Rapala Shadow Rap Critical Fail 

Why would you squeeze one of those in the first place? You buy it to fish with Not to squeeze and try to break it.

I have lots of them and caught bass and pike on them and never have had a crack or break. They will never break on a fish. I love them

My favorite lure, caught loads of walleye and bass and never had a fail yet!!!! My only complaint would be that they are overpriced!!🤷🏻‍♂️

Mine are going strong. I caught 38 just on one color! they are great!

I wonder if it would break if you hit it with a hammer, you might try that next.

It's kinda cool how both of the cracks are virtually the same. I've had mine for over 2 years and caught a lot of fishes and no cracks!

Being honest, I have to say that although Rapala creates lures with incredibly effective actions, it does not meet the good quality of its products in terms of their resistance. I have bought many lures from the brand and many times a simple hit to a rock causes the balls to come out of the rattle or the lure breaks. I really think the brand should know about this and fix these problems, because it's going to start getting a bad reputation...

I talked to a guy this winter who said he was actually catching them better on the ones that filled with water haha

I bought 10 about a year ago. I have not had this happen yet, but I have seen it happen to my friends on simple fishing days with no major slams to the bait.

Seriously? ? You squeezed & broke it. almost any plastic bait when put under pressure to try & damage it is probably going to break. WOW

I contacted Rapala about these baits... Here is their response..... Thank you for the email and your feedback. The Shadow Rap is a jerkbait designed to have a specific shape with specific actions. The specific body of the Shadow Rap allows the lure to achieve perfect buoyancy and maximum flash. Rapala can make an indestructible lure, but it has never been our mission to do so. All of our lures combine design, materials, and processes that first ensure the appropriate action to catch fish. In most applications, this also results in a very durable and robust product, but again they are not indestructible. Casting against hard objects, slapping the lure against the water to remove weeds, catching a fish species that is significantly larger than what is the target for a particular lure, etc., are known to be particularly harmful to lures. Each of our lures come with a one year warranty against manufacturer’s defects and can be sent directly into us. This does not include normal wear and tear that a lure can receive from the rigors of fishing. We have provided a link below to our warranty page for your convenience and reference. www.rapala.com/content/rapala-warranties/customer-warranty-information.html?id=1 Happy fishing! Rapala USA

Tanks for the review, I just bought a shadow rap to see what the hype is about. I'll have to see how this one handles the season before I invest in more after seeing your vid... I haven't had an issue with other raps in the past before though...

Thanks for the information. I know I speak for all the fisherman who don't want to buy a lure that is cracked and could be changing due to how much water leaks into it.

Wow... I bought a couple shadow raps last spring for walleye opener and did quite well. Never checked them for cracks before loosing them to snags. I was considering getting a couple more for opener this year but think I will save my money until I hear rapala has addressed this issue or whether or not this was a bad batch. Thanks

My favourite lure last year. Shallow and deep. Awesome for bass and pike all spring, summer, and fall. No issues other scratches from banging rocks and/or teeth marks. Just bought 2 Shadow Rap Shads (that rise). Will make sure not to slap weeds off them just in case.

Note to self, don't squeeze a lure with your hands

Well, I was looking forward to owning a few of these, but there's no way I'm shelling out $50 - $60 on lures that're just going to crack the first trip to the lake. Thanks for the video.

Can you make another vid on how the cracks affect the lure. I'm assuming the lure will take in water? Maybe drop the lure in a jug of water and see if it starts to fast sink then slow sink

I had about 5 shadow rap. I used it daily. And still in good condition.

I've never had a fish crack or break a lure. Bend a hook, yep. I have broken dozens of lures by trying to cast them under a dock, only to hit the dock lol. I also dented a Kastmaster on a rock this fall when surf fishing. I've used Kastmasters for over a decade and never seen that. I think a lot of lure companies are using less quality materials. I fish 4 times a week and this season I threw out more lures that I have thrown out in the last 6 years.

I love Rapala baits and own many original balsa minnows, shad raps, x-raps, fat raps and other cranks but that is just nuts. I just crossed the Shadow Rap off my buy list! Thanks for the video and risking the $$ Rapala should watch the video, refund your $$ no questions asked and re-think, if not recall the baits IMHO

must have been a bad batch. I bought a dozen of these last spring and I've yet to see a crack in one yet. A couple of them have seen 50+ walleye and are still in pretty good shape exept for some teeth marks. They have been very good lures for me although I have not intentionally tried to break one yet.

Never had this happen used them for a long time and had multiple colors. Just had had my line snap and lost one, will be reordering it pronto.

