I have been fishing a couple different locations lately in the Door county area where we have been casting and jigging for some really nice size walleyes. Depending on the weather conditions we have been fishing anywhere from 15 to 25 feet of water. Night fishing has still been very good but we also have been enjoying some great fishing during the day.
I have been jigging with several different presentations. We have been jigging some 1/2 oz hair jigs along with soft plastics the soft plastics that I have been using have been the 4 inch Moxi along with the new 3.25 pulse R in the color of chartreuse green core and the color of chartreuse white core but depending on light and weather conditions experiment with different colors.
On the past few trips out I have been experimenting with a relatively new bait from Rapala which is the Rippin Rap. I cant say enough about how awesome this bait has been for me it is so versatile and has so many different applications that can be used for different species. While Rapala makes many different lures this has been a great new introduction to a fantastic fish producing lure.
I have been fishing Walleyes that have been relating to the bottom so I have been fishing this lure very close to the bottom. My presentation has been very long casts allowing the bait to settle to the bottom followed by a short rip upward allowing the bait to settle back to the bottom and repeating that all the way back to the boat. This bait has produced some quality fish for us over the past week and I look forward to using this bait in many different ways for different species.
Paul Delaney
(920) 421-0896
Late-Eyes Sport Fishing Guide Service
www.lateeyessportfishing.com
Very nice fish
And a cool technique with an underused bait style…
Paul, I would assume those walleyes absolutely slam those Rippin Raps. What type of rods / line are you using? My first instincts would be to throw them on a baitcaster with 10 – 14 lb mono like XT and I’m interested to know what’s been working best for you. Thanks in advance, buddy!
Those are some big fish. I cannot wait to try the Rippin Rap this summer.
Sounds to me like they’re being fishing similar to a blade bait in the river, no?
Awesome
job !
James I have been fishing this bait the exact same way you and I were fishing those soft plastics the other week. I have been casting them on 7 foot spinning rods with 20 lb Power Pro with a 12 lb flourocarbon leader. Casting them out letting the bait settle to the bottom and giving the bait short rips upward allowing the bait to fall and repeating all the way back to the boat. The fish have been pounding the bait as it settles to the bottom or as I rip it up they are on it. It has been a blast I love trying new things with new baits and this Rapala rippin rap is a great bait. I pounded another 20 fish or so today on that bait along with some fish on the b3 blade bait from B-Fishin tackle.Hope to here from you soon and look forward to another adventure on the water
Still working on getting the calendar lined up but you’ll hear from me soon. I wouldn’t miss a crack at those Washington Is. smallies… particularly if there’s a good chance we can get them on topwaters.
Thanks for the reports, Paul. You’re fishery is amazing and your info is always a good read.
In addition to “ripping” them, I’ve been vertical jigging them (like a blade bait) with fantastic results
Paul:
I’m guessing you were out on the big-lake with some seriously good water clarity. Did that affect your color selection on the Rippin’ Raps? Have you fished them inland at all, or in more turbid waters?
I’m ordering a pile for this summer, and I can already see their application to hard-water as well. I’ve got a few colors in mind from my own personal preferences, but what colors would you recommend from what you’re seeing?
Joel