By: Ronnie Garrison

Rapala Shadrap

When Shadraps hit the market in 1983 they were an instant success. It was almost impossible to find them for a time because stores sold out as soon as they got time in.

Why were they so popular?  They ran straight right out of the box, they had good hooks, and they caught fish!  The line has been expanded a lot over the past 17 years but the plugs still catch fish.

I like them and always have at least one tied on.  They are versatile.  In the Georgia Bass Chapter Top Six Tournament in 1983 I caught a 5 pound bass to anchor my string and it helped me place 4th at West Point.  It hit a #7 Shadrap in a small creek off the main lake.

At Lake Eufaula in the Top Six in 1998 I landed four keeper bass the second day of the tournament and they put me in 27th place, just out of the money.  I had zeroed the first day.

In 1999 at Lake Seminole I ran way up the river the first day and caught three big shoal bass on a #7 Shadrap. (buy direct) They hit it in the current and put me in 6th place for that day.  I caught only one small keeper on day two and dropped to 17th.

For the 2000 Top Six at Clark's Hill I started out with a #8 Shadrap the second day and caught a good 3 pound keeper right off.  It gave me some confidence and helped me place 18th!

Shadraps come in several sizes and models.  I fish #5, #7, and #8 usually and stick with shad, black and silver or crawfish.  The original models are made of wood and do not rattle.  I have a few of the newer suspending models in natural shad and have caught fish on them, too.  They do rattle.  I do not have any of the shallow running Shadraps.  

Shadraps still run right when you open the box, have sharp hooks and catch fish. They are a little difficult to cast in wind since they are balsa.  Different sizes run different depths, so you can adjust where you are fishing by tying on a different size.   I like them.  They should be around a long time.