|
7/23/2001
-
Article/Press
Release
Rapala Unveils New Lures for 2002
Rapala responds to angler requests for Jointed Shad Raps
Minnetonka,
Minn. – In saltwater and freshwater, near the surface of the
ocean, at the bottom of a lake or anywhere in-between – with the
introduction of the new 2002 Rapala lures, Rapala covers the water
from top-to-bottom.
Jointed Shad
Rap
There goes
your relaxing day on the lake. Back in 1983 when the original
Shad Rap was introduced, the Rapala design team was searching to
create the best crankbait ever. They have arguably done that.
Now, with the introduction of the rattling, suspending Jointed
Shad Rap, they’ve taken it one step further.
“Sometimes
just a slight exaggeration is all that it takes,” said Mark
Fisher, head of Rapala’s Pro Staff. “The Jointed Shad Rap takes
the wounded minnow action a step further than the original, as it
sends out a distinct ‘baitfish in distress’ signal. Fish don’t
just see a wounded minnow, they see a very vulnerable, broken
minnow.”
The Jointed
Shad Rap (2-inch length, ¼ oz., two treble hooks) is ideally
suited to the slowest possible rate of retrieve, and therefore is
extremely successful in capturing the attention of finicky-feeding
and warier species. Its plastic body construction offers
lightweight durability. Like the Shad Rap RS, it has a loud,
rhythmic rattle sound creating audible attraction. It also has
been designed with a wider and livelier action and is available in
eleven patterns (Silver Shad, Shad, Perch, Baby Bass, Silver Baby
Bass, Blue Shad, Firetiger, Crawdad, Red Craw, Fire Craw, and
Brown Craw) for visual attraction under all conditions.
“The Jointed
Shad Rap can be fished in the same manner as the original Shad
Rap,” said Jim Morton of Rapala’s Pro Staff. “Any extra weight
should be placed well ahead of the lure. Pull this one out after
a cold-front passes or when fishing shallow, extremely clear
water.”
Long Cast Minnow
Engineering
creativity and fishing experience go hand-in-hand with the
introduction of the Limited Edition Long Cast Minnow, the only
long casting balsa lure ever made. A unique, proprietary and
patent-pending weight transfer system is the secret that will
allow anglers to hit fish “out of nowhere” with the Long Cast
Minnow. Combined with Rapala’s new Long Cast fishing line, an
average angler can easily cast up to 100 feet with accuracy, so
you don’t have to “muscle” a lure to get the distance needed to
reach the fish.
“The Long Cast
Minnow really shortens the lake quite a bit, opening up new
territory for anglers,” said Fisher. “You can stop your boat well
short of schooling fish, work the edges without scaring the fish,
or work both sides of a point. Working the shallows will be
easier, too. You can get pretty creative with this lure.”
The Rapala
weight transfer system is unique, proprietary and patent-pending.
It’s been designed to increase the casting distance while
maintaining excellent swimming action. In the process of casting
and retrieving, the internal weights shift and “lock” in the
desired position of the lure to maintain proper balance and
action. The locking system also makes it possible to jerk the
lure on retrieve without causing the weight to shift or move to
the back of the lure, which would destroy the lure’s swimming
action.
Due to the
intensive handwork, craftsmanship and engineering, only 300,000
Long Cast Minnows will be available. Weighing 3/8 oz. and with a
body length of four inches, the Long Cast Minnow comes in ten
proven pattern choices (Silver, Shad, Perch, Blue, Rainbow Trout,
Brown Trout, Chub, Hot Chub, Redtail Chub, Gold Chub).
Skitter Walk
You’re gonna
need a bigger boat. The new saltwater Skitter Walk’s perfect
imitation of a swimming mullet or fleeing baitfish is particularly
effective when Redfish, Snook, Tarpon or Tuna are aggressive or
busting bait on the surface. Its Internal Threshold
Transfer
System is designed for ease in walking-the-dog, and large internal
rattles create a rhythmic side-to-side motion and sound
combination. A crunch-proof lure, the Skitter Walk is very
durable, with long lasting finishes that will catch fish for a
long time – if you hold on tight.
“There’s
nothing more exciting than fishing topwater for saltwater gamefish,”
said Fisher. “The experience of seeing and feeling a surface
strike is incredible. The Skitter Walk is designed for in-shore
fishing, but not for the faint of heart.”
This is not a
trolling lure. Designed for long and accurate casts and to
walk-the-dog with ease on the water, the Skitter Walk has a
reflective, sonic-welded body. It comes in eight colors (Silver
Mullet, Gold Mullet, Green Mullet, Blue Mullet, Redfish, Speckled
Trout, Bone, and Redhead), weighs 5/8 oz. and is 4-3/8” in
length.
Limited Edition Tail Dancer
No. 5
Introduced
last year, Rapala’s Tail Dancer has already become one of the most
sought-after lures in modern-day fishing history. And for good
reason. Initially thought of as a walleye bait, the Tail Dancer
has shown its mettle in bass, trout and salmon fisheries, and has
produced fantastic fish-catching stories from all regions of the
world.
Rapala
designers spent years figuring out how to make this first
“banana-style” Rapala balsa lure swim in its pronounced
“wide-tail” style without sacrificing that classic Rapala action.
Then they formulated a way to incorporate an internal rattle that
doesn’t impede, but improves the attraction.
New for 2002,
Rapala introduces the Rapala Tail Dancer in a size No. 5 that
offers all the pronounced swimming action of it’s big brothers
(No. 7 and No. 9). The smaller size is perfect for slower action
days. With all the attention to detail required to make each and
every Tail Dancer, again this year, total production will be
limited to only 300,000.
The No. 5 Tail
Dancer is 2-inches long, 3/16 oz., and will come in 10 patterns
(Shad, Perch, Silver, Blue, Hot Chub, Redtail Chub, Emerald
Shiner, Rainbow Trout, Chub, and Gold Chub).
Blue Foil Shad Rap
After
countless requests from panicked anglers around the world, the
original Blue Foil Shad Rap finish is back. It’s true. The Shad
Rap also will be appearing in two other new colors – Silver Baby
Bass and Bluegill. The Shallow Shad Rap also will feature these
additional colors.
“This is a
case of merely responding and listening to what anglers were
recommending we should do,” said Tom Mackin, vice president of
marketing for Rapala. “We always knew the Blue Foil finish, a
pattern that had its final production run in 1994 had a special
place in the hearts of many. But over time we’ve learned how much
many anglers want it back. The grassroots voice was amazing.”
That’s just
the start of the widening range of color patterns for Rapala’s
lures. Also new for 2002, the Original Floating and Countdown are
now available in Fathead Minnow and Silver Minnow patterns; the
Jointed Minnow adds Silver Fluorescent Chartreuse and Brown Trout;
and the Husky Jerk now comes in Silver Baby Bass, Holographic
Shad, Holographic Emerald Shad, and Holographic Blue Shad.
About Rapala
Group
Dedicated to
delivering memorable fishing experiences every time, the Rapala
VMC Group, based in Vääksy, Finland (Helsinki Stock Exchange:
Y.RPA), manufactures and markets fishing lures, fishing line,
fishing rods, knives, hooks, terminal tackle and accessories under
the Rapala, Blue Fox, Storm and VMC brand names. The company was
unofficially founded in 1936 when Lauri Rapala invented the Rapala
fishing lure. Rapala maintains its strict standards of quality
and craftsmanship while delivering its fishing products to anglers
in more than 130 countries. For more information about Rapala,
visit the Rapala Web site at
www.rapala.com. |
