Blades Of Glory

A bladebait is one of the best lures for catching walleye in the fall. Here’s what you need to know to put a late-season smackdown on big walleye using Rapala’s Rippin’ Blade, a premium bladebait with a metal frame and plastic body that’s loaded with fish-catching features.

Enticing vibrations and a tight action are fundamental characteristics for bladebaits. As such, the R&D team at Rapala VMC tweaked and fine-tuned various Rippin’ Blade prototypes until hitting a bullseye, and crafting a lure irresistible to walleye, along with bass, pike, trout and other predators.

Another standout feature is how the Rippin’ Blade immediately responds when pulled through the water — even at slow speeds. This responsiveness makes it excellent for targeting walleye using real-time, Forward-Facing Sonar, along with countless other scenarios where timely adjustments are critical for eliciting strikes. 

The Rippin’ Blade’s responsiveness also means it doesn’t need to be moved far to be effective. This is an asset for coaxing bites from a walleye with a small strike window.

The 2-3/4 inch Rippin’ Blade is 9/16 ounces. This gives it a relatively slower sink rate for its size, at least as far as bladebait profiles and presentations are concerned. As a result, the Rippin’ Blade hands in the strike zone longer than heavier blades.

What’s more, the Rippin’ Blade is perfectly balanced, and maintains an upright, natural posture on the drop. This feature maintains the bait’s visual appeal, while also preventing line twist and fouling.

At first glance, anglers will immediately noticed the Rippin’ Blade’s deep-bodied baitfish shape. This meal-sized profile is an asset for consistently catching hungry walleye eager to fatten up during the cold-water period. The lures substantial profile also helps it get the attention of above-average sized fish.

Rapala’s legendary fit and finish principles are on full display in the Rippin’ Blade. A far cry from the bland, old-school finishes often seen on traditional bladebaits, the Rippin’ Blade comes in a variety of premium colours patterns suitable for all water conditions and forage scenarios anglers may encounter in walleye country. Holographic eyes add realism and bolster its baitfish ruse.

The Rippin’ Blade is built exclusively with premium parts. A strong, no-nonsense VMC Crankbait Snap comes standard. The lure’s also outfitted with two VMC Black Nickel Round Bend Treble Hooks guaranteed to consistently find purchase in the maws of giant walleye. 

Experienced anglers preferring to jig Rippin’ Blades for walleye using a medium power spinning rod set-up, like a 13 Fishing Omen Black with a Axum reel, often prefer the thin-diameter, power transfer, sensitivity and durability benefits of 10- to 15-pound Sufix 832 or Pro-Mix braid tied to a Sufix Advanced Fluorocarbon leader. For those who favour a casting combo for bladebaits, the performance, super-sensitivity and abrasion resistance of 12- to 14-pound Sufix Advance Fluorocarbon can’t be beat.

Get in the habit of experimenting with jigging speed and how far you move the Rippin’ Blade —both contribute to how a walleye responds to the presentation. 

Walleye sometimes prefer a slack-lined free-falling bladebait. Other days, you’ll get better results letting the lure pendulum on a tight line to bottom when casting, or lowering it on a controlled drop when vertical jigging.

How to catch more walleye can be as simple as letting the Rippin’ Blade sit motionless on bottom briefly after a lift-fall jigging sequence.

Missing the initial take of a walleye vacuuming a bladebait up off the floor is not out of the ordinary now and then; always be ready to set the hook at any hint of extra weight or resistance on the jigging upstroke. 

Trying the Rippin’ Blade’s three different line-tie holes lets you customize its action and vibrations, and can help dial-in walleye preferences on any given day.

Whether you’re well-versed in jigging bladebaits or new to using them, consider the Rapala Rippin’ Blade an essential lure for fishing walleye in the fall. Also, be sure to transfer these lures to your ice fishing tackle collection once you wrap-up autumn adventures, because these metal marvels are equally potent for catching big walleye on the hard-water.