In my opinion Rapala shadow raps are made in cheap materials but it can still catches fish. The action of an shadow rap floats like a dying minnow when pause after jerking it. However, when a big fish strikes it on a shadow rap the hooks get bent very easily of the fishes aggression.

Wow, I own 11 of these in both shallow and deeper models. I have caught muskie, largemouth, smallie, catfish all last year on them. I have banged them and put little chips in the paint on riprap and none cracked like that. I had one corner of bill I cracked on 1 with a bad cast hitting a tree, my fault. I just checked it and wouldn't crack. I have drug them into the mud in shallow water no problems. I just checked all of them and the body would not crack or press in. It may be possible of a bad run? I am dont work for rapala just a dude but just saying I caught tons and had no problems like that.

I went to BassPro shop and squeezed ten Rapala shadow rap packages just to see what happens. You're right ! They all cracked. I believe the flat sides are very thin. LOL

First let me say that the Shadow Rap is a killer lure and catches fish. Rapala will probably fix the problem with a tougher plastic as more complaints roll in. Still, people pay 10 to 12 dollars for these and the first dock, stump or big fish that hits it could crack it, allowing water to enter the body totally changing it's intended action for which the Shadow has become famous for. Oh, and DON'T smack it on the water to get grass off! Sure, a cracked, water filled and now fast, backward sinking Shadow Rap may still catch fish but the fact remains it is no longer suspending in that enticing pause we all bought it for. Instead it is dropping backward and down when paused and the fish that was about to smack it, watches in bewilderment as it dives to the bottom "bass acwards" into the grass. Yes, Rapapa has a problem with this bait and I'll bet they are VERY aware of it. I know of several people that has sent their cracked (through no fault of their own) Shadow Raps back to Rapala. I have 7 Shadow Raps and I am aware of how fragile they are and fish it with kid gloves. I will not buy another one until the 'NEW" improved version comes out. In the mean time don't forget to take your hair dryer and super glue to patch them up.

i have use these types of lures. i haven't had that problem.. yet. maybe its like what they say about cars, buy only cars built on wednesday. not monday or friday.

Mine also cracked. it was pretty depressing because I caught 4-5 pounders. It took in water. I dried it out and glued it. While it still worked it still took in water. This lure works so well that I even bought another one and that one cracked after I reeled in a 5 pounder.

i purchased one a month ago worked so good i got 2 more just today. i will report back if any problems. but i will not be buying anymore until tested. thanks

I use em all the time. My only complaint is the hooks bend on bigger fish. I never noticed a crack. If it is cracked it didn't affect my fishing.

I use the same lure cought many pike on it and it doesn't have any cracks cought about 5 fish over 30 in on it no cracks in it only teeth marks

Let me guess!!! If you hit your bait on the trolling motor, it breaks. I have a ton of shadow raps n love each one. Maybe you’d be better off fishing a fluke lol

I’m not sure if the meant to be squeezed that way by hand, 9 outta 10 times they (the bass, and peacock bass) get just hooks anyway.

"Failed the test". Seriously? I am a weekender and have used this bait almost extensively catching Large Mouth, Whites, and big Wipers. I fish next to rock cliffs and boulders. I catch more fish with this lure than any other lure I have used before (need to present it properly in the water). I do hit it on rocks by over casting. I have not experienced any problems and I have purchased close to 10 of these lures (different colors and sizes). I suppose if you step on them on accident, try to squeeze them with all your might, cast them hard at rocks, or any other other stupid action, I guess it will crack. On one comment, someone was mad it wasn't made out of wood. Hm. The person in this video seemed to almost cry when "he" broke his new lure and complained "That cost me $10.99". I don't know where he is purchasing lures from but $10.99 is too high. Shop around. Don't be afraid to use this lure. As with any lure, mis-handling will cause problems. Again, Seriously?

I had one that my friend gave me 3 days ago and it already has a crack after those 3 days, didn't notice there was water in it until I saw that the thing would sink much faster

I used Rapalas for years and never broke one. I have had them break off but never broken. Maybe cuz i have never tried squeezing it.

I've noticed that out of all my original xraps, only the gold w Orange belly will just take in water ... I always find them w water inside and no other colors ...

