Rapala VMC pro staffer JP DeRose dives deep into the The Suspect, a 2.75-inch swimbait released as part of the 2024 Canadian CrushCity lineup. One of the key benefits of The Suspect is its multi-species versatility. Its profile and action make it perfect for finessing walleye, smallmouth and largemouth bass, trout and whitefish - yet, the bait is also makes irresistible meal for yellow perch, crappie and other panfish. Simply put, fish of all sizes absolutely crush The Suspect.
Like all of the Canadian additions to the CrushCity soft bait lineup, The Suspect is made of Super TPE (aka Thermoplastic elastomer), an extremely durable, stretchy, buoyant and temperature tolerant material. As one might expect, this plastic’s unique characteristics translate into a host of benefits for anglers when fishing this custom-designed, finesse swimbait.
For example, The Suspect delivers off-the-charts durability. Resiliency is a bonus anytime you’re fishing a soft plastic, but it’s particularly beneficial when using a finesse bait with a thin, supple appendage, like The Suspect’s tail. Trust us, you’ll be blown away at the number of fish you can catch on the same bait - even when it’s lightly nose-hooked on a VMC RedLine Series Drop Shot Hook, for instance.
Super TPE’s durability also means you’ll spend more time fishing instead of having to constantly take breaks to re-rig a torn-up PVC/Plastisol-style soft plastic or put on an entirely new bait. You’ll also get more second chances on short-striking fish unable to tear off The Suspect tail on the first attack and end up coming back in a rage - which adds up to a lot more fish getting caught in the day.
Along with impressive toughness, Super TPE is heat stable and also won’t freeze. This makes The Suspect as suitable for catching fish in the extreme heat of summer as in the bone-chilling frigid temperatures northern anglers face when ice fishing.
Super TPE’s high buoyancy also contributes to the bait’s fish-catching efficiency. This characteristic means The Suspect will maintain a natural, horizontal baitfish position on a drop shot rig or when it’s used for moping (Damiki rigging). Additionally, high floatation causes The Suspect to stand in a tail-up position when it’s fished on a Swingin’ Ned Rig Jig or Ned Rig Jig and is allowed to rest on bottom, or is slowly worked along the lakebed.
Another advantage DeRose discusses is Rapala makes every CrushCity soft bait using Smart Injection Technology. This innovative manufacturing process allows for the perfect placement and exact quantity of salt and scent, which combined with Super TPE’s incredible pliability, give The Suspect a natural, swimming action capable of tempting even the most reluctant fish.
Smart Injection Technology also lets Rapala dial-in specific custom colour patterns with incredible clarity. Even better, this Rapala-exclusive process ensures the consistent replication of this winning formula for every CrushCity bait.
“Smart Injection Technology allows Rapala to make very detailed molds that have lots of texture on them, but more importantly, can specifically place the fleck, the colour layers, the scent and even the salt in the bait, with accuracy that gives you a consistent look to every bait,” DeRose said.
Along with bottom-contact jig and drop shot tactics, DeRose says another reliable way to catch fish on The Suspect is putting it on a Ned Rig Jig or Neon Moon Eye Jig, casting it out and then slowly reeling it back. The retrieve is similar to how one would fish a spybait and catches all kinds of fish. Not to be overlooked is the strike-triggering appeal of The Suspect adds when used as a trailer on dressed jigs, like the VMC Bucktail Jig or Hot Skirt Glow Jig. The list goes on.
“I can see it working for just about anything that swims in Canada,” DeRose said as the bottom line note about The Suspect. “Whether you’re fishing for panfish, like perch and crappie, or you’re looking to catch trout, or you want to go walleye, smallmouth or largemouth bass fishing, The Suspect 2.75-inch is going to be perfect. With all the colour variances, no matter what water clarity you deal with, no matter what the pattern is on the lake you’re fishing, or what baitfish you’re trying to imitate - check out 2.75-inch The Suspect swimbait. This thing is going to catch a ton of fish this year.”
FEATURED PRODUCTS (CANADA)
CrushCity The Suspect
VMC Swingin’ Ned Rig Jig | www.rapala.ca/ca_en/snrj-swin...
VMC Ned Rig Jig | www.rapala.ca/ca_en/nrj-ned-r...
VMC Neon Moon Eye | www.rapala.ca/ca_en/nme-neon-...
VMC RedLine Series Drop Shot Hook | www.rapala.ca/ca_en/rsds-redl...
VMC Swimbait Jig | www.rapala.ca/ca_en/hsbj-hybr...
VMC Bucktail Jig | www.rapala.ca/ca_en/bkj-buckt...
VMC Hot Skirt Glow Jig | www.rapala.ca/ca_en/hsg-hot-s...