Rapala

In Finland, almost a century ago, a fisherman observed that the fish who hunted down and swallowed other fish always firstly sought out those that swam hesitantly. Lauri Rapala, the fisherman, knew that if he could come up with a device in the shape of a fish that seemed to swim twisting around, he would have a much better bait than any of his old hooks. The bait worked, so much so that it made him famous and has given name to one of the best devices for fishing in calm waters. The first time I held a rapala in my hands, it seemed to be a joke, but that changed once I threw it in the river. The weightless rapala imitates a fish better than a fish can imitate itself, coming at you at the speed that the hand allows it, like a shadow swishing around and more real than the hidden shadow of the trout.

A rapala is nothing more and nothing less than an excellent and precious bait: an art of fishing.