Fishing Trends, Development, and Innovations with Dan Quinn
Dan Quinn, a well-known figure in the fishing industry, plays a crucial role at Rapala and its family of brands, which includes Rapala, VMC, Sufix, Crush City, Williamson, Storm, and Thirteen. As a product development director, pro staff manager, and media liaison, Dan’s work bridges the gap between on-the-water experience and the lures that eventually find their way into tackle boxes across the globe.
His role is as exciting as it is demanding—spending time fishing with elite anglers, tracking trends in the field, and relaying those insights to product engineers. The goal? Develop tools that help anglers catch more fish and build confidence with every cast.
From Idea to Tackle Shop: The Journey of a New Product
Creating a lure at Rapala isn’t a simple task. While the ideal scenario would see new ideas neatly aligning with the product calendar, real-world development is far more fluid. Products are typically introduced to internal sales teams in spring, showcased at ICAST during the summer, and hit store shelves by December. But the groundwork begins long before that.
Concepts can originate from anyone—Dan, the pro staff, media partners, or even legendary anglers like Al Lindner. Once an idea is brought to the table, it’s weighed for priority and slotted into a flexible five-year product roadmap. Prototypes follow, which are then tested both internally and externally by trusted professionals. Feedback drives refinements: adjusting hook length, skirt material, or action until the lure meets Rapala‘s high standard.
Some lures, such as a recent topwater bait, take multiple years to perfect. In Rapala’s world, there’s no room for shortcuts. The product must perform and deliver consistent fish-catching results.
The Craft of Precision Tackle
As Dan points out, even lures that look simple—like a jig—are packed with thoughtful detail. His on-the-water experience with pros like Jacob Wheeler or Al Lindner helps identify subtle variables like line angle or hook bite that can dramatically impact performance. This feedback loop is a central pillar of product development at Rapala, ensuring new releases are dialed in to deliver results for weekend anglers and tournament pros alike.
Cranking Grass with Rapala’s DT Series
Transitioning to tactics, Dan dives deep into one of Rapala’s most beloved tools—the DT (Dives-To) Series crankbait. While the DT Series is a staple across much of the country, Dan believes it’s underutilized by many northern anglers, particularly in grass-heavy lakes across Minnesota and Wisconsin.
The beauty of the DT line lies in its simplicity: the DT4 dives to four feet, the DT6 to six, and so on—allowing anglers to easily match lure depth to the height of weed growth. Cranking the tops of submerged grass can be an explosive and efficient way to locate and trigger bass, especially with the help of modern forward-facing sonar that reveals fish hovering above cover.
Tackle Setup for Cranking Grass
Dan recommends a 7- to 7.5-foot baitcasting rod with a moderate action and slightly more backbone than a traditional open-water crankbait rod—ideal for ripping the lure free from grass. Paired with 12-pound fluorocarbon line, the setup offers just the right balance of sensitivity and power.
The technique involves casting and retrieving at a steady pace until the bait contacts the grass. At that point, a sharp snap frees the bait, often provoking an aggressive strike. This ripping action turns a passive fish into a reactive predator, covering far more water than slower, bottom-contact baits.
When to Choose a Crankbait Over Traditional Summer Presentations
While jigs, Texas rigs, and other bottom-contact lures dominate summer bass fishing, Dan emphasizes that crankbaits often excel when fish suspend or roam higher in the water column. Cloudy days, light wind, and rising baitfish can move bass up, making crankbaits the top producer.
Burning a crankbait—retrieving it at high speed—especially over hard bottom or open water, is a deadly method that many overlook. In fact, elite anglers have historically used techniques like burning DT10s halfway down the water column in 25 feet of water, even when fish aren’t relating to the bottom.
Dan encourages anglers not to abandon crankbaits when things get tough. In many cases, increasing speed is the key—not slowing down.
Crankbaits Around Cover: Rock, Wood, and More
The DT Series also excels in various types of cover. While most associate crankbaits with ticking grass or grinding rock, Dan points out they are effective around wood, too. The design of the bait’s lip helps deflect off structure and protects the hooks from snagging.