Just Caught a 5 pounder w this on the first day trying it. Still no cracks and hoping for more big fish on it

I've got an entire season fishing for pike in northern Ontario using 3 rapala shadow raps. countless northerns caught on the 3 lures. yes...they thoroughly earned their wounds from doing battle but not a single one is cracked. funny...I fish in a lot of weed \ boulder areas bouncing them off numerous rocky areas. either I was extremely lucky or you are extremely unlucky...don't really know what to think??? already purchased 3 more for this up & coming season...tight lines : )

I caught about 300-350 walleye this spring and the shadow rap and shadow rap she let it creep back twitch, twitch........fish on. Out fished everyone near me by a lot when I used this lure. I fished it in heavy current and slack water. Didn't matter. All rocky structure. Broke none. Lost a few to snags. No defects.

Its not built to withstand people trying to snap it, its meant to withstand catching a bass.

What the hell??? I love these baits. Now I will have to look out for cracks when I use another one.

This video popped up after watching the demo of the Shadow Rapp. I was on my way to Dicks to purchase three more of these based on the success I have had this winter. The trouble I was having was that the hooks would bend outward after catching a fish. Never the less I applied the squeeze test like in the video and discovered that the lure was indeed cracked and was filled with lake water (used yesterday). I agree with Nolan Minor in the comments; I still catch fish with them. Thanks for the heads up! Perhaps a thin layer of fingernail polish might help?

Mine don't have any cracks but the plastic on them is getting like cloudy like I put Break cleaner on them man that sucks that they Crack like that they are one of my favorites

even i thought of not buying it after watching this vedio but bought two and tried the same thing he did.Gave enoromous amount of pressure but the crack din´t happen.

"How to make your Shadow Rap fast sinking and cast a mile"

I just checked mine with three fish and a crappie still good. not saying it won't happen but be careful

I cought tons of pike on the rapla shadow rap and the Olney thing that I have noticed is the teeth marks on it nothing else.

thanks for spending the money to show us that it's a pos I won't buy one

What I hate about the Shadow Rap is that the rear hook will tangle with the center hook. This has cost me a few good walleyes. May try putting a smaller hook on the rear, don't know how that will affect the balance.

I bought 3 Shadow Rap and 3 Shadow Rap Shad over the winter (Mich). I threw the SRS for about an hour yesterday. I must have been rusty as far as casting, I hit a bridge twice and cast onto rocks once. I just examined it...nothing...not even a "typical" mark when you mis-cast. I have not worked the SR hard yet. There is two things I am hoping for: 1. (I hope) This is a "bad batch" issue OR 2. (I hope) The author of this video does not have an agenda, i.e., partnered with a rival company. *I do think that a finger squeeze is not a fair test.

That's no good, I have had an X Rap do that multiple times when catching snook. Send it back and show them the video. What happens when you bang against a piling. They need more coating or heavier plastic.

The problem some of these people are having with these cracking is because they're fishing it in the wrong places and the wrong way. With a jerk bait you're not supposed to be hitting rocks and stumps or rip it through weeds, that's a squarebill job, fish in shallow water from the 3-6 ft range in winter and early spring, the fish bite lightly at that time and won't crack your lure, I follow this and my shadow raps have yet to crack.

They have really gone down hill. I had a problem, purchased two Rapala X-Rap Prop baits and they warped, not even in the sunlight. It's like their plastic is a cheap grade that won't hold up to anything.

That is the exact reason I stopped purchasing Rapala I love them the action is great they catch fish they do everything amazing but they do not last long whatsoever I don't know how many Shadow wraps I've gone through because of this issue one fish one cast anything they crack and it's horrible which sucks because like I said I grew up on Rapala and I love them but they've become so cheap there's no reason to purchase them cuz it's almost a hundred percent guarantee that they will break every one that I have is broken or it's going to break at any moment great video hopefully Rapala sees this and fixes this issue

We catch countless bass on one Shadow Rap. Flawless. Of course if you squeeze it, it will break. When smallies hit it from the side or behind its not gunna crack lol.

Ok so I have been using this jerk bait for about 2-3 weeks... abasuletly slay large mouth bass with this shadow rap... I am using this lure on a jig rod with 30lb braided line and a 10 lb flora carbon leader about 5 feet long ... point in case not even the right set up and the action is phenomenal I never slap the grass off any hard plastic lure always remove grass by hand! I guarantee this is how your lure cracked by I'm proper use... I caught a 4 pounder on this lure no issues at all with cracking

Put some crazy glue on it the sides are thin. I still buy em because I know its short comings , still catches fish .

