Todd Heitkamp, his son Josh, and Rapala collaborated to resurrect one of the best lures — the Rapala Minnow Rap. In fact, Rapala granted Dakota Angler in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, exclusive rights to the Minnow Rap, making this one of the rare times a bait and tackle store has had its very own exclusive Rapala crankbait.
First introduced by Rapala back in 2006-2007, the Minnow Rap was a sleek, balsa-wood crankbait with a tight, fish-catching action that made it an instant favorite among walleye anglers — but it’s a fantastic bass bait too. These balsa crankbaits can be trolled or cast with equally deadly results. They swim with that classic Shad Rap-style action but in a sleek minnow profile that’s perfect for pressured or picky fish. It was even released in the now-retired “Bleeding Colors” line. While the bait developed a loyal following in our area, it didn’t catch on nationally — and eventually, Rapala retired it from their lineup.
According to store owner Todd Heitkamp, the idea began when he and his son Josh had a conversation about possibly getting an exclusive crankbait in their store — specifically, the type of custom offerings they could provide to their customers that would be both unique and meaningful. 
After kicking around a few ideas and doing their research, they kept coming back to one thought: instead of creating something entirely new, what if they could bring back something great?
According to Heitkamp, “It started back in April of 2024. My son, Josh, and I were brainstorming ways to bring something truly special to our customers through a custom crankbait collaboration with the legendary Rapala. We didn’t want to just create something new; we wanted to bring back something loved. And that’s when the idea hit us: the Rapala Minnow Rap.
“Fast forward to July 2024. We pitched the idea of reviving the Minnow Rap to the Rapala team at ICAST. Not only were they on board — they loved the idea.
The only hiccup? Finding the original mold.
Fortunately, by September, they received word that the molds were located and that it was go time!
The Heitkamps wanted to blend the classic appeal of the Minnow Rap with a modern flair, so they selected some of Rapala’s exciting new hues. The end result was six color patterns that would give the Minnow Rap a more modern look while staying true to its roots.
The Color lineup includes:
• Juicy Lucy
• Blue Eyes
• Purple Shades
• Leprechaun
• Nordic Perch
• Pearl White
“For me personally, this project held extra significance,” explains Todd. “I had field-tested the original Minnow Raps extensively over the years and even caught my personal best walleye on this particular design. This only solidified our belief in bringing this incredible bait back.”
“By December 2024, we held the hard samples in our hands. The colors popped, the action was perfect—we gave Rapala the green light for production. True to Rapala’s commitment to quality, each bait underwent rigorous tank testing in Finland to ensure it met their exacting standards. We even field-tested some of the older Minnow Raps again during this process — and I landed my personal best walleye. That’s when I knew we were bringing something special back.”
“Then came April 1st, 2025. No joke, that’s the day the shipment arrived! Unboxing them was a thrill. The baits looked absolutely incredible. We promptly offered them both online and in-store the following day. The response has been nothing short of phenomenal, with sales going strong ever since.”
The feedback has been consistent: anglers who used the Minnow Rap years ago and those trying it for the first time are calling it a “walleye-catching machine,” a bait that simply can’t be duplicated.
These balsa crankbaits excel whether you’re trolling or casting, offering a similar enticing action to the Shad Rap but in that classic minnow profile.
“We’re also thrilled to announce that we’ll be offering special “Limited Edition” Minnow Raps, custom-painted by the talented artists at Trickle Tackle. These unique creations will be available both in-store and on our website, so keep an eye out!
Visit their website to get your hands on these exclusive baits.