Clean rock spots, especially in largemouth-heavy northern lakes, are prime zones to rip a DT16 or DT20 through. Grinding a crankbait into rocks can produce bone-jarring strikes from bass and other predators, and Dan always makes sure to give hard-bottom spots a high-speed pass before moving on.
Crankbaits: A Timeless, Underused Tool
Despite being a legacy category in bass fishing, crankbaits remain as effective as ever—and Dan believes they’re still underutilized, especially in regions like the North Country. Whether it’s burning one over hard bottom, ticking weed tops, or bouncing off submerged timber, crankbaits offer versatility, reaction strikes, and pure fun.
Dan’s closing thoughts on crankbaits are clear: They’ve always worked, and they always will.
Scouting Largemouth Lakes in Wisconsin
Wrapping up this segment, Dan discusses his transition from Minnesota’s grass-filled lakes to the diverse waters of Wisconsin, where grass can be sparse or nonexistent. For an angler used to targeting largemouth in lush weedbeds, the shift required a new approach—one that continues in the next portion of the conversation.
Exploring Diverse Wisconsin Fisheries
After growing up in the Brainerd Lakes area of Minnesota—where lush aquatic vegetation dominates the landscape—Dan Quinn’s move to Wisconsin opened his eyes to a more diverse array of largemouth bass environments. He describes it as “almost like fishing for a different species.” Instead of the thick milfoil and cabbage he’s accustomed to, many Wisconsin lakes feature wood cover, dirty water, or sparse grass, making each outing a fresh challenge and learning opportunity.
Fortunately, Wisconsin’s variety of fisheries—from the sprawling Mississippi and St. Croix Rivers to hidden gems of clear- or stained-water lakes—has become an ideal testing ground for new baits and techniques. Some lakes mirror southern reservoir-style fisheries, while others retain a more traditional Midwestern feel. This variability is invaluable in Dan’s role, giving him real-world insight into how Rapala products perform across vastly different conditions.
The Jigging Rap: From Ice to Open Water Icon
One bait that has transcended its original purpose with remarkable success is the Rapala Jigging Rap. Originally developed over 50 years ago in Finland as an ice fishing lure, it had long been a cold-water staple for European and North American anglers. But its second life as an open-water powerhouse began about 10–15 years ago when Al Lindner and others started experimenting with it by snapping it through the water column during the open-water season.
The results were astounding. Walleye anglers across North America quickly adopted the technique, finding that snapping a Jigging Rap while slowly drifting or trolling at speeds like 0.75 mph triggered reaction bites better than many traditional presentations. It didn’t take long for the bait to become Rapala’s number-one selling hard bait, thanks to its dual utility for both ice and open water.
A Modern Match for Forward-Facing Sonar
Even more impressive is how the Jigging Rap has adapted to the latest revolution in fishing electronics: forward-facing sonar. The lure’s unique ability to dart horizontally and fall fast while retaining action at depth makes it a perfect match for targeting suspended fish in real time. Anglers like Dwayne “Dewey” Chelm have mastered the technique, catching fish in 50 feet of water over submerged trees using sonar to track fish movements and trigger bites with precise lure placement.
Its effectiveness isn’t limited to walleyes. Crappies, bluegills, smallmouth bass, and even rough fish like buffalo and carp have all fallen for the Jigging Rap’s erratic, reaction-triggering action. Southern bass anglers are increasingly using it vertically in deeper water during winter months, especially in scenarios where spoons used to dominate. Unlike most vertical baits, the Jigging Rap keeps moving on its descent, dancing and darting in a way that maintains fish-triggering action even at 20+ feet.
Customizing the Jigging Rap
Though the bait is fishable straight from the package, some anglers modify their setups. One common tweak is replacing the center treble with a bladed hybrid treble hook, which adds flash and vibration to attract fish. Ice anglers may clip the nose hook to reduce hangups when fighting fish through the hole.
