The Rapala Jigging Rap was one of the first vertical presentations to hit the walleye market, and the bait’s popularity has only increased with the increased usage of front-facing sonar. Whether it’s through the ice or on the boat, the Jigging Rap remains one of the top options when fishing vertically for walleye.
Fish It Like Nick
“The Rapala Jigging Rap is one of those baits I work very aggressively when I’m on structure I know is holding fish,” says Nick Harrington, Owner of Lip Ripper Fishing. “This is a bait I use to put fish in the boat quickly and trigger some of the most aggressive strikes of the season.”
The Jigging Rap is best fished vertically with aggressive rips as well as lift and falls. The plastic tail on the bait results in an erratic darting action that becomes further exacerbated the more aggressive the jig stroke.
“The goal of my presentation is reaction strikes,” explains Harrington. “If I want to finesse I’ll use a jig and minnow or jig and crawler, when it comes to the Jigging Rap it’s because I see fish and I want them to strike quickly.”
The Jigging Rap features a minnow profile, though fishes different than a traditional crankbait.
“I don’t get as wrapped up in bait profiles with presentations like this because we’re looking for those aggressive, reaction strikes,” continues Harrington. “We aren’t trying to match the hatch here, we’re trying to hit them in the face.”
The Jigging Rap comes in a variety of sizes, making it ideal for the entire season.
“I’ve got a variety of Jigging Raps in my tackle boxes,” concludes Harrington. “I use the smaller sizes for ice season, and then the larger sizes for deeper water fishing on Lake Oahe.”
Bait Details
Bait Profile: Minnow
Bait Application: Vertical Fishing
Favorite Colors: Blue, Hot Steel, and Purpledescent
Favorite Waterbodies: Lake Oahe (Open Water), Lake of the Woods (Ice Fishing)
Get Geared Up to Catch More Walleye
Want to learn more about the gear we use when targeting walleye? Whether it’s on the Missouri River, Glacial Lakes region of South Dakota, western Nebraska reservoirs, or anywhere else across the Midwest we share our favorite baits and how we fish them on our Getting Geared Up page!
