ShallowRaider 101: minnow bait applications and modifications for muskies!

[@scottanthonymiller]

Shallow Raider. My absolute favorite. Favorite color? Miller Perch. Hang on all of the time.

[@MuskyMastery]

Scott, let's here the specs on that giant you caught on the Miller Perch jointed SR. How big? Time of year? Type of cover?

[@rayhenderson3546]

Great video, thanks very much.

[@MuskyMastery]

Ray thank you! It’s really great to see the positive response from folks on tutorial videos like these! I’ll for sure keep filming them and sharing my knowledge on the different JBO lures - a new one coming out this week featuring the baby DepthRaider!

[@michaelkadoura474]

Thank you, as a guide for The Ottawa River Musky Factory I agree with your opinion. Great mid winter review for us. Use these in the spring, and cold front conditions. Or where fish see a ton of Blades only.

[@MuskyMastery]

Michael, thanks dude! I really appreciate the comment to get some conversation started here! Yes, when I am guiding I almost always have someone throwing a ShallowRaider. Usually this is the second or third caster in the group - letting the lead caster throw something faster while leading the way. It still amazes me how many fish the "third" guy in the lineup will catch after 2 other lures have been thrown through a spot. Just goes to show you that just because you cover a spot thoroughly with one lure type doesn't mean that there is not an active fish on the spot!

[@michaelkadoura474]

@@MuskyMastery I tell our clients the fish are there. Getting them to play is the challenge. Also, if you ever study your pet cats, (We have one) they can teach you about muskies. Sometimes they will chase everything/anything even if it isn't moving. Sometimes they will with just a little action. Sometimes they look but won't move. Muskies are total predators like cats. I find the way I move the toy, how fast, is it going to escape around a corner? (The cat can't handle that one without pouncing) In short I've learned a lot about moving a musky by moving their land relatives. Study your cat.

[@robsimpson3771]

All great tips! Saw joe at the Tinley Park Illinois show. I bought the topraider and he signed it for luck.

[@MuskyMastery]

Rob that is awesome! But... that JB signed TopRaider might have to go on your desk now! LOLLL

[@ScottBurnham-z1q]

Do you ever put a split ring on the eyelit. Never mind you answered my question in the vid lol

[@MuskyMastery]

Thanks Scott!!! More videos on the way tomorrow!

[@cmurphy2026]

Good stuff Chas! 🎣🎣🎣

[@MuskyMastery]

Thanks Colin! Much appreciated! What is your favorite SR model out of the lineup? I would say that (for Wisconsin) out of the 4 models I probably throw the 7' straight model the most. Followed by the baby SR as a close second. In Canadian waters, with the abundance of rock structure, I probably throw the jointed SR the most.

[@cmurphy2026]

Hey Chas! Yes I would have to agree that here in Mn and Wi we probably throw the straight 7’ the most as well, however early season the 5” has produced as well ! This season I plan on using the jointed a a little more!

[@MuskyMastery]

Colin, yes... the straight 7" has saved my butt on tough bites more times than I can count and they are so easy for clients to cast and simply crank in. Same goes for the jointed 7" SR's. I really love them for shallow rock reefs in the 3-5 ft range. Just the perfect match for those kind of shallow rocky structures and the hooking percentage is tremendous! I have also done very well on the jointed model at night while working shallow weed flats and rock reefs.

[@AnnaGoesOutside]

Wow! Great vid!!

[@MuskyMastery]

Anna thank you so much! Tight lines!

[@tnjjbigclutch9434]

Very informative

[@MuskyMastery]

Thanks Josh! DUDE!

[@davidhardt2650]

Thank you for your very nice instructional ( with nice action videos included) video on minnow baits. I took careful notes and will apply this knowledge this coming season. I read or saw somewhere that one could wind soldering coils around the upper parts of the hooks to add weight as well. Ever heard of that? Can you find plumber's tape at hardware stores? Not a product I am familiar with. Reportedly the soldering idea is nice as one can easily in the boat add or subtract the amount of soldering coil applied to the hooks/lure to add or subtract weight on the fly. Have not actually tried it.

[@MuskyMastery]

Dave thanks as always and please keep the questions coming! Love the good conversation and especially when it is -50 outside!!! :) Yes, you can certainly add lead tape to the shank (shaft) of the treble hooks and that can be a great way to add extra weight. You can of course also adhere the lead tape to the belly (or where ever you would like) of the lure as well. I like doing this because I have found that the flat, straight model ShallowRaiders cast better with this modification. Really any lead tape will work great for you and as a golfer, I tend to go with brands used to adhere to the back of golf clubs. Check out this brand... it should work well or anything similar to it! www.amazon.com/Unique-Sports-Golf-Lead-Tape/dp/B00196NKN8

[@plur4e1]

Great Video Chas. Could you tell me the colour of the 5" shallow raider that you are holding at 9:50 in the vid. Thank you!

