I'm going to explain the method I use almost exclusively when spin fishing for trout in Iowa waters. First I'll start with the setup I use. Here is a picture with the rod, reel, and Rapala.



I have used several rods over the years. I started with a 5' ultra light with a pretty progressive flex throughout rod. I have experimented with several different models and found that the original was probably about the best. A rod with a quick tip and rigid backbone casts the light lures well, but I end up yanking the small crankbait out of the fish's mouth more often than not. I have settled on a little longer rod now, it is a 5'6" Fenwick Eagle GT. The extra length lets me cast the lure further, and it has a fairly quick tip with a moderate flex through the mid section of the rod. I seem to get a little better hookset than the with slow ultralight but don't seem to yank so many from the jaws of my quarry. I don't care for those ultra small ultralight reels, I opt for Shimano's 1000 sized reels. I still have one of the original Shimano Aero reels that I use to this day. I spool it up with 4lb Berkley XL in the low vis green flavor. I suppose sometime I'll try the new fluorocarbon lines, but they are still a bit pricey for my blood. The most important thing is to replace your line at least once a year, and more often if you fish a lot. Brittle line is a surefire way to lose fish when they attack the wiggling little minnow on the end of your line.

Finally the lure. I my favorite is a #5 Rapala, rainbow trout pattern but I have had success with all colors ranging for the fluorescent tiger stripe pattern to the copper with black back variety, but the rainbow is by far my favorite. I carry an assortment of colors with me, and usually one sinker to get down to the bottom of the deep pools. The floaters are much easier to fish because if they get hung up, provided you don't set the hook, you can simply let the line go slack and they will usually float right off the snag. If you snag the Rapala Countdowns, you will find yourself wading in after it most times.

So, there's the tackle I use, here's the method. I like to fish these lures upstream working them down back towards me. They also work quite well across the current in wide sections, and will occasionally take fish when fished downstream, but this is definitely not the most productive means of fishing the Rapala. One very important detail is the knot used to secure the lure to your line. Use the Rapala Knot which is detailed on the insert in each Rapala box. The knot is not hard to tie, and really adds to the action of the lure. Also, do not use a snap or swivel with this lure.

In water I know fairly well, I begin by heading upstream to the first spot I want to fish. Decide where the fish are likely to be (this is made easy if you can see them, I always wear polarized glasses). Cast past the location where the fish are holding and make a steady retrieve past the fish. Usually the first cast in the vicinity will provoke a strike, and very often it is violent. Be prepared for an adrenaline rush unlike any other you have had trout fishing. I recently introduced my uncle to this method of catching trout; he could not believe the force with which the trout hit the lure. It is more like hooking a feisty blue collar smallmouth than the delicate take usually associated with the aristocratic fish. Many times you'll hook up with the fish on the first strike, sometimes you won't. If you don't sting it with the hooks, the fish will probably be willing to try again. Give it a break though, if the fish sees the same lure back in front of it right away it is likely (and correct) to think something might not be quite right with that minnow. I usually take a minute and retie the lure, this way I know I have a solid knot and it takes about a minute to do if you take your time. The fish has time to settle back into its holding spot and hopefully begin to think food again. After you're satisfied that you've waited long enough, cast the lure back upstream and do it all over again. If the fish strikes and you don't hook it, repeat this procedure. If it fails to strike or follow the lure, cast one or two more times and if nothing happens move on.


This fat 13" brown was taken on a rainbow Rapala.

Sometimes a faster retrieve works better than a slower one. I usually start in the middle and try faster or slower if I'm not satisfied with the luck I'm having. Lots of times they don't really care how fast or slow you are reeling, sometimes I tug the tip of the rod while reeling making the lure skip in short spurts. If you've fished Rapalas much, you've undoubtedly cast one that caught the line in the first hook while in the air or landing. When retrieved the lure spins on top of the water. I have caught several aggressive browns while reeling the lure in on this "bad" cast. They explode through the water surface after the fleeing prey. The only thing I've noticed that really doesn't work is letting the lure stop with the floating Rapalas. This is one of the most effective methods for fishing bass with these lures, but trout don't seem to like it much. It does work well, however, with the suspending Rapala Huskey Jerks.

So, where are the best places to use the Rapala? Almost anywhere, trout in fast water are very susceptible to this method as they don't have much time to decide whether or not the lure is real. When there is a break in the current, you can bring the minnow right down the crease with much success. Eddies are prime examples of this, cast the lure upstream and bring it down in the current as close to the eddy as possible. Being opportunistic feeders trout are always waiting for a morsel to be washed by them where they don't have to expend much energy to grab it. I also like retrieving the lure past bank improvements that are directly downstream of ripples. One of the absolute best times to fish this lure is when fish are actively feeding on flies and nymphs - forget matching the hatch. Since the fish are in feeding mode, all you have to do is bring it by their nose and they'll strike. It looks like a big easy meal, imagine the number of midges, caddis, stone flies, or mayflies it would take to equal the calories available in one fat minnow. I know the fly fishing purists will turn their snooty noses at this, but for pure excitement, fishing the Rapala is tough to beat.

So, this is basically how I use the Rapala. It is by no means the only lure I use and does have its short comings. You definitely need to carry some sort of jigs so you can fish vertically if that is called for. The biggest trout I've caught was a 22 inch brown that hit a crappie jig bounced off the rock under which it was hiding. I lured it out with a Rapala several times but it wouldn't strike the lure. Finally it quit following all together, so I tied on a jig and was in for one heck of a fight. The main thing to remember is that if what you are doing isn't working, try something else.