VIDEO: The Rapala X Rap has proven to be one of the top bait options for catching bass during the cold-water period. Watch Al and Troy Lindner reveal all the nuances of using this fantastic fish producing lure.
A Five-Day Father-Son Adventure
Few things in angling are as satisfying as sharing the boat with family. I’m kicking off a five-day run with my son, Troy, in the lake-dotted expanse of north-western Wisconsin. From sunrise to dusk we’ll be hop-scotching between waters that hold everything from stout smallmouth and largemouth to walleye, musky, crappie, pike, bluegill, and perch. With only about four hours on our first afternoon, the plan is simple: sample the smallmouth bite, learn the contours, and let the conditions steer the rest of the trip.
First Stop: Rock Ridges and Pre-Spawn Smallmouth
Cold northwest winds have the surface temps pinned in the upper 40s, so we’re keying on shallow rock belts and isolated boulder patches—classic staging habitat before the spawn. My LakeMaster chip on the Humminbird HELIX highlights every rim of rock in bright relief, making it easy to “spot-shop” productive areas without burning time. Once we mark fish, a quick tap of Spot-Lock holds us right on the sweet spot so we can fan-cast the structure thoroughly.
Why the Rapala X-Rap Still Reigns
Early-season smallmouth demands a bait that flashes, suspends, and calls fish from distance—few lures own that résumé like the Rapala X-Rap. From tiny (#4) models for spring crappies to beefy #14s that fool cold-water muskies and lake trout, the X-Rap family covers every freshwater predator I chase. If you limited me to two presentations anywhere in the world, I’d grab an X-Rap and a 3- to 4-inch paddletail swimbait and launch without hesitation.
Fine-Tuning Cadence for Cold-Water Success
In 47–49 °F water, cadence is everything. The winning rhythm has been:
- A long pull to get the bait darting,
- One or two short twitches,
- A deliberate one- to three-second pause.
Fish track on the pull and commit on the pause. Come summer, I’ll rip this bait nearly nonstop; in spring, short rests convert follows into strikes.
Downsizing Pays Off
While I work a #10 X-Rap, Troy swapped to a downsized model and immediately popped a chunky bronzeback—proof that pressured or clear-water bass often prefer the smaller profile. That little lure once carried him to an Angler of the Year title on Lake Mead’s Wild West Bass Trail, and it still works its magic on northern natural lakes.
Boat Positioning: The Silent Enabler
Spot-Lock isn’t just a convenience feature; it’s a fish-catching tool. By holding the bow into the wind and sliding the boat so Troy has the prime casting angle down-wind, he can bomb that jerkbait “a million miles” and cover fresh water each drift. The result: a steady run of quality fish despite the stiff breeze.
Gear Spotlight
St. Croix Victory Series – 6’ 10” Medium-Light
The Victory line may be the most targeted rod family ever released for bass anglers—dedicated actions for every modern technique. For finesse jerk-baiting, Ned rigs, and hair jigs, the 6’ 10” ML fast model hits the sweet spot: enough backbone for sweeping hooks, yet supple for light line.
Daiwa Kage LT 2500XH
Pair that rod with Daiwa’s Kage LT and you have a lightweight, rigid platform that spins 6- to 8-lb fluoro or braid-to-leader with ease. Multiple frame sizes—from 1000 for panfish to mid-size in-shore models—share the same one-piece ZAION body and buttery drag, making the 2500XH a versatile cornerstone for any finesse arsenal.
Boat Control and the X-Rap Bite Pattern
The cold weather and high winds on this trip were anything but ideal, but with smart positioning and an adaptable bait, we found a winning pattern. Using Spot-Lock on the trolling motor, we locked the boat on key points along a four-to-six-foot boulder roll. By holding the bow into the wind and letting the boat slip backward, we maintained precise control of our drifts and presented baits in high-percentage zones with long, strategic casts.
Each new Spot-Lock anchor point let us fan-cast fresh structure. A small adjustment—drifting just 20 feet farther before locking again—made all the difference. The pattern paid off with multiple hookups each time. Most fish weren’t giants, but the action was steady, and every fish told us we were in the right place at the right time.
Confidence in Cadence and Downsizing
Fishing cold water requires nuance. The cadence of the retrieve was critical—long casts followed by a pull, a twitch or two, then a pause. With water temps hovering in the upper 40s, the fish were keyed in on the pause. They weren’t chasing hard, so the slow retrieve and subtle action of the jerkbait worked wonders.
Downsizing also proved effective. Troy’s switch to a smaller X-Rap led to a noticeable uptick in quality bites. In windy, pressured, or clear-water scenarios, smaller profiles can often coax wary fish into striking. With braided line, he was able to bomb that smaller bait long distances and cover water efficiently.
Gear Matters
Troy and I were both running spinning setups—ideal for light baits, long casts, and maintaining feel in tough conditions. He was using the Daiwa Kage LT2500XH, which has become a go-to in our boat. The drag system is incredibly smooth and reliable, even though it lacks an anti-reverse. For old-school anglers like me, it took a bit of adjustment, but the performance more than makes up for it.
Pair that reel with a rod from St. Croix’s Victory Series, like the 6’10” ML fast action, and you’ve got a setup made for finesse fishing—perfect for jerkbaits, hair jigs, or light plastics in early season scenarios.
Results in the Rough
Despite the conditions—biting wind, cold temps, and being the only boat on the lake—we kept connecting. Casts to the ends of our drifts and over isolated boulder rolls continued to produce. Some fish were skinny post-winter holdovers, others were healthy and fat, especially surprising in such chilly water. But the consistency of the bite showed just how effective our pattern was.
We wrapped up this early-season outing reminded of one simple truth: there’s no substitute for confidence in your presentation. And the X-Rap—no matter the season, species, or conditions—continues to be a confidence bait in our boat. From tournament wins to backwoods lake explorations, it just gets bit.
