Rapala
Encyclopedia
- For the butterflyButterflyA butterfly is a mainly day-flying insect of the order Lepidoptera, which includes the butterflies and moths. Like other holometabolous insects, the butterfly's life cycle consists of four parts: egg, larva, pupa and adult. Most species are diurnal. Butterflies have large, often brightly coloured...
genusGenusIn biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
, see Rapala (butterfly)Rapala (butterfly)Rapala is a genus of butterfly in the tribe Deudorigini of the subfamily Theclinae of the family Lycaenidae. They are found throughout the Oriental Region, with a few species extending to Australia and into the Eastern Palaearctic Region....
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Rapala is the world's largest manufacturer of fishing lure
Fishing lure
A fishing lure is an object attached to the end of a fishing line which is designed to resemble and move like the prey of a fish. The purpose of the lure is to use movement, vibration, and colour to catch the fish's attention so it bites the hook...
s and other fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
related products. It was founded in Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
in the 1930s by Lauri Rapala
Lauri Rapala
Lauri Rapala , Finland, was the founder of Rapala-Normark Group, the worlds largest fishing lure and tackle producer. He died in 1974 at the age of 69. During the course of his life, he married once and fathered four children...
. Their most popular product is a balsa wood minnow
Minnow
Minnow is a general term used to refer to small freshwater and saltwater fish, especially those used as bait fish or for fishing bait. More specifically, it refers to small freshwater fish of the carp family.-True minnows:...
imitation lure called the Original Floater
Original Floater
The Original Floater is a wobbler type of fishing lure, manufactured by Rapala. It is the first lure created by founder Lauri Rapala, in Finland in 1936. It was made of cork, and wrapped in tinfoil from cheese and chocolate, and covered in melted film negatives as a cheap alternative to...
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Rapala sells over 20 million lures each year, in 140 different countries. 242 all-time world-record fish were set on Rapala lures, and 15 new records in 2005. It is also the only fishing lure manufacturer that mass produces balsa wood lures.
Company timeline
- 1936- First lure carved out of cork by Lauri Rapala
- 1959- Normark established, begins distributing Rapala lures in U.S.
- 1962- Life magazine publishes article on Rapala
- 1964- Fish 'N Fillet Knife introduced
- 1974- Jointed Floater put on market
- 1982- Shad Rap brought to market
- 1998- Normark Corporation goes public
Lures and products
Some Medium diving (about 3–10 feet) lures include Original Floater
Original Floater
The Original Floater is a wobbler type of fishing lure, manufactured by Rapala. It is the first lure created by founder Lauri Rapala, in Finland in 1936. It was made of cork, and wrapped in tinfoil from cheese and chocolate, and covered in melted film negatives as a cheap alternative to...
, Twitchin' Rap, Long Cast Minnow, CountDown
Countdown
A countdown is a sequence of counting backward to indicate the seconds, days, or other time units remaining before an event occurs or a deadline expires. Typical events for which a countdown is used include the launch of a rocket or spacecraft, the detonation of a bomb, the start of a race, and the...
, X-Rap, Shallow Shad Rap, Husky Jerk, X-Rap Jointed Shad, X-Rap 14, Rattlin' Rapala, Jointed Shad Rap, Shad Rap, Dives-to Series, Sure Set Series, Super Shad Rap, Glass Fat Rap, Dives-to Flat, and Fat Rap.
Some Deep diving Lures (10 feet or deeper) include Magnums, Down Deep Husky Jerk, Saltwater Sliver, X-Rap Magnum 30, and Deep Tail Dancer.
Other Rapala products include crankbaits, jigging lures
Jig (fishing)
Jigging is the practice of fishing with a jig, a type of fishing lure. A jig consists of a lead sinker with a hook molded into it and usually covered by a soft body to attract fish. Jigs are intended to create a jerky, vertical motion, as opposed to spinnerbaits which move through the water...
, lipless crankbaits, surface poppers, fillet knives, fishing rod
Fishing rod
A fishing rod or a fishing pole is a tool used to catch fish, usually in conjunction with the pastime of angling, and can also be used in competition casting. . A length of fishing line is attached to a long, flexible rod or pole: one end terminates in a hook for catching the fish...
s, reels
Fishing reel
A fishing reel is a "cylindrical device attached to a fishing rod used in winding the line". Modern fishing reels usually have fittings which make it easier to retrieve the line and deploy it for better accuracy or distance. Fishing reels are traditionally used in the recreational sport of angling...
, and various fishing tools.