The Rapala Shallow Shad Rap is a favorite among both shore anglers and walleye anglers who enjoy casting crankbaits for walleye. A shallow running version of the original Shad Rap, this bait is perfect for anglers targeting walleye from shore or casting onto shallow structure.
Fish It Like Nick
“I absolutely fell in love with the Rapala Shad Rap when I was in college at South Dakota State University in Brookings,” says Nick Harrington, Owner of Lip Ripper Fishing. “As a shore angler, I focused on rocky shorelines and rip rap areas and this bait was perfect for that.”
The Shallow Shad Rap performed best throughout the fall season, fishing primarily August through October and then again in late-April through May as the water warmed in late-spring.
“The Shallow Shad Rap was my favorite option for the fall season,” elaborated Harrington. “The tight wobble and ability to fish the bait fast and aggressively was perfect for targeting fall walleyes that were actively hunting along the shorelines.”
Color selection focused primarily on the specific weather and light conditions, as the water clarity in these shallow areas depended heavily on the weather.
“On calm and clear days, I’d start with Perch or Walleye while the sun was still up. As the sun set, I’d switch to Purpledescent for the evening and darkness hours,” explained Harrington. “On the windy days when the water was dirty or in darker conditions I’d always favor Hot Steel.”
While 81 Ponds was where Nick began fishing this bait, this bait is highly versatile for a number of fisheries.
“This has really become my go-to any time I’m casting crankbaits for walleye,” concluded Harrington. “Whether it’s the tail race areas of the Missouri River at night from shore or shallow areas in eastern South Dakota this bait is always my favorite any time I’m casting crankbaits for walleye, especially throughout the summer and fall.”
Bait Details
Profile: Shad
Forage Emulated: Gizzard Shad, Bluegill, Crappie
Body Composition: Balsa
Favorite Waterbodies: 81 Ponds, Lake Thompson, and Missouri River Tailraces
Favorite Sizes: #5 and #7
Favorite Colors: Purpledescent, Hot Steel, Perch
Dive Depths:
SSR05 3-6’
SSR07 4-6’
SSR09 6-8’
Dive depths courtesy of Rapala Depth Chart.
Get Geared Up to Catch More Walleye
Want to learn more about the gear we use when targeting walleye? Whether it’s on the Missouri River, Glacial Lakes region of South Dakota, western Nebraska reservoirs, or anywhere else across the Midwest we share our favorite baits and how we fish them on our Getting Geared Up page!
