[ICAST 2023] Rapala’s NEW Premier Line of Soft Baits – Crush City

Rapala has long been a well-known name in the fishing world. Holding the world record for most world record fish caught on their lures and 87 years of lure-building history, they know something about fish-catching lures. Rapala now wants to warmly welcome you to Crush City, their new premier line of custom soft plastic baits that will work wherever in the world you are. These lures were designed in collaboration with Professional Angler Jacob Wheeler, to craft fish-catching soft plastics.

“Rapala came to me and asked, ‘What are the five shapes of soft baits that you most need to win tournaments,” said Rapala Bass Fishing Pro Jacob Wheeler. “And I said, ‘Well, number one, you have to have a paddle-tail swimbait. Then, I said, ‘a chatterbait/spinnerbait trailer, a craw, a ned rig/drop shot bait, and some sort of bug that you can use for flippin’.”

The development of the Crush City baits took months of rigorous testing, including actual tournament use, the Rapala R&D team worked closely with Wheeler and other Rapala Pros during all that to perfect the first five Crush City Baits. The Ned BLT, the Bronco Bug, the Freeloader, the Cleanup Craw, and the Mayor. The plastic for these baits is just the right levels of soft, still full of action, but not fragile. That way you can get more than a fish or two per bait. Each pack of Crush City Lures has rigid plastic packaging to make sure all the baits are in top form when you receive them. Expect to see them available in stores early next year, 2024, just in time for the prespawn.

“When you come out with a Rapala soft plastic brand – there’s a lot to live up to,” said Wheeler. “It takes time to get it perfect. It takes time to make something special. It’s a lot of days on the water testing these baits. Figuring out what works, and what doesn’t. We put the time in to perfect Crush City.

Crush City Soft Bait Key Features

5 shapes; ned bait, chatter bait/spinnerbait trailer, craw, paddletail swimbait, and a flippin’ bug
Multiple Sizes and Colors
Salt and Scent Infused Soft Plastic
Available Early 2024

Special thanks to the Rapala staff here at ICAST 2023, and stick around for more ICAST coverage. Also, let us know your thoughts in the comments below, we appreciate your feedback.

Eugene L.

Eugene L. is currently a writer for OutdoorHub who has chosen not to write a short bio at this time.