The Ol' Shad Rap Strikes Again

[everythingthatswims]

By far the biggest drum I have ever caught at 9.2lbs. I was shocked by how well it fought! Thought I had hooked a musky!

[jr231]

I wouldnt be that shocked !  Depending on the gear you were using ... 9lbs could feel like a monster. Do you have musky hit that shad rap ? 

[Bluebasser86]

Big drum are hard pullers. I like to sight fish them when I see them. They're a sucker for a Ned rig but I've caught them on about everything. 

[Gundog]

That is a big, bad drum.  Attaboy!

[everythingthatswims]

13 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

Big drum are hard pullers. I like to sight fish them when I see them. They're a sucker for a Ned rig but I've caught them on about everything. 

No matter what I throw at them, the ones here will swim up to the bait, kiss it, and spook! I have only caught one sight fishing with an artificial. Live craws on the other hand....

14 hours ago, Yeajray231 said:

I wouldnt be that shocked !  Depending on the gear you were using ... 9lbs could feel like a monster. Do you have musky hit that shad rap ? 

I don't think there's a fish out there that won't hit a shad rap! I caught the fish on a medium extra fast spinning rod.

[jr231]

What type of line do you use with that particular shad rap size ? 

[JustJames]

Suck, no drum here in CA i guess.

good fish by the way.

[everythingthatswims]

5 hours ago, Yeajray231 said:

What type of line do you use with that particular shad rap size ? 

10lb seems to be the best size line for #5, #6, and #7 which are the ones I use for bass. Anywhere 8lb-12lb line is good, but if you use 12 it better be fluoro because they won't dive very deep on mono that size. Problem is they are balsa and have a funny shape and casting them can be difficult, so most people use them on spinning rods. I like using them on a baitcaster usually but most of them twist up your line on the cast.

[Bluebasser86]

I fished the #5 a lot this past winter on 8lb mono and a spinning rod. It was one my best producing baits by far. 

[jr231]

Yea I usually use them with braid... on a spinning rod. I just caught a bunch of slack for this on another thread but it works for me.. id say the biggest bass I caught on a shad rap is 4-5lbs. You were targeting musky though ? Or just anything that would hit ? It looks like a 07 to me am I wrong ? 

All of rapalas products man.. seriously. Best value I've found. 

[everythingthatswims]

5 minutes ago, Yeajray231 said:

Yea I usually use them with braid... on a spinning rod. I just caught a bunch of slack for this on another thread but it works for me.. id say the biggest bass I caught on a shad rap is 4-5lbs. You were targeting musky though ? Or just anything that would hit ? It looks like a 07 to me am I wrong ? 

All of rapalas products man.. seriously. Best value I've found. 

It's a #6, I pretty much stick with that size but may change one size up or down depending on conditions and depth. I landed one that measured 23" on a shad rap last year in December, I would say it was in the mid 6lb range.

When I caught the drum, I was trolling a shad rap intending to catch walleye, but any time you fish a shad rap you are pretty much targeting all species.

[Gotfishyfingers?]

Nice Catch! Shad raps rock. I've got small blk/white tied on a spinning rod year round too. I like the all white iridescent one also but those one are made of plastic not balsa. check um out.

[scaleface]

I catch drum often while bass fishing . They feel huge at first because they turn their body sideways , catching a lot of water like a sail .