My favorite way to fish the X-Rap is with a “snap” retrieve. With the rod tip pointed towards the water use a short pull, pull, pull, then a pause. This creates an aggressive forward snap movement that causes the lure to come back to you via a very narrow track. The X-Rap will move side to side erratically and entice active fish to take interest almost immediately. This technique is fantastic in shallower water where fish are nearby and can’t help but notice the variable flashing. It was with this technique that we caught limits of stripers. The dressed up tail adds an appealing element to these lures when pursuing stripers. On days when anglers are hammering stripers with streamers and bucktails are the same days when the X-Rap will really deliver.

When you get too tired of rapid and aggressive jerks the “sweep” retrieve is another way to effectively fish the X-Rap. Use the entire rod and move the tip in smooth sweep, sweep, pause motions. This causes the X-Rap to glide side to side in less erratic motions and the lure comes back on a much wider track. This technique can also be used in shallow water, but we found it less successful overall. If the fish are not very active or suspended in deeper water then this technique should be more effective. Whatever style you choose the X-Rap delivers a wide assortment of different actions.

A bass is landed on the X-Rap

 
Durability: In terms of  durability the X-Rap is better than most. The coloring and finish is encased below the plastic body so that when the hooks come in contact with the body all that end up getting scratched is the transparent surface. After double digit striper attacks the lure still looked as good as new. The one area that is prone to more damage is the dressed hook which did lose feathers after using pliers to dislodge the hook from the jaws of multiple fish.

Schoolies or Hawgs, the X-Rap is irresistible to striped bass that followed and struck the lure without hesitation in our tests

Price: I find myself saying in a lot of  reviews “….all good things come to an end,” when I reach the price category. I’m happy to report that just isn’t the case with the reasonably priced X-Rap. There was a time when Rapala lures were considered expensive, and that time has long passed. The X-Rap is a great value at $6.99 retail. You can nearly buy 2 of them for the same price as some of the competing premium Japanese offerings. The X-Rap’s action isn’t better, or really worse for that matter, its just different than all the usual suspects….but when it comes to overall bang for the buck the X-Rap spanks the competition. 

Pluses and Minuses:

Conclusion: The X-Rap is probably the most exciting lure we have seen out of Rapala in recent seasons, and the company has done right by this new product. The X-Rap isn't just another "me too" lure, in fact with so much side to side action Rapala was justified in naming this lure a "slashbait" rather than a traditional jerkbait. While the lure is not the most detailed in design it does have a sophisticated beauty to it, most of which comes from the lure's clean lines and multi-layered finish in which the scales and flash come from within the lure rather than being painted on the surface. The reason this lure is popular among fish and fisherman is the many ways in which the lure can be presented in the water. Get creative with your retrieves and the lure will reward you with plenty of action. In fact we found an extremely aggressive retrieve was able to drive stripers into a frenzy. Point your rod tip down and "slash" up an aggressive bass and you just might find yet another Rapala "go-to" bait. No, this certainly isn't your daddy's Rapala crank, it's something quite different, and in many ways the X-Rap is actually better.