Rapala Jigging Rap 5cm Replica

Description

This is my replica of the legendary Rapala Jigging Rap 5 cm, designed and modeled directly from a precise 3D scan of an original lure to bring one of the most effective ice and vertical fishing lures into the world of 3D printing. Super fun jig to bring with you when targeting perch and other predatory fish hugging the bottom of the lake.

A massive amount of thought and testing went into the physics of this design. Since it is printed in PLA, the final weight lands at 2.4 grams (fully assembled with all hardware) compared to the 9-gram original made of solid metal. While this makes it sink slightly slower, it still retains a weight that allows it to dive relatively fast. Most importantly, it completely retains that iconic, characteristic Jigging Rap action! Instead of just jigging vertically up and down, it swims in beautiful, wide circles on the bottom when twitched. It has a seriously awesome action in the water!
Perfect for Jigging on your UL setup.

Design Notes

• 3D Scanned Precision: Modeled directly from a physical 3D scan of a real Rapala Jigging Rap to ensure the exact proportions.
• Iconic Swimming Action: Engineered to retain the classic circular darting motion on the bottom, rather than just moving straight up and down.
• Optimized for Bottom Fishing: Perfect for vertical jigging or casting for aggressive perch, zander, and other predators.
• Assembled Weight: 2.4 grams (including all hooks, split rings, and hardware). Sinks slightly slower than the original, providing a unique, triggering fall rate.
• Integrated Print Stability: To ensure success with this tall, thin model on fast printers, I have integrated a thin stability disk at the base. This prevents the lure from wobbling or falling over during the printing process. Once finished, the lure simply "rocks" off the thin disk with a clean, easy snap.

• Internal Pre-made Holes: Please check the uploaded cross-section image. This shows the exact depth and placement of the internal holes, making it much easier for you to plan and align your hardware. Values are in milimeters. 

   

Strength & Testing

I have conducted thorough load testing on the hardware and construction of this lure to ensure it can handle big fish without breaking:

• 4.5 kg+ Load Capacity: All hook placements and connection points have been tested to withstand at least 4.5 kg of direct tension. (see picture)
• Rock-Solid Internal Bond: During testing, I stopped at 4.5 kg simply because that was enough force to make the metal hooks bend wide open. The 5-minute epoxy bond inside the 3D-printed body held up perfectly and did not fail. You can fish with 100% confidence knowing the hooks will bend before the lure breaks.

Assembly

The model is designed for a clean and ultra-strong hardware installation. Follow these steps for the perfect assembly:

• Prep the Single Hooks: Take the two size 6 longshaft single hooks and clip the eye off both. Before gluing, use two pairs of pliers to gently bend the hooks slightly backwards. This ensures you achieve the exact same hook angle as the original Rapala.
• Glue the Hooks: Before applying any glue, use my custom 1mm Handdrill Handle (available on my profile) to quickly clear out and deepen the hook slots for a perfect fit. Rough up the clipped end of the hooks slightly with some sandpaper to create texture for the glue, then secure them into the front and back slots using either a 5-minute epoxy or a strong superglue.
• Screw Eyes: Take the two screw eyes. To make this step incredibly easy without messing around with a lighter, use the 1mm Handdrill Handle to effortlessly pre-drill the pilot holes before screwing the eyes firmly into place. Alternatively, you can still gently heat the screw eyes with a lighter before screwing them into the body.
• Treble Hook: Attach the 5mm split ring to the belly screw eye, and mount the size #10 treble hook.

Hardware Requirements

To fully assemble the lure, you will need the following hardware:

• 2x Screw Eyes: Stainless steel. 1mm wire thickness, 4mm thread length, 8mm total length (including the eye), 4mm eye diameter. (These can be bought very cheaply on sites like Temu or similar).
• 1x Split Ring: 5 mm.
• 1x Treble Hook: Size #10.
• 2x Longshaft Single Hooks: Size 6 (I use Kamasan B940).
  • Important Hook Note: The wire/thread thickness of the Kamasan hooks I use is 0.7mm. You should use single hooks with roughly the same wire thickness to ensure they fit into the pre-made holes. Hooks with a wire thickness around 1.5mm or similar will be too thick for this model!

Finishing

To ensure the lure lasts for many catches and looks professional, I highly recommend brushing on a clear coat or UV resin.

• CRITICAL TIP: I highly recommend brushing your clear coat on instead of dipping the lure. Carefully paint around the front and back single hooks so you don't clog the barbs/hooks with clear coat, which would make them blunt and ineffective.
• Coating the body provides a smoother, shiny finish, better durability against sharp fish teeth, and complete water resistance.

Important

For the best balance, the correct slow-sinking swimming action, and the precise final weight, it is crucial to use my included print profile. The internal density and weight distribution are specifically calculated for these settings, and changing them will ruin the lure's unique performance in the water.

Tight lines!!