Rapala shad rap

[Dan N]

What’s anyone’s experience with this bait? I’ve seen a couple videos of some pro fishermen talking these up as great cold water baits . I have many from my walleye fishing days. Gotta be a spinning rod bait, I would think. Super light.

[Scott804]

Deadly weapon from now till April. 

[gim]

13 minutes ago, Dan N said:

I have many from my walleye fishing days.

I’ve got a few too from years past of walleye fishing. They were an effective lure when trolled at various speeds. I still have them but I can’t recall a single time when I have caught a bass on one.

 

I’ve also got a couple of the magnum versions, the Super Shad Rap, that I use when trolling for muskies.

[TnRiver46]

Shad rap is wonderful but fragile and pricey. It works when it’s hot outside too 

[GreenPig]

43 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

Shad rap is wonderful but fragile and pricey. It works when it’s hot outside too 

Berkley Flicker Shad is more durable and dives a bit deeper. 

[GetFishorDieTryin]

They work in the late fall/early winter but they really shine for me mid feb-early april.  Its a PITA, but if you drill a hole in one and add enough lead to get it suspend they become far more effective and work all winter.  The issue is you have to tank test as you add the weight and no 2 baits are exactly the same.  That means the amount of lead it takes to achieve suspension in the given water temp has always been different for me.  

[Team9nine]

Great bait. Can cast larger sizes, say No. 7 and up on a good baitcast rig, especially if weighted. A spinning outfit works well, too, especially for the smaller No. 5 and 6. I use Suspend Dots and Strips most times to weight. Agree with it’s reputation as a cold water staple in many tackleboxes - now through early spring (water 50 and under). A nice alternative for fish that see a lot of jerkbaits.

[smalljaw67]

I love the #5 shad rap from Fall right through Spring. I also use it in the warm water period if the fish are just bumping other cranks. A really good alternative is the Bagley Balsa Shad. I have those in the #5 and #7 and the action is very close to the shad rap.

[Spankey]

Might possibly be my most productive crankbait. I throw it from when I start my season until the last day of my season. For me water temp doesn’t effect it’s use. 
 

They can be a bit pricey, catch them on sale. This time of year. There are Plenty of sizes on this bait. 

[OkobojiEagle]

I prefer the X-rap Shad... much easier casting.

 

oe

[DitchPanda]

I use the shallow version in the spring and fall around rocks and have had great success with them when the conditions are right.

[Deleted account]

9 hours ago, gimruis said:

I’ve also got a couple of the magnum versions, the Super Shad Rap, that I use when trolling for muskies.

I have a shallow shiner/carp colored one, that I modified a tad in my large early season big bass box, I started throwing it when I was taking $ from pickerel experts going on about how you need to use small lures from them, and after getting a consistent big bass by catch bite in late winter early spring fishing it like an original floating minnow Rap, it earned it's place in the rotation.

I also like the smaller deep(er) diving ones, mostly #5 and #7, but they are more of a niche bait for me in cold water.

[Spankey]

Don’t overlook the Glass Shad Rap. They have a few great natural patterns. It fishes and run real well.

 

I’ve never fished a rattling suspending (RS) version but feel I’d do well with it. Need to pick a few up sometime. 

[Spankey]

2 hours ago, Deleted account said:

I have a shallow shiner/carp colored one, that I modified a tad in my large early season big bass box, I started throwing it when I was taking $ from pickerel experts going on about how you need to use small lures from them, and after getting a consistent big bass by catch bite in late winter early spring fishing it like an original floating minnow Rap, it earned it's place in the rotation.

I also like the smaller deep(er) diving ones, mostly #5 and #7, but they are more of a niche bait for me in cold water.

Glad they work for you. Have caught countless river smallies on them. That shiner/carp version is a go to color for me also. Back a few years ago I caught a 30” carp on that shiner/carp pattern. Took quite awhile to get him in on 6# test. 

[king fisher]

13 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

Shad rap is wonderful but fragile and pricey. It works when it’s hot outside too 

You better stick with your soft plastics, if you think Shad Raps are an expensive crankbait. LoL.

[AlabamaSpothunter]

1 minute ago, king fisher said:

You better stick with your soft plastics, if you think Shad Raps are an expensive crankbait. LoL.

"Welcome to the world of MegaBass" ?

[TnRiver46]

48 minutes ago, king fisher said:

You better stick with your soft plastics, if you think Shad Raps are an expensive crankbait. LoL.

 

47 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

"Welcome to the world of MegaBass" ?

I just walk right by that aisle, out of my tax bracket haha

[Spankey]

16 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

 

I just walk right by that aisle, out of my tax bracket haha

You never really see them very often on sale. TW sale price is a decent price. This is a bait that I find you need very few colors. 

[Bluebasser86]

I love the #5 shad rap for cold water bass fishing, have not had the same success with the Flicker Shad. The Flicker Shad Shallow has been a very good bait for me in the winter months though. The #7 is a bit larger and cast better than a #5 shad rap. They also have rattles, a plus in our stained water, are considerably cheaper, and more durable. 

[Chilidog]

I have fished the shad rap quite a bit.  It is great for walleyes and pike up north.  However I have used it a fair amount for bass in the spring and fall because it is regarded as a good cold water crank bait.  I have not had good results on this lure for largemouth bass.  There are many other crankbaits I would use before the shad rap for largemouth bass.  I do think it is more effective for smallmouth bass thou.

[SproDD79]

On 11/28/2022 at 10:26 AM, Spankey said:

Don’t overlook the Glass Shad Rap. They have a few great natural patterns. It fishes and run real well.

 

I’ve never fished a rattling suspending (RS) version but feel I’d do well with it. Need to pick a few up sometime. 

RS is a winner, casts great and shares many of the same qualities as the original. 

[Bankbeater]

I cast them with spinning gear, but not around rocks or rip-rap.

[Tony Christian]

The jointed one is a killer in broken water like creeks.

[volzfan59]

I love a Shad Rap, use them all the time. If I break one or break one off, no big deal I've got plenty.

Strictly throw them on spinning tackle and six to eight pound mono.

[RB 77]

My first "confidence" crankbait. Awesome old school lure. Hardly ever throw them anymore, but always have a couple of few in my trays.