Rapala Shad Rap

Rapala Shad Rap with Allan Burgess

This little 8cm Rapala (which includes the length of the bib) is an excellent trout and landlocked salmon taker when used as a trolling lure. I have had a lot of success with this lure trolling for landlocked salmon in Lake Coleridge both with the aid of a downrigger and when trolled on a flat line (no added weight).

I would use the downrigger on a bright sunny day or fish the lure on spinning gear in low light morning and evening, or during the day if conditions were overcast or raining.

The Rapala Shad Rap Deep Runner has a large clear plastic bib, and as the name suggests, this lure is a deep diver going down to about 3.5m. It runs best between 2.8 and 4kph. It will take trout just fine if trolled out the back on ordinary spinning gear. It works especially well when trolled from a dinghy or kayak. If you have never used a Rapala Shad Rap before for trout trolling you could be in for a big surprise at just how effective this lure is. It has a very effective tight wiggling action that seems to trigger a strike from trout and salmon within range.

Dick Marquand used this lure to deadly effect in Lake Dunstan for browns and rainbows. I have taken trout in many lakes on the Shad Rap over the years. It is more expensive than most lures but when used for lake trolling you are unlikely to suffer many lure losses. The sheer effectiveness of this lure at triggering a strike makes it a “must-have” if you spend much time lake trolling.

This original Shad Rap has been around for quite a few years now. It is a great fish taker and a top seller with those who know what lake trolling is all about.

It can certainly be used for spin fishing as well. I once witnessed a bloke catch a big sea-run brown trout on a Rapala Shad Rap at the mouth of the Rakaia River.

Amazingly this Rapala lure comes in 42 different colours. I prefer natural colours like the Perch (gold, green, black), Yellow Perch, Bluegill, and the Holographic Shiner. I have also taken trout on the Firetiger.

Rapala Lures at Rapala.com in the USA has a comprehensive guide to the Rapala fishing lure range, including colours, and videos showing each lure’s swimming action.

Here is a great video on the Rapala Shad Rap. It includes some great underwater action showing just how fish-like this lure appears to trout and land-locked salmon. Fishingmag New Zealand Trout Fishing page.