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It's
What's on the Inside That Counts: The BX Swimmer From Rapala
(continued)
  I
really like how there is such little water resistance during retrieval. This is
a bait you can fish with just about any gear ratio you please, as it's very easy
to reel in at any speed. Speaking of retrieval speed, the most pronounced action
occurs at a medium to fast pace. Reeling in slowly will produce a lazy swimming
action, but if you really want the BX Swimmer to move at its full potential
you'll need to turn the handle a hair quicker. My preference was a modest
retrieve with an occasional twitch and speed change. If a fast pace is truly
your thing, you'll be happy to hear that the bait tracks great even when reeling
at a blazing clip. Out of curiosity I also tried a jerkbait-style retrieve, but
I wasn't too keen on the awkward action and how often the hooks fouled on the
line.
Just in case you forget what bait you're fishing....
Durability:
While the Rapala BX Swimmer held up structurally during the fishing I subjected
it to, I wouldn't call the outer copolymer shell extremely durable. It's quite
easy to scratch with just light pressure from a hook or rough object. The shell
also exhibits a hint of flex when pressed on—especially in the portion between
the eyes and the body joints—though this doesn't seem to matter much as far as
durability goes.
The dual hinges allow for quite a bit of movement in the tail section.
Price &
Applications:
I
have always considered the price of Rapala lures to be very fair, and the BX
Swimmer is not much different. For a price of $11.59 on
TackleWarehouse.com, you get a bait with some attractive looks
and features that catches fish. I think a cost of about $10.00 would be optimal,
but at the current pricing it's not too far off.
The large eyes at the head draw in predators to attack.
While the BX Swimmer will most likely see most of its action targeting
freshwater bass, its size and hardware is appropriate for saltwater fishing as
well. Snook, tarpon, cobia, barracuda, pike, and big brown trout are all species
that would hammer this bait. It's also a fine choice for trolling as well. Just
keep in mind that those critters with sharp teeth or extremely rough mouths will
likely scar the finish quite noticeably.
Ratings:
(We've
re-calibrated our
ratings standard for
2008 and have
included a key at
the bottom of the
following matrix as
a guide):
|
Rapala
BX
Swimmer
Ratings
(?/10)
|
|
Construction/Quality |
These
are
nicely
appointed
baits
that are
free of
any
defects. |
8 |
|
Performance |
Slowly
retrieving
the BX
Swimmer
gives it
a lazy
swimming
action,
while a
moderate
to quick
pace
unleashes
its full
action.
It
doesn't
suspend,
and it
doesn't
work
well
fished
like a
jerkbait. |
7 |
|
Price |
The
price is
decent,
but
around
$10
would be
about
perfect. |
7 |
|
Features |
I really
like the
slightly
beefier
hardware
and the
stock
hooks
are
nice. |
7.5 |
|
Design
(Ergonomics) |
The bait
is a
realistic
shape
and
looks
great,
however
the
finish
scratches
quite
easily. |
7 |
|
Application |
This is
an
offering
that
will
work
well in
many
fresh
and
saltwater
situations
when you
want to
probe
shallower
waters. |
7 |
|
Total
Score
|
7.25 |
Ratings
Key:
1 =
terrible
: 2 =
poor : 3
=
lacking
: 4 =
sub par
: 5 =
mediocre
: 6 =
fair : 7
= good :
8 =
great :
9 =
excellent
: 10 =
unbelievable!
For More
Details
of the
updated
rating
system
visit
our
explanation
here |
Pluses and Minuses:
|
Plus
Minus
|
|
+ Great
looking |
- Finish
scratches
easily |
|
+ Decent
pricing |
- Wish
it came
in a
suspending
or
waking
version |
|
+ Nice
stock
hooks |
|
|
+ Rests
enticingly
on the
bottom |
|
|
+ Very
little
water
resistance
upon
retrieval |
|
A
nice Florida bass fell victim to the BX Swimmer on a beautiful day in Florida
Conclusion:
We've seen some neat innovations coming from Rapala recently. With baits like
the Scatter Rap and now the BX Swimmer, it's obvious they are not afraid to try
new things in hopes of increasing your odds for a successful day on the water.
While the BX Swimmer may lack a few characteristics I'd personally desire in
this type of bait, it will still produce some nice results on many bodies of
water. If you require a jointed plug for your casting or trolling adventures,
this Rapala just might be the answer!
Looking for the BX Swimmer? Try
Tackle Warehouse
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