Fishing spinnerbaits is one of our favorite ways to catch bass. Living in So-Cal, the fish have seen so many that there comes a time to throw them a change up. We saw the Eco Pro Tungsten Rapid Fire Spinnerbait at the ICAST 2013 for the first time and knew right away that we had to try one.
Why? ‘Cause by all outward appearances it was just the right size to coax otherwise lure shy bass into striking. Sure, the right size, but what about the action? Would that be what we needed to seduce strikes from highly pressured fish? Let’s get it in the water and find out.
What’s the scoop
We obtained the 3/8 ounce version. It also comes in a 1/2 ounce with both weights sharing the same color patterns. All of which are subtle, natural, light shades that are equipped with double willow blades. The skirt is just the right length out of the package with some of the material a little longer than the rest to create the image of a tail.
The components, blades, swivels and wire, are all quality. The head is what is made of tungsten with 3D eyes standard. The blades are cupped a bit more than the average willow leaf which is supposed to help them spin at any retrieve speed. Rounding out the package is a sharp, 3/0 hook designed to penetrate quickly and easily.
We have a lot of baits that are bigger in profile than the Rapid Fire but the purpose of this particular blade is to downsize for fish who are in a neutral feeding mood. It’s the temptation of the smallish profile that should, in theory, elicit those strikes.
We chose to use a 7 foot medium action rod paired with a casting reel spooled with 10 pound co-polymer for our testing. With this rig, casting the Eco Pro was easy both for distance and accuracy.
Taking that first cast
The first cast with the Rapid Fire proved informative. To begin with, the blades do start up almost immediately on your retrieve no matter how slow you want to wind it. Another thing that we learned on that first cast was that this little bait helicopters very well. Just stop your winding and let it sink. Those blades continue to turn.
Like any other type of lure, you have to throw this bait where the fish are meaning in, around and through some cover. The question with a new lure is always how it will deflect off of stick-ups, submerged limbs, bushes, logs etc.
The Rapid Fire does this well although it, like all spinnerbaits, it is not impervious to hanging up.
While some baits have a lot of thump, this one is much more subtle. It is ideal for those times when the fish turn their noses up to a bait that they can feel coming from a mile away.
The Eco Pro sneaks up on them in a way that we feel that most of the fish we have caught using this lure have been surprised by it and the reacted to it without taking the time to analyze it first.
Let’s face it, a reaction bite can be one of the most explosive strikes you get! You know how that goes. You throw it out there and start winding it in while your mind is wandering, or you’re looking at the scenery. Then all of the sudden you almost lose your rod ‘cause the bite is so hard and fast. Oh yeah, that is flat out fun.
The best part
The most impressive feature of the Rapid Fire has to be the consistency with which they are made. We have gotten a few of them now and all have an almost identical action. The truth is that if there is any differences, they are so slight that we haven’t been able to pick up on them.
Like the majority of spinnerbaits, you can add some kind of trailer to these to bulk them up. We haven’t put anything on the back of our other than very small soft plastics. We figure we got them because they are a smaller profile so why add a bunch of stuff to enlarge their profile. Kinda defeats the purpose.
This little bait has also proven that it can catch more than bass. We’ve gotten bites from crappie, trout and even had a couple of catfish decide to make a meal of it.
We’ve also allowed some very inexperienced folks to use them as they are not a complicated lure that is dependent on the angler for its action. One little guy who had never caught a bass used the Rapid Fire and was rewarded with his first catch, then his second, third and a couple more. He’s now hooked for life.
This little spinnerbait has proven to be a welcome addition to our tackle box as it has excelled at doing what it’s best at – being small, stealthy, tough and reliable.
| Eco Pro Rapid Fire Spinnerbait | |
|---|---|
| overall rating |   |
| one tough little spinnerbait | |
See ya’ on the water …
