Glass Shad Rap Shortage

FYI: This is a heads up for the In-Depth Angling members thinking about buying some Glass Shad Raps. Read the enclosed attachment. The article was posted in the International Tackle Trade World Magazine. Hopefully you can read it.

I wonder if it’s a gimmick to push product?? I just left Joe’s and they had plenty. I also saw them at Gander last week.

You may be right Suzuki, Fleet Farm has lots also. The source Tackle Trade is more of a overseas magazine, I’ve haven’t seen anything in the local magazines.

Fleet Farm in Winona, MN. has plenty; infact I think they are 50 cents cheaper then the regular Shad Raps.

They were on sale at Fleet Farm in Owatonna last weekend….LOTS and lots of supply on the shelves…all colors

They had plenty of them at Gander in eau claire. Also had them on sale for 1.00 off. I think it is just a sale pusher.

Walleye Fool

Cabelas in Prairie is loaded for bear

If it looks and smells like a gimmik…….

Anyone else remember the much hyped “impending taildancer shortage” a couple years back?

I think the only shortage is not enough in the anglers tackle boxes as they are a new lure. In other words: The stores have more than we anglers do so far. I bought some after reading Brian Sanders report on using them and I didn’t see any shortage in supply. But if we ALL run out and buy a bunch there might be. Thanks, Bill

Bunch of B as in B and S as in S.

Glass shad raps???? Who needs them???? Sure, they might have a decent color pattern. But @ 1 to 2 mph, do you think the walleye is going to study whether or not, if the color pattern is “just perfect”. I thought cranks were an “instictive” bite, not a finesse bite? Have I fallen off the turnip truck?

If a silly ringworm can catch eyes all day long, I don’t need to buy 20 new cranks from Rapala, because they have a “new color profile” of “glass”. Maybe if the color profile was distinctive, I would consider it. Am I missing something here?????

This reminds me too much of the “Ristow Rap”. Now, they give those things away, when you buy 2 “shore lunches” and a filet knife…………..

Another question:
What is all the hype about the “grapler shads”. What is different about those, say compared to the Walley diver or Tail dancer? Also, what is much different about the Tail dancer in comparison to the Wally diver.

And finally, is there really much difference between the Shad Rap and the Wally diver?

Yea, went on bit of a rant, but good grief………how many more types of cranks can be produced?

Serious though about anyones true thoughts and experiences with the different cranks that I asked about and there comparative actions…………

Well Gary I really want to agree totally with you but I have seen one lure type or another work exclusively over the other too many times. Prime example is one the comparisons you mention. I have had jointed shads work continuously while a wally diver caught nothing. I usually go by the lure type/shape but again so many times even the dam color meant the difference between fish and no fish. It’s a constantly changing situation. Senseless.

I think the real reason is that fishing tackle is designed to catch fishermen as much as fish.

Unfortunately Suzuki is also right thats why we have so much tackle as one will out produce another on given days and you are out of luck if you don’t have the right one. Or you could say the hec with it and just fish 3-ways and livebait. But then which color floater is best that day? And which bait is better that day. Or just jig but which color jig is best on a certain day? And how about which size [weight] works best on that day or the next day? And I could go on and on and on and on. Never an end, gotta have the right one in the right place at the right time. So what do you do? Gotta have them all? Yep gotta have them all! But look at all the fun we have with all that tackle. And don’t forget to duck fast when the wife or girlfriend figures out how much we really spend. BUT then theres nail polish, nails, make up, shoes to match every outfit, slacks to match each top, hair cuts, hair coloring, hair dos, different styles, which braclet and ear rings to wear with this outfit and that outfit? It goes on and on and on and on. Get the picture? Got the checkbook? Get to the store before they are sold out of what both of you want. Where does it end? But its soooooooo much fun!
Thanks, Bill

I have to agree with you Bill, I’ve have my favorite cranks that are hot on one body of water and colder than hell on another. A few years ago when Rapala stopped making one of my favorite colors on Lake Michigan (chart/silver) for spring brown trout, I didn’t know it until I needed them, there was none to be had, not even at a pretty price. When I found out they reintroduced them, I must of bought 50 chart/silver lures only to find out they’re not my hot color anymore! I have to admit I went out and bought 10 of the Glass Shad Raps after reading about the shortage and known that Brian Sander did well with them where I fish. Did I need them? No. Would I’ve bought them without known Brian did good on them? Probably not. See, this is why this site is so great and why it’s called “In-Depth Angling”.

I agree with you guys. However the examples made, were different presentation lures.

Yes, I know at times, a husky jerk will out perform a floating rapala, which may out perform the countdown rapala. The 3 lures all give the same appearance (minnow bait), but each have different applications/action.

Jointed lures will our perform or be out performed by solid bodies each and everyday (or vice versa). But again, it is a different presentation lure.

I personally don’t see much difference in the grappler shad/wally diver/tail dancer. Meaning that each lure gives the same general type of presentation/action. Maybe each lure runs a little different depth or different “tone” of “wiggle”, but generally speaking, they are the same.

Now, with the glass shad rap………….Am I mistaken, or is it the same body as the regular shad rap, just different colors???

There are other aspects that attribute one lure being better than another too. Tightness of the wobble is one and the rattles in the chamber is another. I have an older Rapala Fat Rap that doesn’t have any rattles in it and it flat out catches more fish than the same model w/ rattles. Subtleties like that can mean more than anything. I think things like that can seperate any crankbait from another on any given day.

Bomber used to make their cranks with larger BB’s in the rattle chamber. Now it sounds like the rattle chamber is full of smaller BBs. what I wouldn’t give to have the older version and that resounding thunk from those big BBs. Bottom-line, they caught more fish.

So many lures
So little time…

Hey Tom:

I have 3 older Bombers………

How much are they worth to ya………

They did the same thing with the Taildancers too, didn’t they? Always a “shortage” but the stores were always well stocked when I checked them.

My sons work for Rap – true the stores have them now but they won’t be able to restock once they are gone. At least not for awhile. Seems the stores ordered more glass Raps than expected and they shipped everything they had on hand.