The new Rapala MaxRap™ – A shore fisherman’s dream.

There was a time when I fished exclusively from shore. I still do a lot of shore fishing, as a local lake I currently fish does not allow private watercraft. One of the obvious disadvantages of shore fishing resides in the simple fact that one can only fish the water that can be reached by any given cast. Typically, this leaves the fisherman restricted to a rather small area of accessible water, in turn lowering the chances of catching a fish as the lure does not enter all possible strike windows. Recently, Rapala addressed this issue by releasing a lure that casts like a missle, is built like a fighter jet and looks like a work of art - The Rapala MaxRap™.

The Rapala MaxRap™, in my opinion, is the Cadillac of minnow baits. From its laser-engraved scales, engineered aerodynamic shape, balanced tungsten balls, outrageous metal flake paint application, premium oval line tie, 3-D holographic eyes, VMC® Spark Point hooks and patented internal MaxCast mechanism, this bait literally screams quality. With only one size currently available (an aboslutely perfect slender, minnow profile shaped 5-1/4", weighing in at at 1/2 oz.) the choice is simple - just make a selection from the fantastic colour schemes offered and you can't go wrong: Flake AYU; Flake Blue; Flake Hot Blue; Flake Green; Flake Red Head; Flake Hot Chartreuse; Flake Purple Ghost; and Flake Silver.

Five favorite flavors from eight - (top to bottom): Flake Blue; Flake Hot Chartreuse; Flake Green; Flake Purple Ghost; Flake AYU 

This bait should be thrown on a thin diameter high test line on a medium action rod and reel combo for maximum casting distance. And casting is exactly what this relatively heavy lure is built for, producing little to no wobble or tumble on the fly. In fact, it casts like a dream, rocketing unhindered to your intended targets. Once it’s in the water however, it acts most unlike a heavy lure. The MaxRap is designed with a short diving lip and a gently sloping back, and cruises just below the surface (1-2 feet according to the Rapala website) with a strike inviting rolling action, just like a living, pulsating baitfish. Rip it for darting, wild searching action or employ a straight retrieve for that familiar hard-flashing "wounded minnow" Rapala wobble. All in all this lure really does blaze a signal throughout the water column, practicaly yelling – I’m a wounded and stunned bait fish, and I’m sloughing off scales! Last but not least, the ultra-finely crushed metal flake in the paint application on the lures back really sparkles in the sun like nothing else I've seen and is a wonder to behold.

Topwater Bottom Line: Make no mistake, the Rapala MaxRap™ is a premium bait made with premium materials and hardware for those anglers who demand excellence in their tools - As a lure collector and a fisherman, these are all things I look for in a bait - heck, even the box it comes in is display worthy! The lure is purpose built (slender and perfectly balanced) for long distance casting and it excells at its intended job. Though the bait is realtively heavy, it doesn't look or feel heavy in the hand, and is a marvel to look at. The price is in line with other premium minnow baits on the market, and you can expect to pay approximately 17.99 per unit. I recommend the MaxRap for both collectors and fishermen looking to get that extra advantage, both in casting and visual appeal. As always, please practice catch and release with this lure.

Topwater Rating:

5 out of 5 bobbers

A flying fish indeed! The Rapala MaxRap™ (Shown in Flake Silver).