New Bait Released For The Bassmaster Classic

This weekend kicks off the 2016 Bassmaster Classic in Tulsa, Okla., and the entire fishing world is buzzing. When it comes to fishing, there’s nothing bigger than the Bassmaster Classic. It is truly the greatest tournament in all of fishing and it will always be considered the ultimate test of the best. 

In order to be the best, top anglers are always looking for the latest and greatest when it comes to fishing tackle and one big name in fishing is Rapala who is releasing something new this week at the Grand Lake O' the Cherokees, which is better known as Grand Lake. 

In a school of look-a-likes, the bait that swims distinctively stands out, triggering strikes. That’s what makes Rapala’s new Shadow Rap Shad such a remarkable jerkbait—bass haven’t seen action like this before. 

Shadow Rap Shad

“It’s got an action that’s unique for a jerkbait,” says fishing legend Al Lindner, describing how the Shadow Rap Shad combines a horizontal struggle with a slow vertical rise on the pause, perfectly mimicking an injured shad. “Fish haven’t seen this before. That’s why it’s so deadly.” 

A host of Bassmaster Classic stand-outs agree. “It does something that no other bait out there does,” says Mike Iaconelli, the 2003 Classic champion and a 17-time qualifier. “It mimics forage species so perfectly that it is going to put a ton of fish in the boat for you. I haven’t been this excited about a brand-new bait for a long time.” 

Ditto that for Brandon Palaniuk, 2013 Classic runner-up and a six-time qualifier. “Not gonna lie – I’m pretty pumped about this bait,” he says. 

Three Ways

A game-changing, all-season jerkbait, the Shadow Rap Shad triggers fish in three ways—on the kick, on the slow rise, and with a snap back to life. 

“The cool thing is you can stop this bait and it tilts and has this slow rise that no other jerkbait I’ve ever seen does,” says Davy Hite, the 1999 Bassmaster Classic winner and a 14-time qualifier. 

“The rise is so slow it’s like a minnow quivering as it’s going up to die,” Lindner describes. “That’s one of the triggers that makes fish bite.” 

Featuring a shad-shaped body with textured scales, the Shadow Rap Shad comes in models that target two different depth ranges—3-to-4 feet and 5-to-6 feet. The latter is called the Shadow Rap Shad Deep. Both measure 3 1/2 inches, weigh 3/8 of an ounce, and come armed with two sticky-sharp No. 6 VMC black nickel, thin-wire, round-bend hooks. 

Unique Design

“It’s a little bit wider than the original Shadow Rap, a little bit shorter, a little bit fatter and has a two-hook design rather than a three-hook design,” Palaniuk explains. 

“I love the wider, flat sides,” Hite says. “Seems like everywhere there are threadfin and gizzard shad and they’re all this wider profile. And that’s what we’re mimicking.”

Both models of the new Shadow Rap Shad are available in all 14 original Shadow Rap color patterns, as well as 10 new patterns. 

“It’s a brilliant piece of work,” Lindner says of the new Shadow Rap Shad. “It’s the bait you’ve gotta have in your tackle box if you want to catch more and bigger bass this season.” 

Coming Soon

The Rapala Shadow Rap Shad, and Shadow Rap Deep will be available at sporting goods retailers nationwide this spring. Look for them near the original Shadow Rap Series lures, an instant favorite introduced at the 2015 Bassmaster Classic. How will this new bait do this week at the Bassmaster Classic? Only time will tell. For more information visit www.rapala.com.