Suggestions for Very Shallow Running Jerkbait?

[Cptndeez64]

Does anyone have suggestions for a jerkbait that runs super shallow? I fish a large pond/small lake that doesn't get very deep. There's a dam that is the deepest part that I can't throw a "normal shallow" jerkbait such as a 6th Sense Provoke, Rapala X-Rap, etc without running it into the bottom. They get all mucked up half way through the retrieve. Thanks in advance for your help. 

[roadwarrior]

The original Rapala might be the ticket!

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Rapala_Original_Floater/descpage-ROF.html?from=gshop&gclid=Cj0KCQiAkuP9BRCkARIsAKGLE8VBaO-2grkBl-5_2gwrOSqzrIwaZVMEgGFPc7oAModxqVvmuv35oO4aAsn9EALw_wcB

[Muddy wolf]

I use bomber long a floating. I’ve got a lot of bass in water 6 in to 3 foot of water with them. My best color is fire tiger. 

[PourMyOwn]

2 hours ago, roadwarrior said:

The original Rapala might be the ticket!

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Rapala_Original_Floater/descpage-ROF.html?from=gshop&gclid=Cj0KCQiAkuP9BRCkARIsAKGLE8VBaO-2grkBl-5_2gwrOSqzrIwaZVMEgGFPc7oAModxqVvmuv35oO4aAsn9EALw_wcB

A couple of storm suspend strips on a Rapala and you'll have what you're looking for.

[deep]

Vision 110 Junior, Flashminnow 110, Vision 110 Magnum.

All of these will stay at or above 3 feet on 10-12# fluoro. Use mono/ braid to go even shallow.

(disclaimer: I have not done too well on the Vision 110 Junior, but added that in just in case you want a smaller bait.)

 

Couple others:

Daiwa TD minnow (Not sure of the exact model unfortunately. I have one of the discontinued models that dives to ~2-3 ft and is a pretty fast riser).

Megabass X-120.

Wander 80 (not sure if they make bigger sizes) is a sinking jerkbait. Works like a Senko in the top few feet of the water column.

[Bluebasser86]

The Rapala Shadow Rap Shad dives pretty shallow and also floats up moderately fast. I've been using one over shallow weeds at the lake by my house with decent success.

[Happybeerbuzz]

Rapala Ripstop 9. For me, it gets left in the tackle box because it runs too shallow.  

[zell_pop1]

Yo Zuri 3db.

[Captain Phil]

Excalibur Swim'n Image.

 

 

[A-Jay]

Right Here ~ 

A-Jay

 

[OkobojiEagle]

Rapala Flat rap

 

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[Paul Roberts]

Ditto, all the above. My favorites:

 

-Original Rapala, can be cranked down and twitched. Repeated twitching will keep it down (~2ft) but it must keep moving to stay down. I add some lead strips to some of them to slow the rise rate, allowing for slower horizontal speed, which can be critical in cold water. Other floating "minnow plugs" work too, and I've spent some time weighting several different ones over the years.

 

-Been using the Rapala Shadow Rap Shad too, as BB86 mentions. It's got a short lip and is a slow-riser. I weight some of these too, to get a full suspender, important in really cold water where fish will not move for it. It does dive some ~3ft but keeping the rod tip up when popping it, keeps it up.

 

-The little X-Rap 8cm. Separating this one bc it has a unique place in the X-Rap being the most weedless of jerks, the lip having a smooth transition from line tie into the body. The small 8cm (3") size takes good fish in cold water or in high visibility conditions.

 

-"Twitch-Baits", like the Sub-Walk A-Jay mentions. I also like the Twitch-n Rap and the Sebile StickShadd. The latter comes in many configurations -several sizes and floating, suspending, and sinking- which is pretty thoughtful; I believe it was Patrick's overall favorite lure, so he's made something of a "tool kit" of it. He also has a new one called the Twitshad, which he's sent me but I haven't tried yet. Knowing Patrick, it's bound to be a good twitch-bait.

