8 Essential Rapala Lure Picks For Freshwater & Saltwater Fishing

Rapala lures have been catching fish since before most of us were born. Rapala was founded in 1936 and over its 86 years in the fishing world, Rapala has continued to keep coming out with better and better fish catchers every year. 

When it comes to spin fishing or trolling there is no universal set of lures like Rapala. You’re missing a trick if you don’t have a few Rapalas in your tackle box, but which ones are the best?  

I remember clipping them on swivels over 30 years ago for catching tuna and wahoo and they have come a long way since then.

In this article we take a look at some of the best Rapala lures out there so you can stock up your tackle box with the right ones. 

Our 8 Essential Rapala Lure Picks For Freshwater And Saltwater Fishing

• Rapala X-Rap Subwalk
• Rapala Jointed Lure
• Rapala Original Floater
• Rapala Saltwater X-Rap 
• Rapala Rattlin Fishing Lure
• Rapala Shad Rap 
• Rapala X-Rap Jerkbait XR10
• Rapala X-Rap Magnum Deep 

Rapala X-Rap Subwalk

The Rapala X-Rap Subwalk is one of my favorite Rapala casting lures as it provokes predators into being rather aggressive. 

This lure is designed to swim shallow with a slow sink on entry and sits in the first 4 feet of water as you work the lure back in. This is an ideal depth for all scenarios as you can dance it over weeds, and across shallow water, and it’ll tempt big fish up from the depths. 

This lure’s swimming action is undeniably good as it strokes from side to side just below the surface and slowly sinks on the pause. This imitates an injured baitfish in trouble, something the likes of snook or bass are always waiting to pry on. 

The X-Rap Subwalk is an excellent lure for both fresh and saltwater, it’s durable and will handle a few blows from big fish, and it comes with great quality VMC hooks. The only downside is that it’s quite light at 4 grams which means it will be hard to cast long distances on windy days. 

Specs

Length: 3.5 inches 

Swimming Depth: 0-4 ft

Colors: Various

Float/Sink: Slow Sink 

Weight: 4 grams 

Environment: Fresh & Saltwater 

Fishing Style: Casting 

Pros 

• Ideal length to imitate most baitfish 
• Works well in both fresh and saltwater 
• Slow sinking to put it in the feeding zone 
• Amazing swimming action that provokes predators 
• Durably built and can handle toothy fish 
• Includes high-quality hooks
• Swims at an ideal depth for bait balls and shallow waters 

Cons

• Quite light for casting in the wind 

Rapala Jointed Lure

The Rapala Jointed Lure is, without a doubt, a very old-school Rapala, it’s so old-school that it’s made from wood. But, being made from wood isn’t a bad thing since it will be able to handle a few hits from whatever you’re fishing for. 

The jointed design gives this lure great action as it looks like an injured baitfish, something bigger fish can’t resist as it’s an easy meal. At a length of 2 inches and made for freshwater use, it’s a great lure to go after trout, bass, and perch with. 

You can troll or cast this lure and it works at different speeds meaning you can fish it slow when it’s cold and the fish are lazy or fast when the fish are quick and active. When it swims, the lure sits at a depth of 3 to 5 feet under the surface, the ideal depth for shallow lakes and rivers while working well in deeper waters too. 

While this is a Rapala Jointed great freshwater lure, it’s not designed for saltwater as the hooks are not made for saltwater use. It is a bit of an older model but it still catches lots of fish. 

Specs

Length: 2 inches 

Swimming Depth: 3 – 5 feet 

Colors: Various 

Float/Sink: Slow Sink

Weight: 1/8 oz

Environment: Freshwater

Fishing Style: Trolling & Casting 

Pros 

• Very affordable for a Rapala 
• Jointed for a great swimming action 
• Can be fished at multiple speeds 
• Works well for both casting and trolling 
• Swims at an ideal depth for getting a bite 
• Great size for smaller species 

Cons

• It’s a bit old school 
• Not for use in saltwater 

Rapala Original Floater

The Rapala Original Floater is another original Rapala design that is still catching fish today. 

