15 replies to this topic

[Hot n Tot]

For those of you that fish them, what are your favorite Shad Raps? Personally I like the #7 shad pattern, but am also having good luck with the #5 shad. Only thing with the #5 is I always seem to catch lots of bluegill as well. The #7 also lands me lots of pike because I primarily fish them in the spring while the weeds are sparse. Also, what is your rod of choice for tossing them? I'm using a Loomis GL3 6'-6" medium (SJR-782). thanks

[Marty]

I use spinning gear, medium power. I've successfully used sizes 5, 7 and 8, both the Shallow and Deep Runners. Most colors have been silver, firetiger, bluegill and crawfish, but that's arbitrary and I'm positive other colors would be just as good. These are my highest confidence crankbaits.

[Bluebasser86]

The 5 in crawfish and bluegill colors are a couple of my favorite finesse cranks. My dad loves the 7 in crawfish color, they just seem to catch fish when they won't touch any other crankbaits, good multispecies crank too. I fish mine on either a 6' 8" ML or 6' 10" ML spinning rod with either 6 or 8 lb mono.

[Nodda4me]

Rapala? Shallow Shad Rap color Shad is the only top water I really use right now. It gets quantity but the biggest we've caught would be around a 2.5lb on it. We have probably around 10 of these lures in the tacklebox, half still in the case.

[loodkop]

In our Artlure club the 5 Shad rap in perch color is known as the " spring bokkie" after the South African national rugby team who plays in green and gold jerseys. For a country where rugby is almost a religion it is high praise indeed. To further demonstrate the regard artlure anglers have for this little bait it is also called the "one and only".

[Quillback]

I like the SR 5, bluegill is a great color, as is the Shad color (not sure what the name is for it, white belly blending into a green back), I recommend upgrading the trebs.

[Marty]

Rapala? Shallow Shad Rap color Shad is the only top water I really use right now.

Just curious why you're using a floating-diving crankbait as a topwater.

[Nodda4me]

Just curious why you're using a floating-diving crankbait as a topwater.

Because the bass here like to hit top water. I throw it, usually they will hit it instantly, if not, a few twitches and they will hit it.

Some days when they aren't biting top water I will just cast and reel to get hits.

It is my go-to bait, so I get a lot of hits by top water with it.

Just because it's a crankbait doesn't mean fish won't slam it when it hits the water or get a few twitches in.

[Hot n Tot]

Because the bass here like to hit top water. I throw it, usually they will hit it instantly, if not, a few twitches and they will hit it.

Some days when they aren't biting top water I will just cast and reel to get hits.

It is my go-to bait, so I get a lot of hits by top water with it.

Just because it's a crankbait doesn't mean fish won't slam it when it hits the water or get a few twitches in.

For years my go to top water bait was an original Rapala floater/diver. I'd just twitch it on the surface and if I reeled in at all, it was very slowly so the it didn't really dive.

[Nodda4me]

For years my go to top water bait was an original Rapala floater/diver. I'd just twitch it on the surface and if I reeled in at all, it was very slowly so the it didn't really dive.

I first was hooked on the Rapala Original Minnow, the brown speckle and purple speckle. My dad bought one of these Shallow Shad Raps and it worked way better and just haven't really used anything else.

[Al Wolbach]

The Shad Rap may be the best crankbait ever made, at least it gets my vote. I prefer the shad color for clearer water and perch for stained water. I can throw the SSR7 on baitcasting gear but the SR7 I need spinning gear to cast far enough. The size 7 is my favorite size but I ocasionally throw the 8 or 9. When all else fails this is usually my lure of choice..............................Al

[mikeeasttn]

I also feel that the Shap Rap is the best or one of the best crankbaits ever made. I use the Black and Silver and Shad the most. Have caught more fish on these two than any other crankbait I have.

[iceintheveins]

I throw #5 and #7 shad raps in the spring or when a subtle crank is needed. Yellow perch, gold, baby bass, and perch are my favorite colors. Both these sizes call for spinning gear IMO, though the #7 works okay on casting gear. I prefer a 7' glass or composite spinning rod and 6 pound test for the #5 and 8 pound for the #7 unless I want extra depth.

[Marty]

I can throw the SSR7 on baitcasting gear but the SR7 I need spinning gear to cast far enough.

That's very interesting. Do you know why? According to the BPS site the SR7 weighs 5/16 and the SSR7 weighs 1/4.

[Vinny Chase]

My favorite spring time crank is an SR5 in perch.