 

Pick one or two and have at it! Every water is a little different in layout and you'll find your favorites, or make something work. It's not "the lure" but what it does and you can adjust that.

 

 

[sdsc357]

I like all the above. Add the R2S Humbug minnow.

[galyonj]

On 11/22/2020 at 3:55 AM, zell_pop1 said:

Yo Zuri 3db.

My first thought was a floater  like a YZ crystal minnow with some suspendstrips or dots.

 

Another trick that has worked really well for me is a regular 6' suspending jerkbait, but I snap the rod tip upwards instead of laterally once I feel like I'm at the depth I want.

 

[Teal]

Another vote for the rapala subwalk

 

Really you can go with any fast floating balsa bait and dial it in from there.

 

Sometimes in the situation I'll go with a fluke jr on light line.  It wont float but you can keep it high in the water column or under the surface.  I have one tied on a spinning rod now with 8 lb mono.  Its light enough that I can pop it few times and it's high then when I pause, it sinks slowly till I pop it again.  If you feel like you need it suspend look at a hard bait

 

I have a few x raps that I fish alot in late fall.   Old school long A bombers are good too.  

[Cdn Angler]

Duo Realis Rozante is my choice. Small and super shallow. 

[Cptndeez64]

Thanks everyone for all of those great recommendations. There were a couple in there I own (subwalk & ripstop) and I have not tried at this particular lake, so I'll doing that this week. And there were quite a few that I just added to my TW sale list.

Maybe I'll come back to this thread and let you all know if I have success with a particular lure.

[GetFishorDieTryin]

3 hours ago, Cdn Angler said:

Duo Realis Rozante is my choice. Small and super shallow. 

SSHHHHHH

[GetFishorDieTryin]

Most of the lakes around me are really shallow and I ran into the same problems.  If your using braid, try using a 9 or 10ft mono leader, the thicker it is the shallower it will run.  Instead of snapping the rod down when you twitch it snap the rod up. Try these...

 

06 and 08 X Rap can be fished fairly shallow especially the 06.  The hooks arent sharp enough to stick fish that hit while your line is slack, consider upgrading the hooks

 

Lucky Craft Pointer 78 doesn't dive very deep, but if you want it suspend you need to add just a little bit of a suspending strip.

 

Shadow Rap Shad is a slow floater that can be made into a suspending JB pretty easily with suspend dot or strips.  Just like other Rapalas the hooks arent the best.  The flat sides are great for flash, but fishing in any kind of stiff wind can really hurt the casting distance.

 

Duo Rozante 63 and 77 are both outstanding JBs.  Its really effective and can dive 2-5 or 6 feet depending on gear and retrieve.  The 63 doesnt dive as deep and has a slightly faster rise then the 77.  The sides of the bait are rounded which gives you a little more action on a twitch compared to flat side JB.  The 63 and 77 are one of the few smaller JBs that have a super effective weight transfer system that allows you bomb them.  These are my favorite JBs to throw in the winter by far.

 

Duo Realis 85 sp JB is an excellent JB for shallow water.  The 85 doesnt dive as deep as the Rozante 77.  It has a slow float to it but can be modified to suspend.  Just like the Rozantes the hooks are stupid sharp, the patterns awesome, but somewhat limited.  There may not be a bunch of different colors to pick from, but you wont have any trouble finding a pattern that matches the forage where your fishing.  Unlike the Rozantes the 85 has flat sides so it throws a ton of flash and has a tighter wobble.  It lacks a weight transfer system but casts really well.

 

Damiki Slim Jack is a really shallow diving JB.  Its a longer bait than other JB listed here, but the body is slim so it doesn't have a really big profile under water.  The deepest ive gotten it to run was about 2.5 or 3ft.  Its has a somewhat quick rise but can be modified easily with lead strips. 

 

Out of all of these the DUOs are my favorite and they give you the most for your money.  The 85 sp and the 77sp compliment each other well.  I would recommend getting the Rozy 77sp and the 85 sp to start.  They have different actions so if your not getting bit on one odds are the other will work.