Rapala · Medium Diving Crankbaits
Rapala Hot Tote Crankbait, 2-1/2 in, 7-20 ft
Check price on AmazonAs an Amazon Associate First Cast Fishing earns a commission when you buy through links on this site, at no extra cost to you.
Options
Style: 7cm/12g
Color: Met Silver Black BK
- Met Silver Black BK
- Hot Tiger not in 7cm/12g
- Silver Scale not in 7cm/12g
- Item weight
- 12 Grams
- Product dimensions
- 1 x 1 x 1 inches
Quick take
A 2-1/2 inch medium-diving crankbait that works at 7-20 feet for active freshwater gamefish.
The Rapala Storm Original Hot 'N Tot is a 12-gram crankbait with a long lip that runs between 7 and 20 feet deep. It suits bass, walleye, pike and trout, and it works for casting, trolling and steady retrieves over weed lines, rocks and other structure.
Best for
- Fishing transition zones between shallow and deep water
- Casting around points, drop-offs, and submerged structure
- Walleye and pike fishing where moderate depth control matters
Skip if
- You need extreme shallow-water coverage
- You target fish deeper than 20 feet
Strengths
- 7-20 foot depth range covers the most productive freshwater fishing zone
- Realistic swimming action with vibration triggers strikes from aggressive fish
- Compact design works well on light to medium spinning and baitcasting rods
Trade-offs
- Medium depth means you miss shallow-water opportunities
- No built-in rattle; relies on vibration for attraction
- Plastic construction can crack on hard impacts with structure
Fishing fit
- Water
- Freshwater
- Techniques
- Casting
- Trolling
Specifications
| Type | diving crankbait |
|---|---|
| Length | 2-1/2 in |
| Weight | 12 g |
| Depth | 7-20 ft |
| Material | Plastic |
| Color | Metallic silver/black |
What can I catch with this?
At 0.423 oz, this crankbait is sized for bass and walleye.
- Bass
- Trout
- Walleye
- Pike & musky
When and where to fish it
Its silver baitfish pattern suits clear to lightly stained water. Crankbaits are often fished in spring and fall, when fish are feeding on baitfish.
- Season
- Spring
- Fall
- Water
- Pond
- Lake
- Reservoir
- River
- Clarity
- Clear
- Stained
- Light
- Bright
- Overcast
- Water temperature
- Cool (50 to 60°F)
- Warm (60 to 75°F)
- Fished from
- Bank
- Boat
- Kayak
How to fish it
A crankbait with a long lip needs a long cast to get down, so it is fished by deep cranking.
Deep cranking
- Make the longest cast you can; a deep diver needs distance to get down.
- Hold the rod tip low and reel steadily until you feel the bottom.
- Keep the lure grinding along the bottom and pause when it deflects off rock.
Steady cranking
- Cast past the target and point the rod tip down toward the water.
- Reel at a steady medium pace until the lure reaches its depth.
- Keep it ticking the bottom or the cover, and pause when it deflects.
How deep and around what
At 0.423 oz it runs down to 20 ft, in the deep zone, along drop-offs, rock and open water.
- Surface
- Shallow (to 5 ft)
- Mid (5 to 12 ft)
- Deep (12 to 25 ft) (this product)
- Very deep (over 25 ft)
- Maximum diving depth
- 20 ft
- Depth zone
- Deep (12 to 25 ft)
- Cover
- Open water
- Rock
- Drop-offs
What you need with it
A 0.423 oz crankbait is usually fished with a casting rod, a baitcasting reel and 10 to 14 lb fluorocarbon line.
- Casting rodsA medium-power rod with a moderate action keeps the hooks pinned on a steady retrieve.
- Baitcasting reelsA slower gear ratio makes a steady cranking pace easier to hold.
- Fluorocarbon lineSinks, so the lure reaches its depth; 10 to 14 lb for this weight.
Pairs with
A 0.423 oz lure pairs with a medium-power, moderate-action rod made for 1/4 to 5/8 oz lures and with 10 to 14 lb line.
| Item | Range |
|---|---|
| Rod power | Medium |
| Rod action | Moderate |
| Rod lure weight | 1/4 to 5/8 oz |
| Line test | 10 to 14 lb |
What it imitates
Its silver baitfish pattern imitates shad.
- Shad
About this type
A crankbait is a hard-bodied lure that wobbles on a steady retrieve; most have a lip that sets how deep they run.
On a lipped bait, a bigger or steeper lip usually sends it deeper.
Most lipped crankbaits float at rest and dive when reeled, so a pause lets the lure back up and away from a snag.
Compared with Jerkbaits: A jerkbait is worked with twitches and pauses and often suspends or floats; a crankbait is reeled.
Facts
| Lure weight | 0.423 oz |
|---|---|
| Minimum diving depth | 7 ft |
| Maximum diving depth | 20 ft |
| Lip | Long |
| Color | Met Silver Black BK |
| Color family | Shad and silver |
| Target species | Bass, Walleye, Pike & musky and Trout |
Common questions
How deep does it run?
It runs to a maximum depth of 20 ft.
How much does it weigh?
It weighs 0.423 oz.
What color is this version?
This version is Met Silver Black BK.
Updated