. Unfortunately I lost my last one, last summer to that pesky Hammerhead shark that was around LJ for most of the summer. Now I mostly catch enough live macs to out number the ones the frickin sea lions steal.

[Johnny Hirn]

Originally Posted by WestFork

Johnny, can you be more specific about the hooks? Lighter or heavier than as sold, single or treble? Is the idea to go lighter with the hardware to get more action at lower speed? Thanks!

I forget the exact kind, but the hooks are slightely larger. It's just more important to get the beefed up thicker hooks if using the smaller x-raps so that you don't straighten out a hook. I cant remember for the life of me what hardware i used but the main goal was to strengthen it and try to keep weight generally the same.
Good luck
-Johnny

[WestFork]

Originally Posted by Johnny Hirn

I forget the exact kind, but the hooks are slightely larger. It's just more important to get the beefed up thicker hooks if using the smaller x-raps so that you don't straighten out a hook. I cant remember for the life of me what hardware i used but the main goal was to strengthen it and try to keep weight generally the same.
Good luck
-Johnny

Thanks, Johnny! I got home last night and got out one and I could see right away what you meant, the hooks supplied are on the light side. Fewer but bigger hooks is a balancing act. :-)

[Baja_Traveler]

Well, it's not a Rapala, but I picked up a few of these Williamson mackerel from Overstock bait the last order, cheap at 7 bucks. Haven't had a chance to tow one around yet - but I have high hopes. they are set up to easily install a stinger, which I'll be doing before use.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sPHiMOri3Y

[YakDout]

I like these because they have wider lips and have better action than the big xraps at kayak speed.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0017...rb_top?ie=UTF8

[PapaDave]

Try an Xrap Mag 5 (if you can find them), they are smaller versions and don't take as much speed to get them down. Or a 10, those will work okay too.

If your interested in bass, troll one of these near the kelp or even in open areas...

https://www.amazon.com/Rapala-Husky-...own+Deep+Husky

Calico's love em...