Pvc or Super Tpe: Which Is The Better Soft Plastic Fishing Lure

Rapala’s CrushCity collection features soft baits made from either Super TPE (Thermoplastic elastomer) or PVC (Plastisol). Having more than one soft bait formula available allows Rapala to choose the material best suited for the intended action and other key features for every CrushCity model.

Rapala uses a similar winning strategy for its hard baits. The inventor of the balsa fishing lure has a long legacy of producing world-class baits from this natural material, such as the Original Floating and DT series, but also uses plastic, when warranted, to produce its best-selling jerkbaits, jigging lures and several other hard-baits.

Unlike Rapala’s well known hard-bait collection, the CrushCity legacy is just beginning. The following is intended to help anglers better understand the main characteristics and benefits of Super TPE and PVC baits, and which CrushCity models to consider based on different conditions and fishing techniques being used.

This plastic is extremely durable, stretchy, buoyant and temperature tolerant. Here’s a closer look at how these characteristics contribute to the potency of the CrushCity Ned BLT, Creeper, The Suspect, The Jerk and Heavy Hitter.

• Ideal for aggressive predators as well as nipping, short-striking fish.
• Highly versatile, excellent for steady action, catching numbers of fish and keeping anglers in the action during brief bite windows.
• Outstanding for a variety of finesse fishing techniques (e.g., Ned rigging, drop-shotting, jig-and-minnow moping, etc).
• Especially good for jig presentations and other exposed-hook rigging methods.
• Provides a different action compared to PVC baits (e.g., stays horizontal on a drop-shot rig and stands tail-up on a jig left on the bottom).
• Tolerant of extreme temperatures, keeping its shape and fish-catching action if left out on a hot day or used in freezing temperatures when ice fishing.

The CrushCity PVC formula is more resilient and dense than typical plastisol, yet maintains all the beneficial characteristics anglers come to expect from premium PVC soft baits, including softness, detailed colours and excellent fish-catching actions. CrushCity PVC baits include The Mayor, Bronco Bug, Cleanup Craw and Freeloader.

• Excellent for Texas and Tex-posed rigging applications.
• Encourages a deeper running depth with horizontal presentations, involving The Major or Freeloader fished on their own or used a trailer for swim jigs, spinnerbaits, etc.
• Tails and appendages adopt a neutral or bent-over orientation when fished and paused on the bottom, which fish can prefer at times.
• Available in highly detailed colour options suitable for ultra-clear to dirty water conditions.
• Softness and supple action similar to premium, custom soft plastics.
• Non-toxic (phthalate-free).