Do you use this lure? What size? Do you tie directly to the eye of the lure or add a split ring or a snap-swivel? Non slip loop knot?

I would say never use those round split rings. I remove them from all lures.

 

The line under pressure of hooking a fish tends to flow into the smallest space which falls right between the two sharp ends of the metal. This can knick and damage line and cause one to lose a fish.

 

As for the loop knot, I told my son just yesterday that if he is using a stiffer mono type of line then try a rapala knot. But if using straight braid that he could go with any standard knot tied directly to the lure.

I'll occasionally take out the #11 Floating Rapala that I've had for a few decades. A couple years ago I put an Owner Oval split ring on it, and I think it works as well or better than a loop knot (that I've always had trouble tying).

I use them in the spring f11 f13 and the fall f9

I also use a split ring

My favorite bait all time. I've been using them since I was a kid

 

I have them in most sizes;  I use a light mono. line with a loop knot and work them like a jerk bait.

4 minutes ago, LokiDawg said:

I use them in the spring f11 f13 and the fall f9

I also use a split ring

My favorite bait all time. I've been using them since I was a kid

 

Any specific tips for fishing it?

Fish it as a twitch bait (cast, let it sit, twitch it gently once or twice, let it sit again. Repeat). Or, retrieve it like a shallow crankbait...fast, slow, variable retrieve. Or, fish it like a jerkbait. All these retrieves work depending on the mood of the fish. It is a good bait to troll.....you can change the depth it trolls at by adding splitshot sinkers a foot or so up the line from the lure. No matter how I am fishing it, i use a snape ring to connect to the lure. I think that allows the lure to have better action. 

What he said.

When they're spawning I crank it down right above the beds if possible. They'll smack it to move it off the bed.

Other times I twitch it like a top water.

 While other times I crank it down and jerkbait it back..... 

I've never trolled em but I can see it working

I've heard of people using Carolina rig but I've not tried that myself

 

Also someone mentioned split rings nick the line.... That's true. I check and retie often. But I like the action and tying a palomar knot takes me 15 seconds probably

I use them with a Kreh Loop Knot. I pretty much work them with either a jerk/twitch retrieve, or I'll do a sweeping stop and go like you do with a crankbait. I always let them rest a few seconds, then twitch them a few times after the initial cast. 

I use the F13 quite a bit. It has produced numerous 5 lb.+ largemouths through the years. 
 

I always use a Rapala Loop Knot with this and any other floating jerk bait I use. 
 

 

I have a soft spot for lures that are truly multi-species.  OG Rapalas are a great example.  Bass, walleye and trout will all strike a rapala. 

 

I just started trolling them this season and caught a few rainbows near the the surface.  Thursday I'm going to target walleye by trolling them behind a bottom bouncer.  Most of mine are a trout pattern of one sort of another. 

One of my favorite lures, and one of my oldest.

It is a tried and true lure for sure.

I like the F7 or F9 for large mouth or small mouth. I just use an improved clinch knot. After reading this thread, looks like I’ll be trying a loop knot.

I fish in many different ways, jerk-jerk pause…. To pull it deep and let it float up…. I’ve had a lot of strikes on the float up.

The broke back or jointed works good too.

A great lure under the right conditions.  I use a snap because I struggle with seeing the line and tying the knot.  Never had any problems with a snap.

On 10/7/2025 at 12:19 PM, N.Y. Yankee said:

Do you use this lure? What size? Do you tie directly to the eye of the lure or add a split ring or a snap-swivel? Non slip loop knot?

They can be good at night in the summer, great for giant crappie too.  

As for size, it all depends on what you're trying to imitate.  Keep in mind they're balsa wood baits, extremely low weight to surface area, which makes casting them in any kind of wind a good distance pretty difficult.

The point of the split ring is to give the bait freedom of movement.  If you remove the split ring, then a non-slip loop knot should be used.  Many people replace the split ring, but as long as it's still strong its more than serviceable.  Theres nothing wrong with round split rings.  I've had unexpected cow stripers damage rings, but in over 30 years I've never seen 1 completely fail.  Every now and then yoiu may get a ring that has a slight gap which won't close.  Usually, those rings are no good.  As long as the ring is still tight and you avoid seating the knot in either gap you won't have issues. 

Although swivels and clips may have gotten incredibly strong for their size, I only use them with baits that will twist your line like crazy without a swivel, like a Kastmaster or DD.  Nothing wrong with using them, just a personal preference. 

Don't hit anything with it while casting. The lip can break off. Rebel minnows are a little more durable.

- Yes. It's holds my most bass in 1 hour record(62).

- The #5 is one of my favorite pond baits for paralleling the bank on a warm winter day. I typically twitch it under, pause and let it float up, repeat. The bass see it like I see BBQ Doritos and must eat it.😁

- I use a tiny VMC snap.

I have several old ones in different sizes that I never use. I dont even know exactly where they are. The reason I dont use them is they are difficult to cast. I use the Long A Minnow a lot as a substitute.

Flat calm, shallower water is prime for the original rapala. My dad used to go in the evening before dark, cast out a J11 floater in chart/silver and let it sit until there were no rings. He’d then crank it 4-5 times, stop and let it float to the top. He’d wait for no rings again and repeat. He caught several big largemouth doing this around lily pads and weed lines. They never blasted it, simply rose and sucked it right off the surface. Often, as soon as it became visible on the float up, slurp! He also loved a black/silver SR7 shallow Shad Rap

Never a snap swivel. Use an owner welded snap. They allow more movement than a direct tie or snap ring attachment. Simply retie the snap when worn or after several fish or a big fish. 

I fish with the F5, F7, and F11 size.  I tie direct when fishing with the F5 or F7, and use a snap on the F11 size.  

I don’t use them as much as I used to.  I either used to twitch them on the surface or just throw them like a regular crank bait.  Two of my biggest river smallies was caught on F7 clown and a black and silver J7 ( at the same place almost a year apart)   Snap with split ring has always worked for me. 

 

the J7 is at the top left of the net for size comparison. 

Number 9 right now. Twitch on top to start and then go deeper if nothing happening Sometimes I throw a little shot on the line about 12 inches or so above it.  Slow retrieve back 

I believe I have lost my original floating Rapalas. Are the new ones you buy today as good as the ones you purchased many years ago? I may need to add one to my next order.

The F series rightfully gets the most attention and will catch a wide variety of fish including bass. The J jointed series gets overlooked and may be the best pond bass lure. The J09 and J11 are both killer small wake baits for bass.

I don’t like using a loop knot, split ring or snap* with Rapala minnows and fish them tied direct with 6 or 8 lb mono line. 6 or 8 lb mono doesn’t affect the lures action. 
Bass strike a Rapala minnow however you want to retrenched, no right or wrong.
Tom

* today the size 0 Owner Hyper Weld snap works good on light weight minnow lures.

23 minutes ago, WRB-2.0 said:

The F series rightfully gets the most attention and will catch a wide variety of fish including bass. The J jointed series gets overlooked and may be the best pond bass lure. The J09 and J11 are both killer small wake baits for bass.

I don’t like using a loop knot, split ring or snap* with Rapala minnows and fish them tied direct with 6 or 8 lb mono line. 6 or 8 lb mono doesn’t affect the lures action. 
Bass strike a Rapala minnow however you want to retrenched, no right or wrong.
Tom

* today the size 0 Owner Hyper Weld snap works good on light weight minnow lures.

What colors are your favorites?