My Rapala Ultra Light Sinking Shad appears to be discontinued. They are several years old. I cannot find them online but I have found what is called a countdown minnow. Not quite the same thing but it will sink and that is the key on the Duck River. Let it sink a few feet before retrieve and the fish will smack it. I don't catch anything with floating baits. Rapala.com has a whole line of newer sinking products. You just have to downsize for the river fishing. Also I do well with the Mepps Aglia in a #2 Size with a brown squirrel tail. Walmart sometimes has them but Mepps.com always does. A #3 Size will get larger bass and the occational Channel Cat. Good Luck on the River!
Quote Originally Posted by DangItMel View Post
Wow, sounds like you had a fun day on the river! Thanks for the tips…I do get aggravated with the blades on rooster tails. I thought I must be doing something wrong because the blades didn’t always spin. I kind of wondered how I could be messing up because, well, they’re rooster tails and all ya have to do is reel them in, but who knows lol. I will have to try out the sinking Rapala, too…never tried one.

We are in the Leftwich/Howard’s Bridge area of Duck River. It’s a beautiful section of river but pretty shallow and it gets lots of pressure, I think. I’ve always heard folks say the crappie are hard to find around here, but seems most folks are fishing for bass and catfish. My brother has caught many a monster catfish through the years. Good to know there may be a few crappie around, after all!