Rapala

Rapala – The Wounded Minnow Legend 
The History. The Fisherman, the Knife, and the Balsa Wood

The story of Rapala is the quintessential fishing tale, beginning in the rugged, lake-studded wilderness of Vääksy, Finland, in the 1930s. The founder, Lauri Rapala, was a humble fisherman who made his living by commercial fishing. He observed that predator fish, like Pike and Zander, exclusively targeted the weakest, injured minnows. Lauri realized that if he could perfectly imitate the erratic, struggling swim of a wounded baitfish, he could catch more.

In 1936, using a shoemaker’s knife, a piece of balsa wood, and tinfoil from chocolate bar wrappers, Lauri carved and created the Original Floating Minnow (the Original Floater). He perfected its action by watching it in the water, tuning it with his hands until it swam with that unmistakable, vulnerable wobble.

Rapala’s true global explosion came much later, in 1962, when Life Magazine featured an article highlighting two of the best-selling items in America: Marilyn Monroe and the Rapala lure. This exposure instantly turned the small Finnish bait into an international phenomenon. Today, Rapala is the world’s largest lure manufacturer, still guided by the ethos of perfection set by Lauri Rapala almost a century ago.

The Lure: The Original Floater – The Immortal Classic

The Rapala Original Floater is the bedrock upon which the company—and arguably modern plug fishing—is built.

Wounded Minnow Action: Its defining feature is the unique, subtle, side-to-side wobble that perfectly mimics a vulnerable or injured minnow. This action is not aggressive or loud; it’s an invitation to an easy meal that predatory fish simply cannot pass up.

Balsa Wood Craftsmanship: The Floater is made from lightweight balsa wood, which gives it its signature buoyancy and sensitive action. Each lure is still individually hand-tuned and tank-tested to ensure its perfect, deadly swim right out of the box—a tradition honoring Lauri’s own dedication.

Versatility: The Original Floater is legendary because of its versatility. It can be fished on the surface (floating), retrieved slowly just below the surface, or trolled deep with a downrigger, making it effective for everything from Trout and Bass to giant King Salmon.