There are a handful of baits that I throw every spring looking for pre-spawn bass, but my hands down favorite is a jerkbait. Nothing will jolt you out of your winter habits faster than an aggressive strike on a jerkbait. Rapala’s new Shadow Rap Shad and Shadow Rap Shad Deep, ($9.99 each) is designed to fill the gaps in your tackle box when bass are looking for baitfish that are dying and floating to the surface, not just suspending like a normal jerkbait.
Using a special combination of weights, Rapala has designed to Shadow Rap Shad with the perfect rise action. On the pause the bait will right itself and slowly start to float upwards, nose first, just like a real dying baitfish. On the retrieve, the side to side action will get bass fired up. If the action doesn’t make them strike (which it probably will) the great paint job, deeply arched back and textured scales surely will.
Available in two models the Shadow Rap Shad and the Shadow Rap Deep, the lures can be retrieved from 3-to-4 feet and 5-to-6 feet, respectively. Both baits measure 3 ½ inches, weigh 3/8 of an ounce, and come armed with two trusted and sticky-sharp No. 6 VMC® black nickel, thin-wire, round-bend hooks. Both models of the new Shadow Rap Shad are available in all 14 original Shadow Rap color patterns, as well as 10 new patterns:
- Crush – Dark brown back, light brown “frosted” sides
- Elite Blue – Dark blue-gray back, light gray-white “frosted” sides, light orange belly
- Haymaker – Olive green back, light olive-white “frosted” sides, light orange gill plates
- Olive Drab – Dark olive back and head, light green-white “frosted” sides, light yellow gill plates
- Purple Haze – Dark purple back and head, light purple-white “frosted” sides, pink gill plates
- Gone – Dark purple back, light yellow sides, darker yellow/orange head
- Halloween – Black back, pewter sides, full orange belly
- Imposter – Light orange back and head, light yellow sides, white belly
- Molten Copper – Black back, dark copper sides and head, light copper belly
- Tropic Ice – Black back, metallic blue sides, metallic green head, light yellow gill plates
Stay tuned to the Bassmaster Classic happening this weekend, where Bassmaster Elite anglers are sure to hook up with some giants on this new bait.
For more information about Rapala, or their new Shadow Rap Shad, check out their website, Rapala.com.