Another key tip involves reducing line twist during casting. Dan prefers using a snap swivel at the nose of the bait, especially when casting rather than vertical jigging. This setup, paired with a braid-to-fluorocarbon leader, makes it easy to swap sizes and colors quickly while maintaining casting distance and minimizing line issues.
While many upper Midwest anglers traditionally placed a swivel up the line to reduce twist, Dan found that introducing the bait to bass pros across the country resulted in near-universal adoption of the snap-swivel-at-the-bait approach. It speaks to the versatility of the Jigging Rap—not just in how it’s used, but in how different anglers adapt it to fit their own systems.
Line Setup and the Evolution of Preference
When the Jigging Rap first gained popularity in open water, many anglers leaned on monofilament for its stretch and forgiveness. Over time, however, braided line with a fluorocarbon leader has become the more dominant setup, especially with modern spinning reels offering ultra-smooth drags. A common configuration is 10-pound braid to a 10- or 12-pound fluorocarbon leader.
That said, legendary anglers like Al Lindner still advocate for mono in specific situations, and it’s clear that personal preference, drag tuning, and hook choice all influence effectiveness. Some anglers, like Dewey on Lake Oahe, crank their drags tight, fish heavy braid, and land fish quickly—successfully bucking conventional finesse norms.
Breaking Down Sufix Braided Lines
Given Dan’s leadership role in product development at Sufix, the conversation naturally shifted to the variety of braided lines under the brand’s umbrella—including 832, ProMix, Nano Braid, and Revolve.
The flagship of the line is Sufix 832, a premium braid that incorporates a strand of Gore Performance Fiber to repel water and maintain roundness. This results in excellent casting performance and reduced line friction—making it a top-tier option for nearly any presentation. Highly versatile and durable, 832 is the go-to choice for many serious anglers.
One emerging trend in braided line is the increased demand for high-visibility colors, especially in spinning applications where line-watching is critical. Fluorescent colors help anglers detect subtle bites and line movement more effectively.
Introducing Revolve: The Braid for Spinning Tackle
Sufix recently launched Revolve, a next-generation braid designed specifically for spinning reels. Technically an evolution of Nano Braid, Revolve features a four-strand construction with an improved color profile and structural refinement. It’s available in ultra-light sizes ranging from 4- to 14-pound test and is ideal for casting small baits like hair jigs, micro cranks, or panfish plastics.
What sets Revolve apart is its careful balance between rigidity and softness. Too limp, and the line invites wind knots and guide wrap. Too stiff, and casting distance suffers. Revolve was designed to minimize these issues, offering clean line management, superior casting distance, and effective presentation with ultralight lures.
Though thinner than traditional braid, Revolve sacrifices some break strength to gain the stealth, distance, and handling performance that finesse spinning anglers demand. It’s especially useful in cold water, clear water, or when fish are ultra-finicky.
Line Innovation: Matching Braids to the Application
One of the most revealing parts of the conversation with Dan Quinn centers on Sufix braided line technology and how different lines serve different needs. The brand’s commitment to offering options for all anglers—from finesse bass specialists to heavy-duty musky chasers—has led to a carefully tiered product lineup that includes 832, Revolve, and ProMix.
Take Revolve, for example. This ultra-finesse braid has become a favorite among elite anglers—Jacob Wheeler exclusively runs 8-pound Revolve on all of his spinning setups. That’s a testament to its balance of castability, micro-diameter strength, and optimized stiffness to minimize wind knots. It’s the line of choice when accuracy, distance, and sensitivity are paramount.
In contrast, Pro-Mix offers high shock strength and is more affordable. It floats better (thanks to the absence of the Gore strand found in 832), making it ideal for topwater and heavy-duty applications like frog fishing or throwing pounders for musky. If you backlash with Pro-Mix, it holds up. If you do the same with Revolve or Nano Braid, the shock load could break the line—not a flaw, but a function of line design.
