Ohio Joe

I sent Rapala a message through their website asking if they’d be making the Peto and Otus available for order in the US and they said not at this time. They’ve made some international baits/colors available on their US site lately so maybe if more people ask about these two they’ll offer them as well.

Z-man Shroomz, Siebert Morel, and Cabela's Bed Jig so far and like them all. Only issue is the keeper breaking off the Shroomz but I like them best for the smaller sizes (1/15 and 1/20) so I still use them. Haven’t noticed any issues losing fish with any of them. I don’t pop on the hook set, just keep reeling and lift to bend the rod and don’t horse them in, let them swim if they want to. I’ve got some of the Eagle Claw Pro-V Finesse jigs to try as well but haven’t used them yet.

For those of you that regularly use more than one, how do you decide which Rapala jerkbait to throw between a Husky Jerk, an X-Rap, a Shadow Rap, a Shadow Rap Shad, and a RipStop? Do you try more than one when you feel a jerkbait is the best presentation for the conditions or do you move spots or change presentations first? I had generally considered the Husky Jerk if I wanted a more subtle action and the X-Rap if I wanted more action or to work it more aggressively but now I’m looking at those plus the Shadow Raps and Shadow Rap Shads I’ve accumulated and having a hard time deciding where they fit in and I haven’t even tried a RipStop yet.

Zoom dead ringer?

I’d definitely budget to buy some gear once you’re there. I always like tackle shopping in new places. You might pick up a local favorite that works for you back home. I’d pack what you like to fish at home and have confidence in. Think versatility vs specialized techniques unless you’ve scouted the lake already and have a solid plan of attack. If I were packing for a trip of opportunity like this I’d let my rod choice dictate what tackle I bring. For a shore-bound trip in the northeast and my fishing style I’d expect to pack a 6-7’ medium spinning rod with a 2500ish sized reel w/ 10lb braid and a spool of 8 lb fluoro for leaders. Maybe some 10lb mono for leaders for top water but I’d probably just run straight braid for those. Bait wise I’d look at 1. A pack of dark (black, grape, etc) zoom trick worms w/ some 2/0 offset hooks and 1/8 oz worm weights 2. Some ned rig gear (shroom heads and zinkerz are what I use most of the time) 3. Some keitech easy shiners. You can fish these on the shroom heads or bring some 1/8oz ball heads or your jig head of choice. 4. A very few cranks baits. Probably shad raps, shallow shadraps, and maybe some strike king KVD 1.0s. 5. A popper or two 6. A couple inline spinners (mepps, rooster tail, etc.) 7. 1-2 spinnerbaits, one white, one other color of choice. 8. A small black buzz bait. 9. Maybe some finesse jigs although I don’t have confidence in them so I don’t fish them much. That should fit in a 3600 aside from the trick worms as your one bag of plastics and you should be able to catch something almost anywhere with that selection. If I we’re looking at streams/rivers or targeting smallmouth I’d definitely bring some tubes and soft craws as well. I’ve done well with gitzit tubes and rage craws. If you were talking Florida I’d be looking at very different list but that should get you into some fish. Now, typing that list was easy enough but I know if I were actually packing I’d be finding a way to bring double that and probably another rod but it wouldn’t be necessary if I was only going to get a few hours to walk a shoreline somewhere.