Jigging Rapala Help

I am having a tough time landing fish with my jigging rapala. Today I had 5 hits but only landed one fish, they don’t stay hooked and come off half way up or in the hole . Was thinking about replacing the treble hook with a large one and/or putting a split ring one it to have it hang lower. Not sure what size lure it is but is about 2 1/2 inch long.
PS fishing walleye

Yep, up size the treble.

I’ve heard several occasions where people cant stick the fish that well with jigging raps. Doesn’t surprise me with the way that their shaped. Treble size could make a difference, but there could be other issues. What line are you using? What action rod? How deep are you fishing? You’re somewhere between a size 5 and 7.

fishing 15 feet, #8 line, med rod

I had the same issue when I first started using them. I bent the end hooks around to make a closed loop, then installed trebles with split rings. Hardly ever lose one now.

Moonshine minnows have a better hook also

My guess is your using to stiff a rod. You need a fast action lifht rod to pick up slack fast as raps are heavy. Walleyes headshake. So instant line is even close to slack there off. Try using a lighter rod with fast action.

I heard alot of guys cut the end hooks off and then up size the treble

Late in the year with raps I’ve also had poor luck hooking up. I get suspicious on reluctant fish nudging it, or not fully committing causing poor hookups bc there are other times, same baits, same rods and setups and I don’t lose a dam fish, pull up everyone.

I think no matter what you do, you’re going to lose a good percentage of fish on Jigging Rap style baits. It’s a lot of weight in a small package, and a head-shaking walleye tossing that heavy slab back and forth is going to gain the leverage enough to loosen up the hooks at the incision site and create a hole wide enough for the barb to slip out.

It’s the same reason why a jumping bass can so easily toss a 3/4oz football jig or a 5/8oz lipless crankbait.

One trick I’ve found is to just horse them in on a heavy walleye rod like a Commander with a tightened drag. I have lost very few fish this way. The more they get the chance to head shake widely side to side, the better the odds of loosening the hook and tossing the lure. You just have to be careful when you get the fish near the hole because the front and rear hook have a tendency to catch on the ice.

I may try Bearcat’s suggestion. I’ve heard of that.

I’d also recommend sharpening the front and rear hooks. They’re disappointingly dull straight out of the package. They should be “fingernail sharp”.

I haven’t used jigging raps as much lately but I have started cutting or breaking the front hook off. When I first started fishing with them I think just about every walleye caught that front hook on the bottom of the ice and got off.

I havent done it yet but I always thought upsizing the bottom treble a bit might help too.

With the erratic movement, a lot of times the fish seem to pin the bait to the bottom- atleast in my experience. As obvious as it sounds, I dont think removing hooks will help your hooking percentage. Fish dont end up hooked on the treble all that often to begin with, I’d keep those two hooks on.

thegun already nailed it. During the open water season I’m using a mojo bass fast action rod. Has a looot of give. Its too easy for the fish to spit the hook with any slack line, which is easy to do with a stiff rod- jokes aside. Go much lighter.

Mono is fine but I’m going to play around with a braid main line and 6 or so foot mono leader this summer. I like the idea of a fast action rod for the headshakes, but a braid line to drive a hookset home.

Up size the treble with one that has a longer shank between the eye of the hook and the barb. Sorry don’t know the name and size of the hook off hand. I got the info off youtube.