When you start seriously targeting pike, sooner or later you run into the Rapala BX Big Brat Pike Limited Edition. And honestly? It’s one of those lures that looks a bit wild in the box but starts making sense the moment you throw it into nasty pike territory—rocks, weeds, wood, and shallow structure.

I’ve spent some time experimenting with this lure style, and it’s a fun one because it’s built specifically for aggressive predator fishing. Let’s talk about why it works, how to fish it, and a few tricks that can actually help you catch more pike.

What makes the Rapala BX Big Brat special?

The design is actually pretty clever. The lure uses a balsa wood core wrapped in a tough copolymer shell, which combines the natural movement of balsa with the durability of hard plastic.

That means two important things:

• Great natural action in the water

• Strong enough to survive pike teeth and hard cover

Some quick specs anglers like to know:

• Length: ~7 cm

• Weight: ~21–22 g

• Diving depth: roughly 0.2–1.8 m depending on retrieve

• Hooks: strong VMC treble hooks designed for predators

The lure also has a wild, rumbling action and kicks up sand on the bottom, making it great as a search bait when you're trying to locate active pike.

In simple terms: this lure is made to annoy big fish into attacking.

Why it’s actually great for pike fishing

Pike are ambush predators. They love:

• sudden movement

• vibration

• prey that looks confused or injured

The BX Big Brat does all three.

Because it’s a square-bill crankbait, it tends to bounce off rocks, wood, and structure instead of getting stuck. This is huge when fishing pike waters full of weeds and logs. Balsa helps it float back up after hitting cover, reducing snags.

That bouncing motion often triggers reaction strikes from pike hiding nearby.

My favorite ways to fish the BX Big Brat

1. Cast-and-bang retrieve

This is the simplest and often the best.

1. Cast near structure

2. Retrieve steadily

3. Let the lure hit rocks or wood

4. Keep cranking

That sudden deflection is exactly when pike attack.

2. Stop-and-go retrieve

This one works great when fish are lazy.

• Reel 3–4 turns

• Pause for a second

• Repeat

Because the lure floats, it rises during pauses, which often triggers strikes from following fish.

3. Rod pull technique

A lot of anglers swear by this method.

Instead of constant reeling:

• pull the lure with your rod

• reel the slack

• repeat

Anglers on Reddit often describe this style simply as “pull, reel slack, pull again”, and report good pike results with that motion.

Where this lure works best

From my experience, this lure shines in:

1. Shallow weedy lakes
Perfect for running above weed beds.

2. Rocky river edges
Square-bill crankbaits excel around rocks.

3. Early autumn and spring
When pike move into shallower water.

4. Searching big areas
Its vibration and action help locate active fish quickly.

Final thoughts

The Rapala BX Big Brat Pike Limited Edition isn’t the most famous pike lure out there—but honestly, it should be.

It’s durable, aggressive, and perfect for fishing rough structure where big pike live. If you like reaction strikes and covering water quickly, it’s a fantastic lure to have tied on.

And the best part? It’s one of those lures where you never quite know what will hit it next.

Sometimes bass.
Sometimes a monster pike.
Sometimes both.

That unpredictability is exactly why fishing it is fun.

We have five very cool limited colors in stock in our store.

Check these Rapalas in our store: https://darkagelures.com/