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Rapala · Shallow Diving Crankbaits
Rapala Original Floater 09
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Options
- Item weight
- 5 Grams
- Product dimensions
- 4 x 2 x 1 inches
Quick take
The silver Original Floating Rapala is a size 9 balsa-wood minnow imitation at about 3.5 inches and 0.19 ounce. It floats at rest and suits a stop-and-go retrieve just under the surface.
Best for
- Shallow water with visible cover
- Panfish in ponds and small lakes
- Classic twitch-and-pause techniques
Skip if
- You need to reach deep water; this lure floats and dives only 3-5 ft
- You fish murky water with no visibility
Strengths
- Balsa construction floats at rest, allowing pausing
- Natural minnow profile triggers strikes
- Hand tuned and tank tested for consistent action
Trade-offs
- Floats require active retrieval to achieve depth
- Balsa is fragile compared to plastic or composite construction
- Limited depth range makes it unsuitable for deep structure fishing
Fishing fit
- Water
- Freshwater
- Techniques
- Casting
Specifications
| Type | floating crankbait |
|---|---|
| Size | 9 |
| Weight | 5 grams |
| Depth range | 3-5 ft |
| Construction | Balsa wood |
| Hooks | Treble |
What can I catch with this?
At 3/16 oz, this crankbait is sized for bass, crappie and trout.
- Bass
- Trout
- Crappie
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
This floating crankbait rises when you stop reeling, which makes a stop-and-go retrieve work.
Stop and go
- Crank the lure down with several fast turns.
- Stop for a second and let the lure rise slowly.
- Repeat all the way back to the bank or boat.
What you need with it
A 3/16 oz crankbait is usually fished with a spinning rod, a spinning reel and 6 to 10 lb line.
- Spinning rodsA medium-light rod with a moderate action casts a light lure and keeps small hooks pinned.
- Spinning reelsA spinning reel handles light line without backlash.
- Monofilament lineStretches, which keeps the hooks pinned; 6 to 10 lb for this weight.
Pairs with
A 3/16 oz lure pairs with a medium-light or medium rod with a moderate action and with 6 to 10 lb line.
| Item | Range |
|---|---|
| Rod power | Medium light or medium |
| Rod action | Moderate |
| Rod lure weight | 1/8 to 1/2 oz |
| Line test | 6 to 10 lb |
What it imitates
Its silver baitfish pattern imitates shad.
- Shad
How to choose a color and size
Color
| Options | When to pick it | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Firetiger | A loud pattern that shows up in stained and muddy water under cloud. |
|
| SilverThis one | Flashes like a baitfish in clear to lightly stained water. |
|
| Bleeding Pearl | Stays easy to see in lightly stained water and under cloud. |
|
| Bleeding Hot Olive, Yellow Perch | Looks like real forage in clear water, where fish get a long look. |
|
Which one should I pick?
Choose the version by the depth you need to reach, then choose the color by water clarity.
| Version | Lure weight | Length | Color | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rapala Original Floater 09, Bleeding Copper Flash | Lure weight:3/16 oz | Length:3.5 in | Color:Bleeding Copper Flash | Suits:Bass, trout and crappie |
| Rapala Original Floater 09 | Lure weight:3/16 oz | Length:3.5 in | Color:Silver | Suits:Clear and stained water, bass, trout and crappie |
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 | 3/16 oz |
|---|---|
| Length | 3.5 in |
| Buoyancy | Floating |
| Color | Silver |
| Color family | Shad and silver |
Common questions
Does it float or sink?
It is a floating lure.
How much does it weigh?
It weighs 3/16 oz.
How long is it?
It is 3.5 in long.
What color is this version?
This version is Silver.
Updated