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When the leaves fall, feed fish a floater – an Original Floating Rapala.
The lure that started it all for Rapala remains a go-to lure, especially in cold-water periods like autumn. “With subtle flicks and twitches, the Floater will dive a bit, lightly roll up and imitate a struggling, injured minnow,” explains Rapala Director of Field Promotions Mark Fisher. “Those are all great attributes for cold-water times of year like fall.”
Whether twitched on top as a surface bait, retrieved as a shallow runner, weighted with a split shot for medium depth or bottom-walked off a three-way swivel or bottom bouncer, the Original Floating Rapala’s wounded-minnow action continues to be irresistible to fish of all species, including walleye, bass, pike and crappie.
In the fall, Fisher enjoys multi-species success with an Original Floating Rapala by targeting “things that warm up quickly in the sun” – wood, rocks, pad field edges and weedbeds in four feet of water or less. Shallow cover in current – wind-induced or a natural flow – can be even better.
“This time of year, as water temperatures are cooling on lakes and rivers, fish are starting to think about moving to wintering holes,” Fisher explains. “So they’ll migrate to areas that give them some safe harbor and cover. Shallow-water rock, wood and decaying, dead weeds will all hold fish looking to ambush prey. That’s where a Floater shines.”
Fisher recommends a slow retrieve punctuated by subtle twitches. “Don’t try to over-power the lure,” he cautions. “It’s not by nature an aggressive bait. It was built to imitate an injured minnow. Something that’s injured doesn’t move too quick.”
“You’re trying to keep the bait in the strike zone as long as possible,” Fisher explains. “Just tease them with the action and the vibration that the lure delivers.”
For the best results, fish an Original Floating Rapala on a medium to medium-light action spinning rod spooled with 8- to 10-pound-test monofilament line. (Fluorocarbon line is not advised for most floating lures, because it sinks).
Original Floating Rapalas come in seven sizes and 21 color patterns. Throw natural color patterns in clear water and brighter patterns in stained and muddy water. If the action tapers off, try downsizing your baits before switching colors. “If you’re not getting bites, you might be fishing a little too large,” Fisher says.
All Original Floating Rapalas are constructed of balsa wood and hand-tuned and tank-tested to ensure their world renowned action, straight from the box. They feature premium black-nickel VMC treble hooks.
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