Here is an excerpt from my latest article Zulu Magic Update in the Boundary Waters Journal.
If you would like to read the entire article, call the BWJ and order the current Spring issue - 800-548-7319.

If you are looking for a subtle top-water approach, the ZMAN RaZor is the answer. The RaZor has a segmented, soft plastic, fish-like body with a forked tail and a bait fish profile. It has a thicker girth than the ShadZ and floats. Rig the RaZor the same as the ShadZ sans the swivel. The only difference is the worm hook, use a larger 2/0 (Gamakatsu) worm hook. The presentation is just a few slight twitches on the surface, followed by an extended pause. This lure is also a diving lure, so when the lure is twitched, it will do a little nose dive. There is no commotion, nothing but a slight ripple on the surface until a fish slurps the offering. Wait a second like you would for any top-water presentation before setting the hook. This lure strongly resembles a wounded cisco. It is the best presentation for a smallmouth bass looking for dying, surface bait fish. I typically cast the RaZor in a cisco imitating color of “Bad Shad”.

Mike,

Why do you fish the ZMAN RaZor “without” a swivel and the ShadZ “with” a swivel?

Wally13: "Mike,


Why do you fish the ZMAN RaZor “without” a swivel and the ShadZ “with” a swivel?"

I want the lure to float on the surface, the swivel will take the lure subsurface. The lure can be fished with the Zulu rig and does catch fish almost as well as the scented jerk ShadZ, but for this presentation I want it to float. The swivel on the Zulu rig helps alleviate the nasty line twists the jerk ShadZ cause while doing a typical retrieve. When I am fishing the RaZor as a top-water presentation it is a very slow and subtle approach. I don't need the swivel to reduce line twists because there is not a constant subsurface retrieve, just a couple of slight twitches. These subtle, light twitches do not cause the lure to twirl during the retrieve, so no worries about line twists. The top-water twitching of a RaZor is extremely slow fishing. Twitch, twitch, long pause and repeat if no strike. This presentation could take 10 times longer or even longer than casting a ShadZ on a Zulu rig and retrieving it.

Thanks for the detailed explanation Mike. Will certainly give the RaZor a try this year.

Mike, are you tying a fluoro leader to your braid when not using the swivel? I have yet to master the Uni knot (or any connection knot) but I think I need to. Just wondering if you go that route when not using a swivel since you mention doing it with a swivel. Tying extra Palomar knots is a piece of cake for me so I'm inclined to use a swivel at all times, just a lot smaller one if I don't wanna bring the lure subsurface.

flynn: "Mike, are you tying a fluoro leader to your braid when not using the swivel? I have yet to master the Uni knot (or any connection knot) but I think I need to. Just wondering if you go that route when not using a swivel since you mention doing it with a swivel. Tying extra Palomar knots is a piece of cake for me so I'm inclined to use a swivel at all times, just a lot smaller one if I don't wanna bring the lure subsurface. "

I don't use fluoro or braid for that matter. The only time I use braid is when throwing a Lucky 13 because the non stretch helps that big lure pop. I using nothing but Trilene XL 10# test. I have used braid on the Zulu rig leader in the past if I am in a rocky area and fish are cutting me off on rocks. So to answer your question, I just use mono when throwing the RaZor.

Ah yeah, I forgot you were a mono guy. I am sticking with braid for most of my reels this year as I will be doing a lot of jigging for lakers (hoping to anyway) and I want the responsiveness for good hook sets. I am going with straight 14lb fluoro on one reel for trolling and possibly jerkbaits, but I am going to try my braid to fluoro setup for those things too and see if the straight fluoro makes any difference.

Also I just tied a few Double Uni knots and it was way easier than I remember. Last time I tried, I was using 15lb PowerPro to 10lb P-Line fluoro-coated-mono and the P-Line was so stiff (and larger diameter) it made it really hard to tie the knot. Using Sunline Sniper it was so much easier. I think I will have no issue tying on a leader without a swivel.

Thanks again Mike!

Wally13: "Thanks for the detailed explanation Mike. Will certainly give the RaZor a try this year."

If you have ever twitched an original floating Rapala on the surface for a topwater presentation, using the RaZor is pretty much the same presentation. I think the RaZor looks more like a bait fish than the Rapala does, which I think helps.

flynn: "Ah yeah, I forgot you were a mono guy. I am sticking with braid for most of my reels this year as I will be doing a lot of jigging for lakers (hoping to anyway) and I want the responsiveness for good hook sets. I am going with straight 14lb fluoro on one reel for trolling and possibly jerkbaits, but I am going to try my braid to fluoro setup for those things too and see if the straight fluoro makes any difference.


Also I just tied a few Double Uni knots and it was way easier than I remember. Last time I tried, I was using 15lb PowerPro to 10lb P-Line fluoro-coated-mono and the P-Line was so stiff (and larger diameter) it made it really hard to tie the knot. Using Sunline Sniper it was so much easier. I think I will have no issue tying on a leader without a swivel.


Thanks again Mike!"

Flynn! I'm with you on the braid...all my spools are full of 10 or 20lb braid (Berkley advanced 832 or PP Slick 8). This winter I practiced tying the Alberto knot (on a strong recommendation from a buddy of mine who fishes the FLW tour) as a connecting knot for flouro and i'm almost ready to take the training wheels off. Still need that youtube video to help me out. It seems to be slightly more streamlined of a knot than the double uni. Just another knot in the arsenal for us to try out. Good luck!

QM...I grabbed a few packs of Razor Shadz recently and will fish them the way you described...my wife may send you a bill for my recent tackle purchases....just a heads up. :)

GickFirk22: "

flynn: "Ah yeah, I forgot you were a mono guy. I am sticking with braid for most of my reels this year as I will be doing a lot of jigging for lakers (hoping to anyway) and I want the responsiveness for good hook sets. I am going with straight 14lb fluoro on one reel for trolling and possibly jerkbaits, but I am going to try my braid to fluoro setup for those things too and see if the straight fluoro makes any difference.



Also I just tied a few Double Uni knots and it was way easier than I remember. Last time I tried, I was using 15lb PowerPro to 10lb P-Line fluoro-coated-mono and the P-Line was so stiff (and larger diameter) it made it really hard to tie the knot. Using Sunline Sniper it was so much easier. I think I will have no issue tying on a leader without a swivel.



Thanks again Mike!"

Flynn! I'm with you on the braid...all my spools are full of 10 or 20lb braid (Berkley advanced 832 or PP Slick 8). This winter I practiced tying the Alberto knot (on a strong recommendation from a buddy of mine who fishes the FLW tour) as a connecting knot for flouro and i'm almost ready to take the training wheels off. Still need that youtube video to help me out. It seems to be slightly more streamlined of a knot than the double uni. Just another knot in the arsenal for us to try out. Good luck!


QM...I grabbed a few packs of Razor Shadz recently and will fish them the way you described...my wife may send you a bill for my recent tackle purchases....just a heads up. :)"

Tell your wife to get in line, it might be awhile before payments are mailed out :) It's a fun presentation when it is calm out. I love to see fish swim through the lure, where you'll see the top half of the bass on the surface when it inhales the lure, then wait and feel the fish on the line as it swims with the bait and slam the hook into the roof of the mouth. Getting excited just thinking about it!