Best Rapala Lures for Bass

Best Rapala for Bass - The Classic Never Fails

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Larry Stark

Professional fisherman, who loves to review new fishing gadgets.

Rapala crankbaits are famous for catching bass from early spring all the way into late fall and further. You can use them to fish in top waters or dive deep and get some good catches. But with a seemingly infinite range of Rapala fishing lures, many anglers wonder which classic Rapala bass lure deserves a spot in their tackle box.

Below, you will find a list and information for all Rapala lures – from classics to some more innovative ones. Get an answer: what lures to use for bass? Let’s reel in!

Top 3 The Best Rapala for Bass

Best Rapala Lure for Surface Fishing
Rapala Original Floater 07

Rapala Original Floater 07

Best Rapala Lipless Fishing Lure
Rapala Rattlin

Rapala Rattlin 05

Best for Casting Fishing Lure
Rapala Husky

Rapala Husky

The Best Rapala Lures for Bass Fishing of 2023

1. Rapala Original Floater 07 – Best Rapala Bass Lures for Surface
2. Rapala Rattlin 05 – Best Rapala Lipless Lures
3. Rapala Husky Jerk – Best Rapala Bass Lures for Casting
4. Rapala X-Rap Jerkbait 06 – Best Jerkbait Rapala Bass Lures
5. Rapala Balsa Brat – Best Squarebill Rapala Bass Lures
6. Rapala Dives to 10 – Best Diving Rapala Bass Lures
7. Rapala Shad Rap 07 – Best Trolling Rapala Bass Lures
8. Rapala Jointed Minnow J11 – Best Jointed Rapala Bass Lures

Best Rapala Lure for Bass : Our Review

#1 Best for Surface - Rapala Original Floater 07

Rapala Original Floater 07

WHY WE LIKE IT: This classic RAPALA Original Floater is an old-school, go-to kind of lure. This iconic lure is good as a surface bait but works well in medium or bottom debt water as well. As you might expect, it’s of great quality, unlike some cheaper alternatives. This makes the lure long-lasting – you can pull off a whole season without a lot of wear and tear.

  • Color Availability: Accessible in multiple classic and bleeding patterns
  • Fishing Technique: Casting
  • Target Species: ‎Trout Panfish
  • Weight: 0.04 pounds
  • Size: 9 inches

Pros

Cons

BUYING ADVICE: These lures are the ideal size for smaller fish. It’s an excellent crankbait for very light gear too. You can choose between multiple color patterns and sizes. When we used it, we noticed that for this original floater, a medium reel rate seems to give the best results.

It can take a good speed to sink the lure, but it tends to resurface quickly. We mainly used it as a topwater lure, but it can be used for shallow-water fishing as well. Combine with some of the best topwater rods for the best topwater fishing results.

FEATURES: This classic bait RAPALA is made of high-quality Balsa Wood, available in various classic and bleeding patterns, and frequently used by bass fishermen. It has a natural minnow profile and is stainless through wire construction. All fishermen that want a lure that will easily float will be very satisfied with this product. It includes VMC Black Nickel Hooks.

#2 Best Rapala Lipless Lure - Rapala Rattlin 05

Rapala Rattlin

WHY WE LIKE IT: This is one of the most popular lures for bass fishing, as it has a good quality-to-price ratio and is proven to be very effective. The classic lipless design provides great action in the water. It comes in various colors, and along with its motion, it seems very life-like.

  • Color Availability: Accessible in multiple colors, like Firetiger, Shad, Silver, Silver Blue
  • Fishing Technique: Long-Casting Sinking
  • Target Species: Bass
  • Weight: 0.3 pounds
  • Size: One size

Pros

Cons

BUYING ADVICE: The lure is a bit heavy for its size, which allows for some good casting distance, but on the other hand, it sinks fast and may get tangled. If you are looking for a long-lasting, lipless lure with sound frequencies that are in harmony with nature, this is the right one for you. We found that this lure gives a decent action at slow and fast retrieve rates. What we didn’t like was that it sunk rather quickly, but surprisingly, it rose fast when we reeled it in.

FEATURES: This RAPALA rattling lure has good motion and offers a range of different colors. It’s very life-like and not very big, but relatively heavy for its size. This lure offers one of the best quality-to-price ratios. It performs well in catching bass missions, as the retrieve rate goes from slow to very fast, which provides great action. The sound chamber, with the rattlin’ BBs in the water, works perfectly to bring in more fish. Also, the lure features strong VMC Black Nickel Hooks.

