Shad Rap

[JigNBig]

What makes a Shad Rap so appealing to bass in early spring? Is it the lack of large rattle and a large wide profile?

[paangler3117]

The shad rap has a lot tighter wiggle, and I think in the cold water, the bass react to that wiggle better. You can feel it when you are reeling a bait in. Throw a fat rap, then throw a shad rap on the same rod. You can "feel"  the wider wobble on the fat rap, shad rap has a tighter pulse.

Jim

[Mobydick]

What makes a Shad Rap so appealing to bass in early spring? Is it the lack of large rattle and a large wide profile?

I believe you are right about the rattle JigNBig.

Paangler, I heard that during the colder periods a crankbait with a wider rattle performs better because the baitfish are more lethargic when it's cold, so they wouldn't be swimming really fast and erratic. I use a slow wide wobbling crank to present a slow lethargic meal to the slow lethargic bass. But by all means, throw what the fish want, im not saying you're wrong.

                                                                         Ian

[Marty]

What makes a Shad Rap so appealing to bass in early spring? Is it the lack of large rattle and a large wide profile?

I have no answer, but the appeal isn't limited to early spring. I use the original balsa non-rattle Shad Raps and they're effective spring-through-fall lures

[MALTESE FALCON]

I agree with Marty. The Shad Rap is a year round bait. It's just one of those "special" baits. I have more success with the Shad Rap than I do the original Rapala.

Falcon

[senko_77]

Randall, one of the members on here, said that he thinks the Shad Rap is such a good cold water bait because you get the maximum amount of action with the smallest amount of forward movement.  Makes sense to me....maybe he will step in an explain further.

[paangler3117]

Moby, I have heard the same thing, but it always seems like the shad rap worked for me in the colder water. I do fish them slow in the spring, i like to bounce them along steep rock banks. By all means, this is just what has worked for me! I do throw them all year long however, just adjust the size to match the forage size.

Jim

[zgonce]

what i have always heard is use a tight wobble bait in colder water....below 60 degrees like a shad rap or a norman n series. and in waters warmer than 60 degrees to throw a wider wobble bait like a fat free shad  or a manns plus series.  crankbaits are a reaction bait anyways hardly ever will you catch a fish with them if your not banging them of the bottom or some kind of structure.....just my two cents take it however you want....

[basspimple]

i dont ever have any luck with em, but i do on minnow raps for some reason, just a confidence thing. even at night when they tell you to use dark and noisy... i use a minnow rap with better results. go figure. :-?