It's been said that big things have small beginnings. That adage rings especially true for Rapala, a company that has put high-quality fishing lures and accessories into the hands of anglers all across the globe for more than 75 years.
This insight led Lauri to pick up a carving knife to whittle, shave and sand the original Rapala fishing lure. With makeshift household materials, such as cork, tinfoil and melted photographic negatives, he crafted and painstakingly tested a lure that perfectly mimicked the action of a wounded minnow and ultimately would become the forefather of the legendary Original Floating Rapala.
From these humble origins, the greatest fishing story ever told began. As anglers around the globe began to catch more and bigger fish with the lure, the legend of Rapala grew. It became clear that the Rapala's groundbreaking "wounded minnow" action was the key to triggering strike after strike from fish of all species in nearly any application.
In 1959, Normark Corporation was established and set out to increase distribution of Rapala lures to U.S. fishing enthusiasts, helping to offer the brand's innovative designs to more people than ever before.
Since the inception of Lauri Rapala's original lure, Rapala has become a market leader, known to anglers worldwide as the standard in functionality and high quality.
Today, more anglers put their faith in Rapala lures and accessories than any other brand. In fact, Rapala now consists of such world-known brands as VMC, Blue Fox, Williamson, Luhr-Jensen, Storm, Terminator, Sufix, Trigger X, and Ice Force.
Confidence in the company's ever-growing selection of products has spread to more than 140 countries worldwide and is validated with approximately 20 million lures sold annually.
No one knew it at the time, but history was made when Lauri Rapala's Original Floating Minnow was covered in a 1962 LIFE magazine article. That issue just so happened to have a photo of Marilyn Monroe on the cover, and it sold like hot cakes. In short order, every angler in America wanted Rapala's creation.
Many decades later, since Lauri Rapala first introduced the Original Floating Minnow to the world, this lure's design hasn't really changed. It's sill made of balsa, which is extremely buoyant and durable. You can twitch a Floating Minnow on the surface, and it'll get hammered. Crank steadily, and it'll dive a few feet and wobble enticingly. Crimp a split shot on the line ahead of it, and you can get it to dive and hover at almost any depth. More record fish have been caught on this lure than any other, and it continues to rack up even more records.
According to lifelong Florida bass fisherman, retired tournament angler, and Central Florida fishing guide Capt. Phil, "The Rapala Floating Minnow is one of the greatest baits of all time. There literally is no wrong way to fish them. These baits need to be fished on light line. Fishing them on anything heavier than 8-to-10-pound mono kills the action. Tie the line directly to the lure, using a loop knot.
"Never use a snap, swivel or hardware of any kind," continued Capt. Phil. "They work best in calm water, with no wind. You don't need to change the hooks; just fish them as they come in the box. Both silver and gold minnows work well. Some days, the bass prefer one color over the other. I use two sizes: 4-inch and 6-inch. Twitching the lure on top is the standard retrieve. Snapping them under the water like a jerkbait can be deadly, as well. If you can't catch bass with this lure, you might consider taking up golf."
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