Then there’s Sufix 832, the premium workhorse. Its round profile, thanks to the Gore Performance Fiber, enhances casting distance and helps the line sink slightly—perfect for techniques like jerkbait fishing on spinning tackle, where you want controlled sink and line behavior in the wind. As Dan notes, 832 gives the angler versatility and performance across a wide spectrum of presentations.
Smart Features for Smart Anglers
A newer and well-received innovation in the Revolve line is a built-in midpoint marker. This simple detail allows anglers to efficiently split a spool between two reels—getting full performance from both without wasting line or overcomplicating the backing process. It’s a thoughtful touch that saves money and effort for meticulous anglers who like to rig with precision.
Dan also shared a relatable laugh about the common problem of spools with just a bit too little line left to fill a reel—those “third-of-a-reel” leftovers that seem to multiply in every gear box. Features like the midpoint marker help eliminate that problem.
Multi-Species Market: Still the Heart of Rapala
While bass dominate national tournament circuits and sales figures, Dan emphasized that multi-species fishing—especially across the Midwest—continues to be the foundation of Rapala’s identity. The region’s lakes and rivers demand lures that can catch everything from walleye to pike to smallmouth to crappie. This diversity has shaped the Rapala legacy: dependable lures that are easy to fish and flat-out catch fish.
That said, the last decade has seen a strategic shift, with Dan helping lead the push into the Southern bass market. By working with top-tier tournament anglers and developing purpose-built bass baits like the DT Series, PXR Mav, Jowler, and the explosive success of Crush City soft plastics, Rapala has rapidly expanded its credibility in the high-end bass space. Designed in collaboration with Jacob Wheeler and other elite pros, these products are winning tournaments and appearing on more rods nationwide.
And this growth hasn’t come at the cost of Rapala’s roots. They continue to support walleye and multi-species fishing, innovate in salmon and striper tackle (via Blue Fox and Luhr Jensen), and invest in diverse fisheries across the U.S., from the Great Lakes to the Columbia River.
Custom Colors and Hyper-Local Preferences
One of the most nuanced parts of Dan’s job is deciding what lure colors make the cut for each new product line. It’s a process that balances sales history with on-the-water intelligence from guides, pros, and regional experts.
For example, everyone knows Firetiger sells—and it’ll always be in the lineup. But anglers in specific fisheries like Green Bay’s Rippin’ Rap bite or Great Lakes trolling can be incredibly specific. One example: if your salmon plug doesn’t have a turquoise border on the chartreuse stripes and exactly two orange dots, it’s a nonstarter.
Dan’s approach is to listen to trusted voices on the water—the anglers who are testing colors in real-time and seeing fish reactions daily. As forward-facing sonar gives anglers more feedback than ever before, decisions like “they’re not biting purple, they want gold” are now backed by visual confirmation rather than guesswork. Trolling experts like Ross Robertson in Lake Erie provide invaluable insights into what colors consistently convert, and those trends directly shape Rapala’s product planning.
The lesson? Color matters. And Rapala’s responsive approach to regional preferences ensures they’re putting the right patterns in the right hands.
The Rippin’ Rap Bite and the Color You Never Have
As the discussion circled back to the ever-popular Rippin’ Rap the topic of color came full circle. A humorous moment emerged when it was revealed that, of all the Rip and Raps in one angler’s extensive collection, the one proven color—blue chrome—was missing. It’s a classic example of how one color can dominate a bite, and why smart anglers carry a full spread of patterns even when they think they’ve got it all.
Dan confirmed that blue chrome consistently performs across species and regions, whether you’re targeting Tennessee bass or Minnesota walleyes. If you’re building a Rip and Rap box, that color needs to be in it.
Tournament Trends and the Forward-Facing Sonar Revolution
The conversation then pivoted to a seismic shift in modern bass fishing: the influence of forward-facing sonar on tournament strategy. According to Dan, the past three years represent the biggest change in the history of competitive bass fishing. Anglers now spend far less time fishing blind and more time actively hunting individual fish with precision.
