Rapala Tail Dancer - Crankbaits Humpback - Unbiased Bait Review by Fish Soup

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Rapala Tail Dancer Bait Review - Humpback Crankbaits

The Rapala Tail Dancer (07) is a large-lipped, thick-bodied, banana-shaped bait constructed from high-buoyancy balsa. It features a lively, aggressive tail wobble, along with an internal rattle chamber to alert fish at a distance.

Category - Humpback Crankbaits
Profile - Minnow/Banana
Body - Balsa
Action - Aggressive Wobble
Floating-Diving, High-Buoyancy
Internal Rattles

PRIMARY SPECIES
The Tail Dancer was designed to be a walleye trolling series, with anglers discovering additional applications.

The bait's aggressive, wide-wobbling action excels in all water temperatures. In cold water, slow trolling speeds still result in an exceptional wobbling action, despite little forward motion. Due to it’s aggressive tail wobble, the front treble can be tipped with a piece of nightcrawler without affecting the lure’s action, increasing its appeal to finicky walleyes. In warmer water, faster trolling speeds causing the lure to throb and hunt slightly from side-to-side, exciting fish through vibration and erratic action.

The Tail Dancer 07 dives steeply, achieving good depth on relatively short lines. Because it is constructed from balsa rather than plastic, it is not designed to be crashed and bashed across hard bottom. Whenever bottom contact is imminent, or the lure is about to contact the tops of weeds, slowing or stopping the boat allows the buoyant lure to rise up in the water column, avoiding or minimizing snags. Move slowly forward until the lure is clear, and then resume trolling.

Flatline/longline trolling at modest speeds of 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 mph is good for both walleyes and trout. The bait can be fished deeper behind snap weights for suspended fish, or on leadcore line for basin trolling applications.

WALLEYE/TROUT
Trolling - 10 lb. mono/14 lb. braid - Spinning or Casting

10 lb. mono or 14 lb. superline balances nicely with Medium Action Spinning or Casting Gear.

SECONDARY SPECIES
While the Tail Dancer 07 is not considered a bass lure, it does catch bass in trolling situations. The lightweight banana profile, however, is difficult to cast accurately at a distance, and frequently tangles in mid-air. Therefore, it is not recommended as a casting option.

Because they are relatively small, the 07 and smaller size 05 may appeal to larger panfish like white bass and crappie, particularly in open-water trolling situations. Larger bluegills may respond to them as well.

WHITE BASS/CRAPPIE
Trolling - 10 lb. mono/14 lb. braid - Spinning or Casting

RETRIEVE/TROLLING OPTIONS
A variety of retrieve or trolling options work well with this versatile lure.
A Steady Trolling Speed results in an aggressive, wide-wobbling swim.
Pausing the lure allows it to rise toward the surface, clearing snags.

The Tail Dancer 07 weighs 5/16 oz., and has two #6 treble hooks. It dives about 9-12 feet under typical trolling applications. It is available in relatively subtle, realistic minnow and forage patterns.

Length - 2 3/4 in.
Weight - 5/16 oz.
Hooks - 2 #6 VMC Black Nickel Trebles, with Red Trebles available on some patterns
Depth - 9-12 ft. Trolling
Colors/Patterns - Natural Minnow and Forage Imitations, plus UV Open-Water Patterns particularly geared for trout and salmon.

MUSIC
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