Going through my non fly fishing stuff I found some saltwater Rapala lures that I bought (not sure why yet) and never, ever used. I tried to sell them locally but I was told by a very trustworthy source that there is just no fish that swims the waters I fish that looks like them. I really want to sell them to make some much needed extra $$$. Does anybody have an idea where could these be useful? I’m not offering them here since I don’t know if it is allowed I just want to have an idea to try CL somewhere else. That being said if this goes against the rules by all means delete.
I dont fish your area but I have to totally disagree with the “wont work” part…Rapala lures are top shelve in ANY water…I know the redhead white bait will work but I know they all will just the same…if it says Rapala on the lure it simply will catch fish…their reputation for saltwater lures is as solid as Penn Reels is in the reel world…somebody will buy them from you
Although it’s been awhile since I fish the salt with conventional tackle, when I lived in TX we would go down and fish the gulf around N Padre. The spoons at the top of your photo were deadly for redfish. Especially with a red plastic blade. As been mentioned, Rapala are solid lures for fishing saltwater and I agree, you should have no problem selling them.
The Kastmaster, broken backs and divers would work at times in the south bay ( San Francisco ) for Stripers and Halibut. They could also work at the Louies for Stripers. Those trebles could be replaced with Gama Siwash hooks with their barbs knocked down. Might want to dress a siwash as a bucktail trailer for that K.M. for the south bay. The top water walker and chugger would be worth a shot on O’Neil just before dawn and at dusk. The delta wouldn’t be out of the running either.
B.T.W. Re: " I was told by a very trustworthy source that there is just no fish that swims the waters I fish that looks like them. " …and since when did that stop fish from hitting an artificial? :roll:
Luckily not all fly tiers are afflicted by that sort of logic. Salmon, steelhead, black bass, rockfish and oh yes’ Stripers.
I’m so glad you disagree with me bfw!! That gives me hope. It’s not that I want to sell them it’s just the way this guy put it that made me feel like a total idiot for buying them. The guy at Cabela’s told me (for the mags) that those were standard colors that would catch fish anywhere. Nobody in my area had any interest for them so I got frustrated not being to fish them or sell them. I have used Rapala lures for bass and such and I have had a lot of success, whenever I feel like throwing lures Raps are my #1 Choice. The spoons are pretty big, around an oz I believe.
Who knows maybe the so called “trustworthy” source wanted to sell me his lures LOL. That’s why I love fly fishing…
Thanks.
I have been using lures like that in So Cal saltwater for more than 30 years. Species caught on those or similar spoons and plugs include halibut, bonito, mackerel, yellowtail, barracuda, spotted bay bass, calico bass, sand bass, numerous rockfish, california sheeohead, tuna shortfin corvina, and probably some others. If someone handed to me that collection of lures in the photo I would be pretty excited about it
The spoons may work in the surf for halibut and big croaker. They are a bit big for perch. The spoons would ba effective in bays an ocean for many species. The plugs would be more evvective in the ocean around kelp beds or in open water for pelagic species. The plus may also be effecitive in bays when bonito and barracuda are around or for bass over shallow eel grass flats.
martin,
if you want to sell them, i’ll send you a pm for some of them. they look like they will work great for blues, mackerel or any of the jacks down here in the gulf of mexico.
jack
If you are selling them because you don’t want them great, but don’t sell them because someone told you they won’t work in your area. Especially if it was someone trying to sell you something different.
I’d ask the person that told you they wouldn’t work back home because of the color patterns to explain what insect looks like a royal coachman or a lime trude. All those color patterns you posted work for bass, I’ve caught plenty of fish on firetiger (green orange yellow) lures and my Dad swears by that bright orange/gold colored on for smallmouth and northern pike. And the red yellow white (I think it’s called clown) colored one shows up in BASS magazines from time to time so it probably works pretty well too. And just about any paint job on a rapala will catch fish. I’d be more worried about size being an issue than color. And if you’re within a short drive of the ocean I’d keep a couple at least in case you head there one day to fish and the wind is up too much for the fly rod.
Thanks Joe Cool but I’m not selling them just because of what he said. I do need to make a few bucks and I thought that getting rid of something I’m not really using would be a good idea but seems like nobody is interested here, not that I’m complaining, just hard to sell those things.