What once involved trusting conditions like wind, water temperature, or seasonal patterns has transformed into a visual process—seeing the fish, tracking their behavior, and casting directly to them. It’s a new era of angling, and one that’s reshaping everything from lure design to line setup to tournament tactics.
Forward-Facing Sonar and the Rise of “Shaking a Minnow”
The advent of forward-facing sonar (FFS) has revolutionized tournament fishing in ways no one could have anticipated a decade ago. At the center of this evolution is a simple yet deadly effective technique that has rapidly become the go-to for top-tier anglers: “shaking a minnow.”
With FFS, anglers are no longer guessing where the fish are—they’re seeing them, identifying their species, determining their direction of movement, and then placing a bait precisely in their path. In this hyper-targeted environment, the minnow-style bait, particularly those in Rapala’s Crush City line, has become a dominant player.
Matching bait size and jighead weight to the fish’s position and behavior has never been more critical. Whether you’re targeting suspended bass, crappies, or walleyes, the presentation is now fine-tuned to an art: subtle shakes, a hovering roll, and strategic positioning combine to provoke fish into reacting. The Freeloader, with its flat sides and neutral buoyancy, excels at mimicking injured baitfish and has become the tournament-standard plastic for this method.
Tournament Success Through Sonar and Precision Plastics
Tournament anglers across the country are embracing this new fishing paradigm. From casting at individual fish seen on FFS to refining bait action mid-cast, this “target and tease” method is helping pros rack up wins. While there’s still room for traditional presentations—like flipping a Bronco Bug at beds as Kyle Welcher did in a recent record-setting win—nearly every technique is now guided by sonar.
What’s even more remarkable is the influence sonar has had on tackle sales and lure trends. According to Dan, Rapala and VMC are moving “a lot of jigs and minnows,” and for good reason: when livelihoods are on the line, this is the gear that wins tournaments.
FFS hasn’t just pushed minnow baits to the forefront—it’s also revitalized demand for suspending jerkbaits like the Rapala Maverick and X-Rap, which allow anglers to play cat-and-mouse games with fish they can now see reacting in real time.
Tournament Trail Adaptations: Embracing or Banning Technology
While forward-facing sonar continues to dominate headlines, not all tournament circuits are embracing it the same way. The National Professional Fishing League (NPFL) has gone as far as to ban FFS entirely, encouraging more traditional techniques like spinnerbaiting, flipping, and buzzbait fishing.
Meanwhile, the Bass Pro Tour (BPT)—where stars like Jacob Wheeler, Ott DeFoe, and Dustin Connell compete—has implemented a split-period format. Anglers can only use FFS during one of the three periods per day, forcing them to fish more traditionally during the other two. This hybrid model strikes a balance between cutting-edge efficiency and the strategic depth of classic angling.
The takeaway? Competitive fishing is evolving fast, but leagues are responding in diverse ways, trying to preserve the integrity and excitement of multiple fishing styles.
Real-Time Lure Feedback: A New Era for Product Design
The real-time insights FFS provides are not just influencing tournament strategy—they’re reshaping lure development. No longer must product developers rely on assumptions about lure behavior. Now, they can see exactly how baits swim, sink, and react on the screen.
This has already refined Rapala’s understanding of things like crankbait diving depth, where anglers used to guess how deep a DT10 ran. Now, it’s exact. It’s measurable. And it’s shaping the next generation of designs.
FFS also aids in tactical decision-making. When fishing weedlines, for example, anglers can now track their bait’s precise location relative to clumps of coontail or isolated grass patches—adjusting their casting angles for optimal contact and bite-triggering movement.
In the southern U.S., sonar has turned brush pile fishing into an art form. Anglers can position a jerkbait just above or to the side of brush piles with surgical precision, watching every movement of the lure and every fish that follows—or strikes.
The Ethics and Pressure of Open-Water Fishing
Despite all the benefits, FFS isn’t without controversy. One major point of debate is its ability to expose suspended fish in open water—previously considered a refuge from angling pressure. Where once they drifted in “the abyss” beyond reach, now they’re among the most vulnerable targets.