#3 Best for Casting - Rapala Husky Jerk

Rapala Husky

WHY WE LIKE IT: The Rapala Husky Jerk Fishing lures have great sinking rate swim action with a constant sink rate of 1 ft per second. You can target exact depths easily, time after time, whether trolled or cast, and you can get great slow-rolling action.

  • Color Availability: Accessible in multiple colors and designs, like Glass Minnow, Glass Pink Clown, Glass Purple Sunfire, Green, Helsinki Shad, and Redfire Crawdad
  • Fishing Technique: Ideal for casting
  • Target Species: ‎Multi-species game fish
  • Weight: 0.19 Pounds
  • Size: 8 and 4 inches

Pros

Cons

BUYING ADVICE: It takes an experienced angler with a sophisticated fishing technique to control these amazing lures. Once you pass the learning curve on the sinking and depth rate regulation, you can master fish catching with this Rapala Husky Jerk lure.

When we used it, we noticed that the slow rolling action allowed it to entice a strike zone. So if you add a few erratic twitches, it can even mirror a wounded fish – it’s a game-changer!

FEATURES: This Rapala Husky Jerk lure brings innovative features to the table with the sinking rate technique and custom swimming action; it’s what makes this one of the best topwater Rapala Husky Jerk lures for experienced anglers. It comes with a custom swimming action and controlled depth technique, made out of balsa wood and VMC Black Nickel Round Bend Hooks. Hence, it’s a good choice to have it in your tackle box.

#4 Best Jerkbait - Rapala X-Rap Jerkbait 06

Rapala X-Rap Jerkbait 08

WHY WE LIKE IT: The Rapala X-Rap Jerkbait is a lure for adrenaline lovers that offers hard-cutting action. It has an integrated system for long-casting with a great rattle. This lure moves well like a real-life fish under the water’s surface. It’s also a great choice for topwater trout and bass fishing.

  • Color Availability: Accessible in multiple colors
  • Fishing Technique: Long-casting integrated system
  • Target Species: ‎Trout Panfish
  • Weight: 1 pound
  • Size: 6 inches
  • Item Dimensions: 4 x 4 x 2 inches

Pros

Cons

BUYING ADVICE: The X-Rap has two hooks and different patterns to match the fishing hatch or attract attention in murky water. Also, it has a distinctively attired tail with appealing rattle sounds.

From our experience, we can say that this is an excellent shallow water jerk bait that provides an electric action. For anglers that would like a steady retrieve, this lure may be a bit on the dynamic side, but if you are into more lively fishing, this one is for you!

FEATURES: This lure gives an off-the-hook Slashbait action and does a great job of mimicking fish movement with its textured translucent body. Coupled with the range of available patterns, it can blend in with the surroundings or completely stand out – whichever method you prefer. You can use it for different fishing conditions, with the internal holographic foil and 3D holographic eyes. Also, it includes stainless steel through wire construction and VMC black nickel hooks.

#5 Best Squarebill - Rapala Balsa Brat

Rapala Balsa

WHY WE LIKE IT: With this lure, you get the best Rapala quality incorporated with VMC Black Round Bend hooks and a balsa wood construction body core that will give you a strong action. It comes with a classy rattle and the perfect size to deflect bass effectively from deep rocky bottoms to shallow covers with rocks and gravel.

  • Color Availability: Accessible in 7 colors, like 06 Silver, Blue Ghost, Carbon, Haymaker, Rock Solid
  • Fishing Technique: Casting
  • Target Species: ‎Bass and multi-species game fish
  • Weight: 0.02 pounds
  • Size: One size
  • Item Dimensions: 0.88 x 1.63 x 4.75 inches

Pros

Cons

BUYING ADVICE: With this lure, you can attract fish from the deep water to bite the hook. The Rapala Balsa Brat has an amazing color selection, and with its compact size, it can truly appeal to bass even in imperfect conditions. It’s great for fishing exhibitions for both largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. We tried it out in deep waters first and found it to be perfect. Bass didn’t expect to see a squarebill run so deep, so we had plenty of catch.

FEATURES: This is one of the best Rapala lures for an experienced angler. It may be a smaller size, but you would be surprised how well it can catch larger fish. The Balsa Brat is highly castable and attractive to more fish. What’s more, it’s very durable. It comes with a classy rattle, it’s made of Balsa wood inner core, and its armor coating is made from a rugged copolymer. It comes equipped with great VMC Black Nickel Round Bend Hooks.

