Barracuda Baits Tournament Series 3.2" inch RipRap Soft Plastic Bait
Barracuda Baits
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Barracuda Baits
Barracuda Baits Tournament Series 3.2" inch RipRap Soft Plastic Bait
How, where, and why it excels
Swimbait Jig Head (1/8–1/4 oz)
When & where: Rip‑rap banks, dam faces, rock edges, and wind lanes.
How: Cast parallel; slow‑roll so the tail ticks without rolling; brief stalls after cover contact.
Why this rig: Head‑true minnow with a tight, believable thump that tracks clean in current and along rock.
Colors: Rip‑rap + wind/stain → White Chartreuse, Silver Bullet. Sunny/clear → Baby Bass, Green Pumpkin Gold Flake. Low light → Pearl.
Tuning: If it rides up, step one weight heavier; if it rolls, re‑thread straight and trim 1/8" off the head.
Ball / Round Jig Head (1/16–3/16 oz)
When & where: River current seams, transition banks, and edges of grass.
How: Slow drag with 6–12" pulls or a near‑bottom slow‑roll; pause on rock tops and contour lips.
Why: Compact baitfish signal that gets eaten by bass and walleye when bigger swimmers are too much.
Colors: Clear rivers → Baby Bass, Green Pumpkin Gold Flake. Smallmouth over rock → Chartreuse Purple. Stain → Pearl or White Chartreuse.
Micro Underspin (1/8–1/4 oz)
When & where: Wind, stain, or low light across flats and grass edges.
How: Steady retrieve with brief stalls after cover contact; keep it in the lane.
Why: Adds flash to the tight kick—deadly search presentation for smallmouth and walleye.
Colors: Wind/low light → Silver Bullet, Pearl, White Chartreuse. Muddy/dawn → Hot Pink. Rocky smallmouth water → Chartreuse Purple.
Hover / Strolling Head (1/16–1/8 oz)
When & where: Suspended fish over points/humps and along channel edges; forward‑facing sonar friendly.
How: Glide on semi‑slack with micro shakes; keep the bait eye‑level; avoid big sweeps.
Why: Slim body + tight tail quiver holds fish tracking on screen.
Colors: Clear/suspended → Baby Bass, Pearl. Bright sun → Silver Bullet. Light stain → Green Pumpkin Gold Flake.
Drop Shot (nose‑hook)
When & where: Vertical targets, deep edges, and fish seen on electronics.
How: 8–16" leader; soft shakes in place; micro‑swim forward 1–2 ft, then hang.
Why: Tight tail kick sells a tiny baitfish—LM/SM, walleye, and trout eat it when suspended.
Colors: Vertical/clear → Pearl, Baby Bass. Stain or deeper → Silver Bullet. Wind lanes → White Chartreuse.
Swim / Bladed Jig Trailer (situational)
When & where: Smaller profile trailers for pressured fish, especially in stain or wind.
How: Slow‑roll; add quarter‑turn pops to re‑engage vibration after contact.
Why: Stabilizes the bait and adds subtle baitfish flash without extra drag. If the blade thump dulls, shorten 1/4–1/2".
Colors: Stain + wind → White Chartreuse, Silver Bullet. Clear water → Pearl, Baby Bass. Smallmouth rock → Chartreuse Purple.
Trim & Mods (quick hits)
- Keep it straight: Any kink causes roll; re‑thread if needed.
- Tail control: If the kick is too strong in cold water, square the paddle corners slightly.
- Line: 6–10 lb fluoro or braid‑to‑fluoro leader keeps cadence honest.
Dial it in
- Clear (6–10+ ft): Natural shad/smoke, translucent hues; slower cadences.
- Stained (2–6 ft): Pearls/whites with dark back; steady grind with brief stalls.
- Dirty (<2 ft) / Low light: Solid white or high‑contrast silhouettes; underspin for added flash.
- Wind/current: Step up head weight for tracking; use parallel angles along rip‑rap.
- Cold front: Lighten the head to keep it higher; longer hangs on pauses.
Stocked Colors (initial set)
- Baby Bass: clear water / mixed forage; natural green back over pearl belly.
- Black: dirty water, night, silhouette‑driven bites.
- Green Pumpkin Gold Flake: sun or light stain; rock/grass—adds micro flash without losing natural look.
- Silver Bullet: bright shad look for open water and sun.
- White Chartreuse: stain + wind; rip‑rap lanes and grass edges (high visibility).
- Pearl: low light or clear/stain hybrid; pairs well with micro underspins.
- Chartreuse Purple: smallmouth favorite; overcast/wind; contrast over rock.
- Hot Pink: reaction/visibility in mud, dawn/dusk, or when pressured fish snub naturals.
This is the initial set for this profile; additional colors will be added to high‑movement profiles as they expand.
Specs & Build
- Length: 3.2" (81.3 mm)
- Profile: Streamlined minnow with tight paddle kick
- Material: Plastisol soft plastic
- Species: Bass (LM/SM/Spots), Walleye, Trout
- Best Pairings: Swimbait Head (1/8–1/4), Ball/Round Head (1/16–3/16), Micro Underspin (1/8–1/4), Hover/Strolling (1/16–1/8), Drop Shot (nose‑hook), Swim/Bladed Jig Trailer (situational)
- Availability: Ships in 1–3 days from San Antonio, TX. Some orders may ship from Cedar Falls, IA.
Care & Storage
Store flat in the original bag. Separate darks/lights to avoid dye bleed. Bagged (no clamshell).
Plastics Recycling
Don't toss torn baits, recycle or dispose of properly. Learn more here: Soft Plastics Recycling.
Proof & Community
On‑the‑Water Notes
- Rip‑rap program: Parallel casts; slow‑roll; pause on rock tops. Many bites on the stall.
- Electronics game: Hover/stroll on marks; eats on the hang or the slow glide away.
- Edges & transitions: Ball head slow‑roll along grass/rock lines; tick cover, then kill for one count.
Species Notes
- Bass: Swimbait head, ball head, hover, drop shot, or underspin. Natural/translucent in clear; whites/pearls in stain.
- Walleye: Ball head or underspin along breaks and seams; slow‑roll just off bottom; lengthen pauses.
- Trout: 1/16–1/8 oz heads in rivers; swing through tailouts/seams; hover over deep pools.
Related Products
- Barracuda 3" Tracer Shad (FFS) — slim minnow for forward‑facing sonar work and hovering fish.
- Parsons 3.5" Paddle Tail Shiner — classic paddletail with more thump for stain and wind.
- Doug’s 3.75" Rippin’ Shad — elongated shad profile for covering water.
- Doug’s 3.75" Coreshot Rippin’ Shad — coreshot contrast for low‑light or stain.
- Doug’s 4" Pintail Shad — subtle pintail for ultra‑clear water and finesse retrieves.
- Barracuda 4" Tracer Shad (FFS) — upsized FFS minnow for longer reach and presence.
- Barracuda 4.4" Scorpion Tail Dangler — action tail option when you need extra flicker.
Q&A
Q: Why pick the Riprap Minnow over a bigger paddletail?
A: The 3.2" size keeps a tight, natural kick that shines on rock banks, in current, and with pressured fish—plus it cross‑trains on hover, drop shot, and micro underspins.