It is one of their most versatile lures as it transcends from salt to freshwater and can be fished with a stop and pause retrieve, with a twitch retrieve while spinning, or with a steady retrieve while trolling. 

At a length of 7 cm and with a ton of different colors to choose from, you’re going to be able to imitate whatever the preferred baitfish of your intended target likes to eat. Its size is also ideal for multiple species from Giant trevally to pike and trout. 

While this lure swims at a versatile depth of 3 – 5 feet, it also floats when it’s left to stand still. This is very useful when trolling in shallow waters if you stop the boat to fight a fish on a different rod, this lure won’t sink and snag you. 

The Rapala floater buoyancy also provides quite a great action as you jerk it across the water’s surface as injured baitfish tend to float up and try to swim down after. 

This is a proven lure you should have in your tackle box and its only downside is that it’s quite light for casting on windy days. 

Specs

Length: 7 cm 

Swimming Depth: 3-5 feet 

Colors: Various

Float/Sink: Float 

Weight: 4 grams 

Environment: Fresh & Saltwater

Fishing Style: Casting & Trolling 

Pros 

• Floating so it will not snag when you pause or stop the boat 
• Versatile and can be trolled or cast with 
• Has multiple actions from steady to jerk 
• Great size for multiple species 
• Comes with quality hooks 
• Durable and lasts a lot of hits 
• Swims at a great depth 
• Very affordable for its catching abilities 

Cons

• Light for windy days 

Rapala Saltwater X-Rap 

The Rapala Saltwater X-Rap is one of Rapala’s new lures and it is packed full of fish-attracting technology that makes it a favorite for all fishing from offshore boats. 

At a length of 4.75 inches, this lure is pretty much the same size as every baitfish swimming around the ocean that a pelagic wants to eat. The body is also integrated with holographic inserts that catch the light to attract predators and there is a rattle to attach fish that can’t see the lure. 

If that wasn’t enough fish-attracting tech, let’s throw in the swimming depth of 3 to 8 feet and the very aggressive action of this lure. When this lure swims, it darts from side to side slashing its way through the ocean. 

You can fish this lure by casting or trolling. When casting, the weight of the lure and the internal rattle assists no end with casting distance and you can troll it at various speeds up to 8 knots and it’ll still swim perfectly. 

I have caught huge tuna, hundreds of wahoo, and even the odd sailfish on this exact lure so it’s a must for any saltwater offshore tackle box. The hooks are excellent and stay strong throughout the fight and each lure can catch a lot of fish before they need to be retired. 

The one downside is that these X-Rap Saltwater lures are quite expensive but when you know what’s inside them, the price does make sense. 

Specs

Length: 4.75 inches 

Swimming Depth: 3-8 feet

Colors: Various 

Float/Sink: Sink 

Weight: 3/4 oz

Environment: Saltwater 

Fishing Style: Casting & Trolling 

Pros 

• Heavy for a great casting distance 
• Works very well when trolled 
• Built tough to handle big saltwater species 
• Holographic inserts provide sub-surface flash 
• An aggressive action that attracts fish 
• Internal rattle brings fish in from afar 
• Swims deeply to 8 feet 
• Works at multiple trolling speeds 

Cons

• It’s quite expensive 

Rapala Rattlin Fishing Lure

The Rapala Rattlin Fishing Lure is designed for larger freshwater species like bass and pike while also being good for smaller saltwater species like creek barracuda and small groupers and snappers. 

What makes this Rapala lure different is its internal rattling system. The rattle in this lure is extremely loud which gets every predator in the vicinity’s attention, the sound it makes is also “harmonic, uniform, and “in tune” with nature” to quote Rapala themselves. 

This rattle combined with the shaky and excellent swimming action drives predators like bass crazy. Since it’s a sinking lure, it’s great for working different depths in deep rivers and lakes but it will snag when fished in the shallows. 

You can fish this Rattlin fishing lure at multiple speeds, go slow or go fast to match the fish’s behaviors and decide which retrieve works best. It also comes in various color options and the larger side profile also adds to its fish-attracting abilities. 

