Northwest Fishing Reports

The new Rapala "XRap slashbait" has a feature they call the "Flash foil teaser tail". Hmm... sounds high-tech, but it's just tinsel and hackle feathers. I saw an episode of the Roland Martin fishing show where he took credit for the tail design. Whether or not it's true is anyone's guess. (You know how fishermen lie. )
Since the folks at Rapala seem to know what they are doing, I decided to trick out my favorite crankbait by adding a tail to the rear treble hook. The crimson nail polish on the threads ended up being darker than expected, but that's not a big deal. Next time I'll just use red thread and a clear finish.
Maybe this modificatoin will trigger more strikes, and maybe it won't. We shall see...

That's a nice looking wally diver. Let us know your results!

dilbert wrote:That's a nice looking wally diver. Let us know your results!

Thanks! The wally diver is by far the most productive crankbait I've used here in WA. It will catch largemouth, smallmouth, perch, kokanee, and even crappie. For some reason, sporting goods stores in WA don't carry it. I bought three more @ Bass Pro when I was visiting my folks in Springfield MO over the holidays.

Here's a smallie I caught last August @ Lake Stevens using this crankbait:

Those of us who can barely tie our shoes can purchase hooks premade, although not custom, from Cabelas if so inclined.

X-Rap Tails by VMC

Roland is old, but he is not that old. I have a whole box of those tails that I have added to my spinners and cranks for years. It was an extension of my fly fishing/tying when the fly rod was not the best tool for the job.

Now, if I did it, I am sure that hundreds, no 10's of thousands have done the same thing.

For the record, most fly shops sell a good to excellent holographic material and using a bright red tying floss with a clear coat works very well.

I have 3 cranks with tails similar to that. Fishing two white 2" cranks side by side, the tailed one took about 15-20% more strikes than the non-tailed one. Hooksets were seemingly not affected by the feathers as well.

Im planning on adding tails to some of the other lures in the box after testing.

E

That would be good on a Rebel or Rapala minnow. My Pop-R's have dressed hooks.