#6 Best Diving - Rapala Dives to 10

Rapala Dives to 10

WHY WE LIKE IT: The Rapala Dives to 10 dive very fast, as their name suggests, and they remain deep in the strike zone, far more than your usual crankbait, ready to hook and catch fish. Conversely, it also floats on the top pretty quickly. It has an amazing paint scheme and is a very versatile lure to test out your favorite fishing spots with. If you like diving deep for bass, take a look at the best white bass lures list we have carefully crafted.

  • Color Availability: Multi
  • Fishing Technique: Long-casting up to 150 ft.
  • Target Species: ‎more fish types (bass, multi-species freshwater game fish)
  • Weight: 0.07 pounds
  • Size: One size
  • Item Dimensions: 1 x 1.63 x 5.88 inches

Pros

Cons

BUYING ADVICE: The Rapala Dives to 10 lure has very realistic features and subtleness that make this fish-catching lure potent in a ranging temperature spectrum. In addition, this lure has a fixed weight system that we quite like, which allows it to fade out subtly like a real fish.

From all the bass fishing lures we’ve tried, we do like this one for deep-water fishing. However, we noticed that in areas that have tall grass, this lure may get tangled up and pose a problem.

FEATURES: Equipped with a unique rattle and a fine wobble to go with the balsa wood construction and round bent VMC black nickel hooks, this bait incorporates a few of the best Rapala features. The quick-dive resting position with an extra thin polycarbonate lip gives this lure great movement in the water. All of this makes the lure a good choice for an experienced angler to get a good bass-lurking action.

#7 Best Trolling - Rapala Shad Rap 07

Rapala shad rap 07

WHY WE LIKE IT: The Rapala Shad rap is one of the best running hard bait, which is great for casting or trolling. It performs well at extremely slow and ultra-fast speeds. Coming with a legendary Rapala wounded minnow action, it proves to be another versatile lure. Many anglers like using this live bait for bass fishing due to its decisive action.

  • Color Availability: Multi
  • Fishing Technique: Casting
  • Target Species: ‎Bass
  • Weight: 0.02 pounds
  • Size: One size
  • Item Dimensions: ‎4 x 4 x 2 inches

Pros

Cons

BUYING ADVICE: This is a bass lure that offers good movement with a good choice of colors. It can sustain any swimming depth while reeling off, and it is great for trolling. A bass angler can use this versatile lure in different fishing techniques, speeds, or depths. And we tried it out!

What we have seen is that it doesn’t fail to catch fish. Whether you are fishing small ponds or bigger waters, this one is a good addition to your lure collection. And if you want to fish for trout, try some of the best trolling lures for trout we found.

FEATURES: The Raptala Shad Rap is very popular among the best Rapala lures because it is great to fish slowly on short distances, but it is equally as amazing in deeper waters and with fast-speed fishing techniques. It comes with a motion that ranges from constant running to subtle swimming, giving its efficiency at all speeds and depths. The lure also includes a natural baitfish profile and diving lip design made out of balsa wood and VMC Black Nickel Hooks.

#8 Best Jointed - Rapala Jointed Minnow J11

Rapala Jointed

WHY WE LIKE IT: Rapala Jointed can definitely make the list of all-time classic best lures. It not only incorporates the incredible action that you have from the original floaters, but it takes it even further.

  • Color Availability: Accessible in multiple colors and designs, like Firetiger, Gold, Multi, Rainbow Trout, Silver
  • Fishing Technique: Long-casting
  • Target Species: ‎Bass
  • Weight: 0.0006 pounds
  • Size: 11 inches
  • Item Dimensions: 4 x 4 x 2 inches

Pros

Cons

BUYING ADVICE: This lure provided us with wounded fish swimming-like action, mimicking a broken back. Performs nicely on extra slow speed and slow reels. Also, it works wonders with topwater fishing, and it can catch fish fast.

Whether you are going for the smallmouth or the largemouth bass, this lure can absolutely bring up the game. We managed to use it for both catches and saw that the loud rattle caught the attention of many fish.

FEATURES: The Jointed Rapala is one of the best Rapala for bass – it floats, dives fast, and suspends. With a good retrieval technique, it can do wonders. It’s made out of balsa wood, and it includes VMC Black Nickel Hooks. Also, bass seem to love the color options and broken-back design with a classic minnow profile on this one.