Specs

Length: 2.5 inches

Swimming Depth: 3 – 5 feet

Colors: Various 

Float/Sink: Sink 

Weight: 0.25 oz

Environment: Fresh & Saltwater 

Fishing Style: Casting & Trolling 

Pros 

• The built-in rattle system is very loud 
• Excellent swimming action 
• Comes in a great range of colors 
• Great size for smaller species 
• Heavy for long casts 
• Works for spinning and trolling 
• Good in both salt and freshwater 
• Nice swimming depth 

Cons

• Not suited for shallow water 

Rapala Shad Rap 

The ​​Rapala Shad Rap is another classic Rapala lure and it has been catching fish for over 30 years and it’s still doing so today. The Shad Rap is made for targeting big freshwater predators like trout, bass, and pike and it does so very well. 

Designed with a large lip and as a floating lure, this Shad Rap goes from the surface to 10 feet deep in a matter of a few twitches allowing you to work a lot of different depths to find where the fish are feeding. By floating, the Shad Rap also lets you fish it across very shallow areas too or above cover where bass lurk. 

The lure has a very appealing action that Rapala is renowned for creating, the wounded minnow action and it is irresistible to predatory fish like trout and bass. You can also fish this lure very slowly and super fast, giving you the range you need to find out what retrieve is going to make the fish bite. 

This Shad Rap lure works well when trolled and it’s great to cast with, plus its extra weight allows you to cast it solid distances as required. The only downside is this lure doesn’t survive in saltwater conditions as it’s not designed for it. 

Specs

Length: 2.75 inches

Swimming Depth: 5 – 10 feet 

Colors: Various 

Float/Sink: Float

Weight: 5/16 oz

Environment: Freshwater 

Fishing Style: Casting & Trolling 

Pros 

• Can be fished at slow or very fast speeds 
• Works for trolling and casting 
• Heavy for great casting distances 
• The wounded minnow action is irresistible 
• A large lip helps it swim deep 
• Great for working different depths 
• A floating lure that doesn’t snag when you stop 
• Lots of colors to choose from 

Cons

• Not made for saltwater 

Rapala X-Rap Jerkbait XR10

The Rapala X-Rap Jerkbait XR10 is a part of Rapala’s new line of lures and it’s packed with all the technology the other X-Rap has too. 

Integrated within the lure is a long-casting system that allows you to get great casting distances across the sea, lake, or river you’re fishing on. This means you can cover more ground quickly searching out where the fish are held up and waiting. 

The X-Rap Jerkbait XR10 is fitted with a hologram insert that catches the light like scales when you fish it. The lure also comes with scales and a lateral line which combined with the shape makes it look just like a 3D minnow. 

You can fish this lure with consistent retrieve while trolling or with a jerk while spinning and it creates one hell of an action no matter what. You can troll it at high speeds and its slashing action pulls in fish from afar. Or, you can jerk and pause it and utilize the suspending stop action to trigger a huge bite. 

To top it all off, the swimming depth allows you to work this lure in both deeper and shallower waters. While this is a durable lure and the feather tail is a great addition, the feathers do not last long and tend to fall off after having caught a few fish. 

Specs

Length: 4 inches 

Swimming Depth: 3 – 8 feet

Colors: Various 

Float/Sink: Sink

Weight: 7 grams 

Environment: Fresh & Saltwater 

Fishing Style: Casting & Trolling 

Pros 

• Integrated hologram for light reflection 
• Lifelike lateral lines and scales 
• Looks like a 3D minnow 
• Dual swimming action for casting or trolling 
• Internal rattle attracts fish 
• Comes with an integrated long-casting system
• Amazing action that fish love to bite 
• Works in both fresh and saltwater 

Cons

• The feather tail only lasts a few fish 

Rapala X-Rap Magnum Deep 

The Rapala X-Rap Magnum Deep is a big lure that swims deep making it the perfect choice for trolling offshore. I have used this lure on countless occasions and it works exceptionally well for wahoo, yellowfin tuna, and lots more. 

