Sam Rayburn Guide - Rapala New 2006 Products

New 2006 Products From Normark Corporation

You know the old saying .. “What will they think of next?” Man does that apply to the new line of Rapala lures from Normark.

One of my favorites has to be the Rapala DT (Dives To) Series. This record breaking lure has seen its share of size and color extensions, but the lure’ uncanny knack for putting the big ones in the boat has led to the development of the first-ever flat sided balsa wood lure.

The DT Flat Series is designed with a flat profile to provide maximum flash, and the bait definitely does that! Pro fisherman and legendary crankbait angler David Fritts designed these baits and they promise to dive faster and stay in the strike zone longer than any crankbait on the market.

Mark Fisher, Rapala Director of Field Ppromotions, is excited about this series and states that the DT Series set the standard in crankbait lures. Fisher adds, “David Fritts believed that the flat profile could open the line up to a whole batch of new colors. And that’s what he’s done. Otherwise disinterested fish can’t keep away because they’ve never seen anything like it.”

The DT Series lures were designed for precision fishing, with details only a professional angler like Fritts could know. A new thin, coffin-style polycarbonate lip, created specifically for the Flat Series, drives the DT into the water and quickly places the lure within the strike zone. Most crankbaits don’t stay in the strike zone long enough to give you a chance to catch fish. In fact, most reach less than 25 percent of the strike zone for the distance they are cast.

The DT Series moves from side to side, and the internal rattle creates a rhythmic sound inside the balsa wood lure that fish can’t resist. The bait hits the strike zone and stay there. The DT also has great balance so it casts further than any bait in its class. The lure shoots out there like an arrow and then pulls easily through the water for fast retrieval, relieving angler fatigue.

The Twitchin’ Rap sports a new twitch, glide and suspend technique, and opens up a whole new category of baits for bass fishing. Constructed of balsa wood, the Twitchin’ Rap has a delicate, gentle wobble and its shallow running is perfect for fishing over the top of Toledo Bend and Sam Rayburn weedbeds and flats.

The Twitchin’ Rap runs along the surface best at six inches to two feet with a wounded- minnow action. Its versatility shines through when its wounded-minnow action sinks slowly, tempting a whole new slew of fish. The lipless design also eliminates wind resistance for longer casting, while its striking new patterns trigger fish from a long distance the minute it hits the water.

The adrenaline-pumping X-Rap that was a smash hit for 2005 has a little brother. The XR-08 is a smaller version but has all the hard-cutting, aggressive darting action that made the X-Rap famous. The bait is 3 1/8-inches in length and weighs in at ¼-ounce.

The XR08 has Rapala’s proprietary non-lead internal weight transfer system, a large tungsten rattle mechanism and a thru-body harness that adds rigidity to the structure and guarantees that big fish come all the way to the boat. Premium pyramid point hooks And a flash foil teaser tail make this a “must have” bait for your upcoming fishing trips.

Sure Set Hooks – The DT Series and the DT Flat Series are also available with Sure Set hooks that have proven very effective at landing more strikes in the corner of a fish’s mouth. This is especially great news for catch and release efforts. The VMC Sure Set hooks improve hooking percentages without harming fish. Plus, they also turn more near misses and brushes into catches.

These hooks were named “Best of Show” at ICAST 2004 and offer a front hook that hangs down while the back hook is positioned in the “scorpion” upright position. At first glance you might think that the design would get tangled or snagged a lot. They don’t. The single accentuated arm is stretched out just enough to hook the big catch just as it swims up for a closer look. The in-line design enables straight lure tracking.

Well there you are, a quick look at a few baits that will certainly increase the weight of your stringer. Rapala maintains its strict standards of quality and craftsmanship while delivering its fishing products to anglers in more than 130 countries. Give them a try. JB