Shallow Shad Rap

[Neal/Co]

Can anyone tell me how deep a Shallow Shad Rap will troll. I am interested in using the #8 and 9 sizes in shallow shoreline areas where I would constantly snag up with regular Shad Raps. I am looking for a bait that will dive 4-5 feet and tick the rocks along dam raprap.

[Erik]

I pull a lot of #7 Shallow Shad Raps at night along weed edges. I use 10/4 Fireline and let out about 60 feet of line when I troll in 6 to 7 feet of water. When I get into about 5 feet of water I usually start hitting bottom. A #8 or #9 might dive too deep for 4 to 5 feet of water unless you only let out about 40 to 50 feet.

[Neal/Co]

You could also use a rod that has 14 or 17 lb Mono on it. That would reduce the diving ability of the size 8 or 9 somewhat and maybe get into the 4 to 5 foot zone. Thanks for the info.

[Dan]

Use a S.R. 5 works in 4-5 ft with fire line.

[eyewinder]

Using Shallow Shad Raps in 4 to 6 feet of water when 'eyes are actively feeding isn't really fair. My heaviest two-man limit came doing just that in May. And we were running only 40 to 50 feet of line straight behind the boat -- it didn't scare 'em that day!

[Neal/Co]

Two summers ago, my partner and I took 3rd place in a Tournament at Bonny Resevoir pulling spinners along the dam riprap in 3-4 feet of water. We had our bouncers right behind the boat and it didn't seem to bother the fish at all. It was really rough water that weekend, maybe the waves provided us some consealment. I would like to try the same area with the Shallow Shad Raps.

[Gunga Din]

Have you tried Thin Fins? They're a go-to bait out here.

[Neal/Co]

I have not tried them in this pattern, but should.
I have used them trolling in open water with lead-core, during the summer for suspended fish at Pueblo. They catch eye's and wipers, and an occational big trout.

[Backwater Eddy]

Great baits them shallow Rap's and Thin fins also! I find they peak at 7 foot in depth on 4/10 fire line and 5' with 10 lb. mono. In current I prefer fire line cuts better with shorter drop out required to reach max depth.

One trick to try, if you have not already, is using these on a 3-way rig in deeper water, much like a spinner trolling method. Lift drop, pull pause, type of deal. Great search method for walleye. Leader length and line weight will change the dive rate. I prefer heavy line on the leader, mono to keep it in a plane about 5-6 ft. behind the swivel and drop weight rig.

Hope this is of some kind of help to you.
Backwater Eddy

[eyewinder]

Thin Fins & Shallow Shad Raps (#5 & 7) run about the same depth, but the doggone Thin Fins are so darned hard to keep tuned. If I could keep them running straight between 1.5 & 2.5 mph, I'd use the Thin Fin a whole lot more often! Shad Raps run much straighter for me and require less maintenance.