The X-Rap Magnum Deep swims as deep as 30 ft and maintains its awesome action even at speeds of 13 knots, which is the ideal speed when the wahoo bite is on. Plus with a size of 6.5 inches, what pelagic could resist not taking a bite out of this one? 

It’s not just great for trolling offshore, it also works well as a casting bait and it’s great when targeting big pike in deep freshwater lakes. Being 2.5 ounces, you can throw this Rapala way into the distance to cover a lot of ground and get the bite you’re looking for. 

When this X-Rap Magnum lure swims, it has that “Rapala Wobble” that we know all fish love and when combined with the hologram, scales, lateral lines, and great color schemes, it’s a lure you need to have when fishing for big species in deep waters. 

Specs

Length: 6.5 inches 

Swimming Depth: 15-30 ft

Colors: Various 

Float/Sink: Sink 

Weight: 2.5 ounces 

Environment: Fresh & Saltwater 

Fishing Style: Casting & Trolling 

Pros 

• Large for big offshore species 
• It swims super-deep if you want it to 
• Heavy for long casts 
• Durably built with great hooks 
• Can be trolled at speeds up to 13 knots 
• Excellent swimming action that fish love 
• Great for big freshwater species 
• Useful for working deep lakes 

Cons

• Quite expensive 

How Do I Choose The Right Rapala Lure? 

Size & Weight 

The first consideration you need to make is how big and heavy the lure is concerning how you fish and what you’re fishing for. If you’re targeting bass, then a 6-inch lure is going to be too big, whereas if you want to catch giant pike, a 2-inch lure will be too small. 

When it comes to weight, you should be thinking about casting distances and the weight ratings of your rod. The heavier a lure, the further you’ll be able to cast it but only if your rod is designed to handle its weight. For maximum casting distance, pick the heaviest lure your rod is rated for. 

Swimming Depth 

Every lure comes with a rated swimming depth which can range from the surface down to 30 feet deep and you need to match the depths to the species you are fishing for and the waters you fish in. 

If you fish in shallow waters, then going for a lure that swims at 3 feet will allow you to fish it without getting snagged. When fishing in deeper waters, you’ll want to up it to a lure that swims 5-10 ft deep and have some other options so you can search different depths to find where the fish are feeding. 

Rapala lures also come in floating or sinking options. Sinking options allow you to work different depths while floating options are great for not getting snagged in shallow water. 

Swimming Action & Versatility

The final consideration and one of the most important are picking a lure based on its action and versatility. There are quite a few Rapalas featured that work at slow and high speeds when being cast or trolled, and in both fresh and saltwater. 

Having a lure that can do all these things gives you a lot of options when it comes to fishing tactics. You can retrieve the lure fast to get the fish going, slow when they are being lazy, troll to search large areas, or cast and jerk to provoke a bite. 

All Rapala have great action but they do differ. Some slash from side to side, some wobble, and some imitate an injured baitfish and it’s best to have a range to choose from. No single swimming action will ever work all the time and for every species, you’ll need to have a range of different lures to choose from if you want to be successful on every fishing trip. 

Which Rapala Lure Is The Best One To Buy? 

Unfortunately, you can not simply own just one of these Rapala lures and expect it to work on every fishing trip. Fish, as we all know, annoyingly change their feeding habits and thus you need some variety to crack the system. 

I would recommend buying maybe 3 of each of the lures mentioned in different colors and you’ll then have a tackle box that can catch anything from wahoo and tuna to trout and bass. 

But, if you’re on a budget, this might not be possible, so pick 2 or 3 lures that suit your fishing style and target species best and go with them. 

Final Thoughts

Rapala lures are probably the best lures you can buy. From Rapala trout lures, pike lures, bass lures, and saltwater lures, the quality, and the extensive range are second to none.

I hope that this article gave you some insight into my choices of the best Rapala lures and also the best methods to use them. You can read more of my full reviews on Truscend lures here and also my recommended choices for the best bass lures.