[@plur4e1]

Is it the Chart Pickey?

[@MuskyMastery]

Bill, yes that is the chartreuse pikey color. One of my ALL TIME favs for stained water fishing!

[@davidhardt9924]

Is there a difference between a shallow raider and a depth raider? As I look at the online ordering sites sometimes it says Boucher DR and sometimes shallow raider? is DR the jointed version? Just checked saw them both mentioned on JB outdoors site Apologies if this is a dumb comment

[@MuskyMastery]

Dave, excellent comment! The ShallowRaiders (SR), both jointed and straight models, run around 3-4 feet in maximum depth. The DepthRaiders (DR's) run between 6 feet (baby DR) and 10.5 feet (regular 8" model). Both the SR and DR come in jointed and straight models.

[@sgangling]

Great content Chas! How deep do the shallow raiders run and is there any difference in depth between the jointed vs straight body?

[@MuskyMastery]

Sam, thanks dude!!! Running depth on all cranks varies with the diameter of the line but let's say we are throwing the SR's on 65 lb Beat Braid and on a BOMB cast... The 7' straight model SR gets down to about 4.5 feet. I have ticked the top of rock reefs with the 7" that are approaching 5 feet. I would also say that this is about the maximum running depth of the jointed 7" SR as well. I usually rig my 7" models with 3 O/T size hooks. The 5" baby SR's run a touch shallower on the retrieve and probably get down to 3 feet or so on max depth. I rig my baby SR's with 2 O/T size hooks for shallow applications but when I want to get down deeper I will rig with them with 3 or 4 O/T size hooks for a suspending action. Hope this helps and please keep the questions coming anytime! Tight lines dude!

[@gregmaliska5153]

Dude......really informative, and thanks for mentioning me, as usual a couple of more questions......................is the plumper tape have a specific name, looked for it here locally and they have aluminum and Teflon type tape, don't see leaded. The coated 7 strand leader.....is that out yet. Stay warm - 24 here this am.

[@MuskyMastery]

Greg thank you so much dude! Really appreciate it and thanks as always for watching! And please keep the questions coming! I have used all sorts of lead tape as long as it has a good adhesive back so it sticks nicely to the lures. There are a lot of different brands and makes out there and as a golfer... I naturally go with tape used for weighting golf clubs! Here is a link to a lead tape I would recommend: www.amazon.com/Unique-Sports-Golf-Lead-Tape/dp/B00196NKN8

[@ticesine6589]

I got a depth raider off a guy today finally, and .........................................., it floats.

[@MuskyMastery]

That is GREAT news dude! If you ever had issues with lures just email me and I will help take care of the issues. With JBO products, of course! [e-mail]

[@patrickjamesschenk2908]

What rod and reel Setup do you use for these applications?

[@MuskyMastery]

Patrick, thanks for the watch and comment dude! My all-time favorite rod for throwing and working straight model SR's is St. Croix's LMD710MF - this is their Legend Tournament "Musky Downsizer" 7'10" medium power, fast action. For the reel on this rod I like to go with Daiwa's 300H - which is a 6.1:1 gear ratio. JBO's Beast Braid in 65 or 80 lb test. 65 lb if I want more running depth out of the SR's and 80 lb test if I am fishing super thick cover. Hope that helps man and keep the questions coming! Tight lines dude!

[@teamtadpoleoutdoors5050]

what make and model hooks are those bud?

[@bionick4281]

🎣👍🏻🎣👍🏻🎣

[@MuskyMastery]

Thanks Nick! Glad you enjoyed the video dude. What is your favorite SR model?

[@bionick4281]

Musky Mastery Dude, I love the 5 inch perch pattern the best!

[@MuskyMastery]

Nick, the 5" baby SR has been an incredible tool for me during tough bites! And surprisingly, I have caught most of my big muskies and walleyes on during the straight cranking portion of the retrieve after the PAUSE! Not sure why this is. Sometimes they hit it on the pause but many times they seem to nail it after a good pause and once the straight retrieve has started. Perhaps the pause gets their attention and then once it gets cranked away... they instinctively chase after it and are triggered to eat it. Whatever the case... a great lure for cold fronts!