Species like pre-spawn bass, which roam mid-column far from structure, are now easily picked off with minnow baits like the Freeloader or Mooch Minnow. This hyper-efficiency has sparked concern among some conservation-minded anglers. But as Dan notes, even these fish are starting to wise up, and the arms race between angler and prey continues.
Breaking Down the Gear: “Shaking a Minnow” Tackle System
Dan offered a full breakdown of the gear used in the now-iconic “shaking a minnow” presentation:
- Baits:
- Freeloader – Ideal for shaking due to its flat sides and subtle roll. Effective as a standalone bait or a trailer for chatterbaits or spinnerbaits.
- Mooch Minnow – TPE material with a subtle tail kick, best for more subtle or finesse-focused applications.
- Jigs:
- Hybrid Head – Features a 60-degree line tie, perfect for enhancing the rolling action of the Freeloader. Includes a screw-lock keeper for durability.
- Redline Tungsten Swimbait Jig – Designed for the Mooch Minnow. Tungsten material, matte gray finish, and a 90-degree line tie for minimal visual profile in clear water. Features a conical keeper and pairs well with super glue for all-day durability.
- Line Setup:
- Mainline: 8-10 lb braid
- Leader: 10-12 lb fluorocarbon
- Knots: Loop knot (for more roll) or Palomar (for simplicity and strength)
- Rod Setup:
- Rod Length: 6’6″ to 7’2″
- Action: Medium to Medium Fast
- Power: Lighter power for Mooch Minnow; slightly heavier for Freeloader to allow better control and hook setting
- Weights:
- Common weights are 1/8 oz to 3/16 oz
- A 3/16 oz Hybrid Head is considered the gold standard for the Freeloader—heavy enough to get down and stay in the strike zone, yet light enough to hang in place for a long time.
Dan hinted at a new jig head coming to market that will elevate this style even further—optimized through extensive on-the-water testing. With better bait control, improved hook-up ratios, and streamlined design, it’s poised to become the next essential tool for sonar-savvy anglers.
BASS, Tournaments, and the Forward-Facing Sonar Frontier
In addition to the Bass Pro Tour and NPFL circuits, the Bassmaster Elite Series—along with its feeder system through Bassmaster Opens and the B.A.S.S. Nation—remains a dominant force in the tournament world. While BASS allows forward-facing sonar (FFS) throughout its events, it has implemented restrictions on total screen size to prevent obstructed visibility and to preserve the visual balance on anglers’ boats.
The Bassmaster structure is robust and offers a clear pathway for aspiring pros. It starts at the club level, progresses through Nationals and the Opens, and culminates in the Elite Series, where the best in the world compete. Dan noted that the Elites were fishing Lake Fork at the time of the conversation, and long-time Rapala pro Seth Feider was already boating big fish—a testament to both the quality of anglers and the quality of Rapala gear in top-level competition.
The Rise of Smallmouth: A Northern Icon Goes National
While much of the discussion focused on largemouth, Dan emphasized the growing significance of smallmouth bass in tournament and recreational fishing. Once considered a northern novelty, smallmouth now play a major role in tournaments across the country.
They’re also far more widespread than many anglers realize. Fishing with Ott DeFoe in Tennessee, Dan has encountered strong smallmouth populations that behave quite differently from their northern cousins. But up north—on the Great Lakes, the St. Lawrence River, and famed lakes like Mille Lacs—the fishing for smallmouth has reached historic highs.
These fisheries are tailor-made for modern presentations, including the Freeloader, Mooch Minnow, drop shots, and perhaps most fun of all, topwaters. For Dan, there’s no better way to catch smallmouth than watching them crush a surface bait, especially when they’re keyed in on specific colors like clown pink or hothead X-Raps.
And as Dan pointed out, smallmouth seem to be expanding their range, showing up in greater numbers in lakes where they were once scarce or even absent. For upper Midwest anglers, that means more opportunities than ever to target these aggressive, acrobatic fish.
