Shad Rap type cranks?

[Micro]

Are there conditions under which you prefer a Shad-Rap type crank to other crankbait types?

I've used them at all times of the year except when the water is really cold and have had good luck.   But I'm wondering if anyone has found that they are better at certain times or under certain conditions.

Also, which Shad Rap type cranks have you tried and what do you prefer?  

[cart7t]

I bought them many moons ago when they first came out.  It's easily been more than 20 years ago.  IIRC, they were balsa construction, not sure about now.  I used them primarily on clear water lakes where fish could visually key in on the bait after being attracted by the vibration and not the clicking of rattles inside.  They might have worked a little better than say a Wiggle wart which has been a springtime mainstay for years.  I don't have them anymore, sold most of them for premo money on Ebay.  

[ww2farmer]

I like them in clear water, never caught much on them in stained water. They , to me, are a finesse crankbait. As for the time of year, all year long sometimes, but they really shine in spring after ice out till post spawn. Summer time I like the DT's and wider wobble/bigger cranks better, but they start to shine again in late fall when the water temps drop into the low 50's/high 40's.

There is only one type of this bait for me...........Rapala.........the only one I have used, but it works and is a great bait so I stick with it. I really like the old shad rap, in both the shallow and deep version, but lately I am keen on the new x-rap shad. Smallies in early spring last year just crushed it.

[gatrboy53]

i use them alot in the winter especially the suspending type. the smaller profile and tighter wiggle and suspending is the ticket on lethargic bass. i use them a lot in the suwannee river especislly for suwannee bass in crawfish colors.

[Raul]

I don 't purchase Shad Rap "type" baits Micro, what for if there are Shad Raps ?  

I 'm a Shad Rap afficionado and have been for more than 20 years when I purchased my first ones, I caught my PB with a Shad Rap SR7SD and I still have that bait in my T box and it 's still catching fish, it 's all beat up, the finish is almost finished but I can 't see myslef retiring it.

So what 's so kool about Shad Raps ?

1.- They catch fish

2.- There are many sizes from where to choose

3.- There are many models from where to choose ( Original, Shallow Running, RS, Jointed, Glass and Super )

Original Shad Raps, Shallow runners and Jointed work better in high visibility water ( 3 '+ of water visibility )

But if the water is less clear you 've got the plastic models, the RS and Glass do work in murkier muddier water.

The RS is a suspending model but you can turn an original into a suspending model by increasing the size of the hooks to the next hook size up, the added weight of the larger hooks makes the bait neutrally bouyant.

[Micro]

The reason I say Shad Rap "type" is because there are several brands that are of a very similar style.  

I also used the Daiwa DC Shad SP.  I have some that dive to 6 and 9 feet.  They suspend.  They are high quality baits with nice actions, finishes, construction and great hooks.   I don't have a lot of these and haven't used them much, but they have caught fish.  

I love the Rapalas.  I've done best with the original, but have done pretty well on the rest.  I like the suspending mocel the best.  The chrome model does very well in very stained tidal waters I sometimes fish.  

[Gone_Phishin]

I've always done well with the Reef Runner Ripshads.

[fathom]

i fish them year round...along with the original floater, they consistently catch all species here...that may or may not be a good thing, depending on your point of view, but it speaks volumes about their effectiveness.

after the hard jerkbaits, the jointed shadrap (and floater) are generally the first cranks i reach for here in colder waters...the jointed shadrap has an incredibly twisting slow-rising death spiral in cold water and, imo, the better bait here when they are first staging off points and not quite ready to chase...reel it down and kill it...and hold on.

as winter waters begin to warm in mid to late feb. here, the regular shadrap begins to shine...at this time and, again in my waters, i don't think any other crank beats it...when familiarity steps in and the days get longer, the megabass deepx 100 and the lc slimshad work extremely well in rotation.

bottom line, from new years to father's day, the jointed minnow, the shadraps, the lc flat mini's, the deepx 100's and the slim shads are pretty much the only cranks you need down here.

seems they rarely get tired of one or the other.

[Marty]

I've used the original balsa Shad Raps ever since they came out about 25 years ago. For reasons I can't explain, they are my #1 confidence crank, even though I've caught fish with many brands and styles.

With their tighter wiggle and lack of rattles, they don't fit the conventional wisdom for a murky-water bait, but I've done very well with them in the Erie Canal where the visibility is 18" at most.

As far as I'm concerned, if cranks can be used, then Shad Raps can be effective.

[Pantera61]

Original shad raps very good in spring and/or clear water.  Related are Imakatsu IS 100 and IS 200, Jackall 150, MB Deep X 100

[fathom]

i'll make one addendum.

one lake i fish has clarity from 2' to 4'...one lake i fish has maybe 4" to 6" if you're lucky.

i hit both hard jan. to june and the prevailing condition on the shadraps effectiveness seems to be water temps rather than clarity.

ymmv.

[RiskKid.]

I fish Percy Priest in Nashville....#5 in crawdad color are killer in early spring around rocky shoreline. I use spinning gear due to the light weight of this size. A couple years ago an older fellow won big fish at a benefit tournament with one...a nice 9 pounder which is really big on this lake.

[Muddy]

I use 2 of the Balsa Models: the Original Shad Raps in black/silver and the older Crawdad color and the Super/Shallow Shad in black/silver

Highly effective baits. I prefer the DT and Fat Raps ( old basa ones) for deeper fishing and the Shad Raps for more shallow water.