The ice-fishing benchmark
The Rapala Jigging Rap is a horizontal hard lure with a center weight and side fins. When dropped, it traces a horizontal circle mimicking a wounded shiner. The walleye lure in winter.
How to use it
Ice fishing
- Drop to target depth (3–10 m typical in Quebec)
- Give a sharp upward snap (15–30 cm)
- Let it drop — the lure makes its circle
- Pause 5–15 seconds — most strikes happen here
- Repeat
Summer (boat)
Same technique but vertical jigging from the boat over deep structure.
Sizes + colors
- #3 (5 cm, 1/4 oz): perch, small walleye, ice
- #5 (7 cm, 3/8 oz): walleye standard
- #7 (9 cm, 5/8 oz): big walleye, lake trout
- #9 (11 cm): musky on ice
Colors: perch (PER), glow (deep/night), purple shad, chrome blue.
The pause is key
90 % of strikes happen on the pause after the snap. Count "1001, 1002, 1003..." before the next snap.