After having a few i just learned dont slap them on the water to get weeds of and be carefula fish wont break them but you can

just tried this on my shadow rap i have caught 5+ big bass on, i could not crack it with my hand! my shadow rap only has two treble hooks?

i just bought a rapala last week , now im afraid to break it

I caught a 10lb walleye today with this lure and it had cracks all over and the last 3rd of it was broken off,

I was going to buy some more of these but now I'm definitely not going to. Thanks for saving me some money I'll put it in a different jerkbait any suggestions? I'm thinking about lucky crafts but there's so many

i have one shadow rap that ive used salt water and ive used freshwater not one crack and caught tons of species of fish on it and ill keep buying them why? because they catch fish !

Its not just Rapala's that are brittle. I've been having problems with Spro's jerk baits getting a little hot in my tackle box...in SPRING temps! 60-75deg. They'll start bulging and warping on the top of its back before they eventually split. Guess I'll keep them in my cooler with my drinks but they'd probably shatter from getting cold! SMH...Everything is made from cheap crap now a days

thanks brother for that's very helpful, I'm soo so praise to see how easy it breaks that rapala lure, is yes incredible. thanks do.

Thanks for the info was going to get a couple definitely changed my mind

Hummm Rapala's PR people will probably put out a video that says that's how you adjust it from a slow riser to a fast sinker. Probably get one of those guys in the stickerd up NASCAR fishing jersey shirts to tell you it's true! "1 crack equals 1 foot of fall a second 2 cracks equal 3 feet of fall 5 cracks and you got yourself a good drop shot weight!! I use it all the time in Tournaments won me a lot of money with that there bait"

I had the same problem with a max rap in the capture of a barracuda it was split in a full of water and it did not work anymore

99% of us who use this bait dont have this problem. Probably cus we dont sqeeze our baits?!

Aghhhh! Say it ain't so! Does this include the Shadow shad raps?

Thanx for posting this .... I use XRAPS and was looking to get the shadow rap .... Strike king KVD jerkbaits are a good choice as well

fished alongside 3 guys last night. they worked an area over thoroughly. i cast a half dozen times over their spot and pulled out a 3 lb walleye. sorry you've had some break. ever heard of super glue? it's super. results don't lie

yep happened to me and i stopped buying them. I had it happened to 8 out of 10 I owned for less then a year and it does take in water affecting the action.

that's just like the live target baitball crankbait ver1 mine cracked the first day

Wow, crazy. I've caught lots of bass on these and they're easily my favorite jerkbait.... but I've yet to have this happen, thankfully. Def gonna keep an eye out on this so thanks for the vid. Did you contact Rapala?

Good vids I'm not going to buy another one any time soon have one but never caught a fish on it

I got a couple last may and fished all year almost every day and caught at least 5 bass or northern all that were at least 3 pounds or bigger and i haven't had a problem yet so nothing against your vid but I don't believe it

Lol i didnt believe this so i tried it on my own. RIP shadow rap 😓 15$ cnd gone

Something to be concerned about. I've heard of other failures sitting in the boat over winter. I bring my inside now.

I’ve had some dumb stuff happen with the hooks

I was about to buy a couole. let me know if they fix the problem

I just bought one yesterday and now i have regrets...

I have 10-12 of them. Zero issues.

I have had two of them break one deep and one shallow, they will take in water and sink like a rock.

Yea mine cracked. The light blue. Sank quicker. With leader, I caught rockbass,northern,muskie like crazy. Muskie was 43 unch. Shallow water. By end of canada trip after 2nd year, it was destroyed. Lost it on a cast. Loop ring opened up after so many fish and hooks bent, and re bent. But still produced.

thanks for this, i was almost about to buy one of those

Crack one two days ago night fishing casted right into a pole going 100 miles an hour

I normally only buy the wooden type of Rapala's, they can't crack like that! I still have a few left from the 70's, still in the box.

Get what you pay for. If a person wants quality crankbaits. Go with wood lures. Nothing matches the boyancy and action of a oldfashoned wood lure. Sure thier alot more expensive. But they last alot longer in the long run so you still save money. And also save alot of heartache. Watching a fish break off of plastic.

thank u, i almost buy one but after seeing this review i giveup. btw, r u Canadian?

11 bucks per lure , per bass seems logical what's the problem

Dude, pull the hooks out before trying to flex that jerkbait. You never know

meghh... none of the fishes i catch with this bait will come close to the amount of pressure that is put on the bait like in this video. of course if you bend a long bait like this, it will crack. i still like the bait regardless. none of my baits had lasted me long enough for me to notice any cracks.

11 dollars ? ohh that price is too high.

Shame on Rapala for such a design flub... A real eye opener ....one of my three that have yet to taste the water has a crack!

that has been opened no tape

Fished mine twice. Already filling with water. And noooo i didnt squeeze it.

I love the shadow rap but the hooks are to thin