Selecting the Optimal Rapala Lure for Bass Fishing

Material 

A great bass fishing lure can be made from wood or a combination of materials for both largemouth and smallmouth bass. The Rapala crankbaits are mostly made of balsa wood, one of the best choices, material-wise, for bass fishing.

The balsa wood works well in weeds, grass, brush, laydowns, rocky areas, and even smooth bottoms. All choices listed above are lures with great quality and include black nickel hooks.

Action

When choosing the right lure, you need to consider the action it offers. Think of bass behavior and the season. For example, in the spring and summertime, they usually come near the shore to feed in the mornings, so you might choose a lure that gives good action in more shallow water.

Also, bear in mind the bass spawning cycle and stages in the spring, and adjust your fishing strategy and lure choice accordingly. Choosing a versatile lure gives you the opportunity to modify the fishing action as needed.

Color 

The color, pattern, and design selection of the lures available is extensive, and it may be significant in certain circumstances.

When the bass visibility is reduced due to the muddy water, it is better to use colors and patterns that tend to stand out and attract attention, like orange, yellow, fire patterns, or similar.

Conversely, it’s preferable to use softer, more natural colors when the water is clear and the fish can see the crankbait clearly. This is because these colors give a more life-like vibe to the bass. So, if you need something to stand out from muddy waters with its 3D holographic eyes, you can choose the Raptala XRap, for example.

Type of Water

When choosing lures for bass fishing, make sure you check the water type and lure compatibility. Some lures perform better in fresh water, and some in salt water. Freshwater lures would still work in saltwater, but it is highly likely that they would rust fast, as the hooks and split rings for the freshwater lures are different than the stronger saltwater ones.

Reviews and Rating

The Rapala selection offers high-quality lures. It all depends on personal preference, fishing technique, and how, where, and when you fish for bass. However, to select the best one, going through some reviews and ratings can also help. This way, you can see what other experienced fishermen have to say and whether or not you can use the same lure for several types of fishing.

Fishing Tips for Rapala Lures

Fish at Different Depths

Regardless of what Rapala lure you get for yourself, experiment with different depts. Some Rapala lures can better catch bass in shallow waters, while others can dive deep and wait for the fish to hook.

Use Different Colors

Where you fish will impact the color of the bait you should use. Use subtle colors in clear waters. On the other hand, brightly and strongly colored baits in murky or stained waters will be perfect for showing the fish that there is prey.

Fish Around Structure

Although fishing in the open waters is thrilling, if you want to make a good catch, then you need a good strategy. Use the Rapala lures and fish closer to the shore and around anchored objects like logs and piers in the late spring.

Try Different Seasons

Fishing is possible in all seasons, so why not try these lures in different ones? For example, fall temperatures cause bass to feed less frequently and, thus, go for the baits more often.

Try Different Strategies

Switch up the speeds; try going from fast to slow or topwater to bottom at different speeds and with different lures. Check out the suspending lures – you may get good action.

Best Bass Rapala Lures For The Money

1. Rapala Original Floater 07 – Rapala Bass Lure for Surface
2. Rapala Rattlin 05 – Rapala Lipless Lure for Bass
3. Rapala Husky Jerk – Rapala Bass Lure for Casting
4. Rapala X-Rap Jerkbait 06 – Rapala Jarkbait Lure for Bass
5. Rapala Balsa Brat – Rapala Squarebill Lure for Bass
6. Rapala Dives to 10 – Rapala Diving Lure for Bass 
7. Rapala Shad Rap 07 – Rapala Trolling Lure for Bass
8. Rapala Jointed Minnow J11 – Rapala Jointed Lure for Bass

Best Rapala Lures for Bass: Frequently Asked Questions

Using a swivel would allow switching lures more quickly and may give more mobility. Still, more anglers don’t like using a swivel with a Rapala lure because the weight of the swivel can interfere with the wobbling lure motion.

You can. Sinking your lure deeper by adding weight to your line when trolling or in deep water may bring you a bigger catch from the deeper waters.

A recommendation is to use a three-way swivel rig when casting or trolling in deeper water.

Rapala is committed to producing successful saltwater fishing lures. Because of the trademark Rapala wobble, which mimics a wounded baitfish, the lures work well in any setting.