x-shad

[GoBlue80]

I bought 2 of them from bps the other day and was curious how u fish it.  Do u fish it like a jerkbait or just reel it in?

[.dsaavedra.]

this is how i fish it:

the first is to cast it out, reel it down, then start twitching/jerking it around. then leave a long pause, then do it again...and occasionally reel it straight for a few feet.

another is to cast it, jerk it hard, and keep doing this. this will get the most erratic action out of it, and is probably the most popular way to fish it.

the last method is to just reel it straight back like a crankbait. this usually isnt very productive.

here are some rapala links on how to fish it:

http://www.rapala.com/products/howto/fish/index.cfm?lurename=x-rap&freshorsalt=Fresh

http://www.rapala.com/pdfs/instructions/x-rap.pdf

[Bassin_Fin@tic]

I think he is asking about the x rap shap rap cranks that just came out. I own a few of them and I too am curious as to the best way to use it.

[.dsaavedra.]

yea i know hes asking about the x-rap shad, but you fish it the same way you fish a regular x-rap

only difference is the profile (looks more like a shad instead of a minnow) and the x-rap shad gets deeper.

[Bassin_Fin@tic]

I can see how that would probably be true.I have been using it as a crank and have been successful only in hauling water by the bucket with it.It looks just like a shad rap so I work it like one.I may now give it a few more tries working it like a jerker.

[.dsaavedra.]

It looks just like a shad rap so I work it like one.I may now give it a few more tries working it like a jerker.

if it were just like a shad rap, then why would it have an x-rap name?   ;D LOL

[slomoe]

I had pretty good luck reeling it in really Sslloowww giving a twitch here, twitch there.

[Micro]

I'm glad they work.  I bought 4 but haven't used them yet.

About the X-Rap (with dressed tail hook):  in early spring I like to crank it.  It's got a good action - like a lazy swimming minnow.  It's killer on pickerel, if you like pickerel (I do).

[Charger169]

Straight from the Rapala site. Watch the small video.

http://www.rapala.com/products/luresdetail.cfm?modelName=x-rap&freshorsalt=Fresh

[jwo1124]

I love the x-rap, i got a rainbow to hit one, and i would have though it was too big for a 16" stockie trout, but you never know. Unfortunatly, since the bait is heavy, and rainbows go nuts after you hooks them, it shook the hook after its second surface jump. I can also contribute it to their soft mouths.

[Tokyo Tony]

You can work it like a crank, but I've found it's much more effective when twitched aggressively.  I love these baits, and they're great for smallies when they don't wanna swim 15 feet to the surface to hit a regular X-Rap.

And as for Rainbows, my brother and I caught some really nice ones last spring when we were shore-fishing rivers for smallies.  I don't mind catching trout at all, as long as it's on bass gear