Rapala Countdown Elite 9.5cm 14g Gilded Red Head

Rapala Countdown Elite 9.5 cm 14 g – Controlled Sinking for Precise Depth Fishing

The Countdown Elite (CDE) carries Rapala's legendary slow-sink tradition into a modern, high-performance balsa body — pairing seductive flutter with long casting and tough-water durability. The Gilded Red Head colorway adds a bold, metallic flash that triggers reaction strikes in both clear and stained water.

Handcrafted Balsa Action That Sinks on Your Terms

Cut from genuine balsa wood, the Countdown Elite sinks at a controlled, consistent rate — roughly 30 cm (about 12 in) per second — so you can countdown to any depth and know exactly where your lure is working. On the fall it produces a tight, enticing flutter that trout and perch find hard to ignore. Modern construction refinements over the classic Countdown deliver noticeably greater casting distance and accuracy without sacrificing any of that hand-tuned action.

Gilded Finish, Heavy-Duty Hardware

The Gilded Red Head finish combines HD printing with metallic effects that shift and flash as the lure sinks and swims. Through wire construction and heavy-duty split rings keep the body locked solid even when pike or larger predators crash the party. Two 2X strong black nickel treble hooks by VMC provide sharp, reliable hook-ups with minimal corrosion risk.

Choose the Right Variant

Every colour in the Countdown Elite 9.5 cm / 14 g range shares the same balsa body, sinking action and VMC hardware. Pick your finish to match the water and target species:

• Gilded Red Head — bold red-and-white contrast; excellent attractor colour in coloured or overcast conditions; strong for perch and trout

• Gilded Gold Ayu — golden baitfish imitation; versatile all-round choice in clear water

• Gilded Glass Ghost — translucent shad pattern; cold, clear conditions; perch and trout

• Gilded Chartreuse Yamame — high-visibility chartreuse; off-colour or deep water

• Gilded Pearl Orange — warm metallic pearl; low-light mornings and evenings

• Gilded Live Roach — roach imitation; rivers and still waters with coarse prey

• Gilded Clown — multi-colour attractor; stained water, pike

• Gilded Silver Shad — silver baitfish; clear water, any predator

• Gilded Maiwashi — sardine-style shad pattern; versatile

• Gilded Inakko — subtle naturalistic finish; pressured, clear water

• Gilded Rainbow Trout — trout-on-trout; cannibal triggers in trout waters

• Gilded Minnow — classic minnow; universal predator appeal

• Gilded Ayu — sweetfish pattern; clear mountain rivers, trout

• Gilded Yamame — yamame trout pattern; mountain streams

• Gilded Gold Shad — gold shad; warm, tannin-stained water

• Gilded Oikawa — slender silver-blue; clear, calm conditions

• Gilded Red Belly — red belly trigger; cold water, low light

• Gilded Wakasagi — smelt imitation; lake trolling and vertical jigging

• Gilded Gold Red — gold-and-red; attractor in dirty water or winter

• Gilded Chartreuse Orange Belly — chartreuse back, orange belly; deep or murky water

• Gilded Firetiger — classic pike trigger; coloured or weedy conditions

• Gilded Iwana — char pattern; mountain lake and stream trout

• Gilded Gold Orange — warm gold-orange; autumn pike and perch

Facts

• Length: 95 mm (9.5 cm)

• Weight: 14 g

• Swimming action: Sinking

• Body material: Balsa wood

• Hooks: 2X strong black nickel treble hooks by VMC

• Hardware: Heavy-duty split rings, through-wire construction

• Target species: Perch, trout (and other predators)

• Lure type: Hard bait / Wobbler

• Supplied: 1 lure in selected colour