San Diego & SoCal Fishing Forums

Hey folks, picked up some reaper baits to use at Barrett but wondering how people like to rig and present them. Ned rig? Drop shot? Texas? Steady or slow retrieve? Jig it along the bottom?

Any advice would be welcome, heading out there tomorrow and Sunday so looking forward to trying them out!

Split shot is the go to with a wide gap worm hook matching the size of the reaper. They actually work well on drop shot too. You can Texas rig them but honestly split shot is best. Keep them on the bottom, pulling it slow and pause. I prefer to stitch them. If you are patient, they will pull through the grass but you have to have smooth, non re usable splitshots.

Agree on the split shot. Old school. Pinch the lighter round shot, like a 4 or 5 size, about 15 inches up the line. Where Camobass looks to be fishing deeper, my lighter shot stays higher in the water column longer and often gets bit on the fall. I am however in contact with the bottom plenty and get bit there too. I fish only the smaller 3” size reaper so I use a very small #2 straight shank worm hook.

Reapers are an old school SoCal bait. Used to be that everyone threw them, like a chocolate blue vein worm. They work well on Texas rigs and drop shots too.