Looks similar to a floating shad rap but i see the flat rap is a neutral buoyancy lure. how similar/dissimilar is it in your opinion? Plan for me was to gradually stock up on shad raps but this flat rap might nose in on the plan.

Hey MT,

Agree completely on the flat rap. Great lure. Also funny you mentioned the original balsa rapala Husky. It still had the tighter wobble of a regular floating rap, with a wider profile that pushed more water. I used to slay on that lure.

Moonman.

Hi MT,

Personally I haven't used it. My regular canoe partner uses it when we do our spring lake trout trips (I am usually trolling huge streamers on my fly rod). It has a bit wider wobble than a regular floating rap but the size is perfect for imitating the 6-8 inch ciscoes the lakers are eating. Funnily enough though, the perch colour pattern has caught the most fish. Still, the #12 husky jerk, with the dark top, greenish sides and orange belly catches the most fish overall (among minnow baits) - even large brookies eat it.

Moonman.

Jax,
looks can be deceiving. One of the things I liked about the flat raps is that they dive deeper than original rapalas. My largest smallie last year in the Q came on one.

I would wager a strong bet that the large flat rap that has caught my attention would run in the 8' to 10' range which is perfect for my shoreline running style of paddling that I generally employ.

Are you sure it was the flat raps that have had "issues" with the lips? Curious as their lips protrude only very slightly.

What I really liked about the smaller versions was the sideways roll they exhibit when snapped. With their wider profile that snap really creates a lot of flash in the water......a key strike provoker IMO. You really should try one.........a 1st rate lure.

The other thing I liked about the large version (and why I'm so high on it) is that the wobble was strong enough to overcome the heavy FC leader that I employ while trolling an "all species lure". Much has been made of trolling wire and still catching any and all fish and the idea being it makes little or no difference. With all due respect, ( there are many accomplished anglers on this site that hold that belief) I personally believe that is just wishful thinking. If it were so the pro walleye circuit would be using heavy line for any application. It is common knowledge that the lightest and thinnest line generally will prove most productive especially for the larger specimens.

Can you be productive trolling wire? Yes, absolutely. But I can't help but wonder how many larger fish turned away. Neither side of the issue can prove much of anything unless they troll side by side but truth has a certain ring to it and using wire for big walleyes seems, at least in my mind, an error. Besides, I lose very few lures to northerns anyway even trolling straight mono (zero last year in 9 days).

Anyway, I liked the big rap with 80lb FC. Looked menacing and challenging. Something to get a big fishes attention and make it worth while to get her big fat butt in motion.

In spring, the trout pattern we use for lakers is trolling open water adjacent to humps and shoals - and sometimes right over the deep basin. Lakers come up and will take lures anywhere from 5-15 feet down so the running depth of the flat rap is fine. I also think it could be interesting along a deep weed edge - say running 8 feet down over 12 feet of water in the early summer for walleyes. The thing that appeals to me about them is the thin profile with that longer length. It really could be the ticket for for picking up bigger than average fish while working lots of water on a troll.


Moonman.