Shad/swimbait Recommendations?

[CC268]

I was at Bartlett Lake here in Arizona yesterday and the bass were chasing schools of shad around like there was no tomorrow....right now I just have two sizes of the Storm Wildeye shads (with the hook that comes out the top). I caught one on a shad....another guy caught 6 on a smaller white shad...almost exactly like mine. 

 

Anyways...I picked up some Zoom Super Flukes and thought about maybe getting some Gamakatzu Swim Bait hooks and some other shads/swim baits. Just seeing what you guys recommend?

[Lip 'em!]

The zoom super swimming flukes are great for the money. You might want to look into the YUM money minnows or strike king shadalicious as well. 4.5 inch rigged on a 5/0 gammy weighted swimbait hook. And since you say they are chasing schools of shad, of course id recommend the A-rig as well to imitate a small ball of shad.

[CC268]

The zoom super swimming flukes are great for the money. You might want to look into the YUM money minnows or strike king shadalicious as well. 4.5 inch rigged on a 5/0 gammy weighted swimbait hook. And since you say they are chasing schools of shad, of course id recommend the A-rig as well to imitate a small ball of shad.

 

I bet that alabama rig would be money.

 

What size swimbait hook should I use? I have 3/0 1/16oz already, is that alright? They were feeding on small shad, nothing big 

 

Can I even fish an alabama rig with 12 lb mono? If not then I will have to pass on the alabama rig. Looks like you need a really heavy setup for that

[RyneB]

huddleston deluxe weedless shad. One of the best shad imitators out there. Its a fish catcher.

[Crestliner2008]

I love jerkbaits, hard or soft. But I am becoming more and more reliant on the soft bodied (paddle tailed) swimbaits, like the Money Minnow. I prefer the SK Shadalicious myself, but to each his/her own.

[webertime]

4" Spros in floating and fast sink are killer.

[FLcentral]

Don't over look the chance the bass may be picky about the size of the bait they want so don't pass up a few 2 to 3 inch baits.

[SPEEDBEAD.]

If you are looking for a hard swimbait, I'd recommend a High Power Herring.

 

Look him up, not sure if allowed to post the link to his site.

[CC268]

Yea I already have some like 2 inch Storm Wildeye swimbaits as well as some of the 3-4 inch Storm Wildeye swimbaits...also have some Zoom Superflukes.

 

I am new to bass fishing...so I don't want to get too carried away with lures...I have a TON of stuff already so I am trying to get good with what I have. I appreciate the suggestions...hopefully the swimbaits I have will do alright for now

[WRB]

Are the bass busting shad along the brushy shoreline areas or out away from the shoreline?

Your lake has threadfin shad and the bass push the school into a tight ball and any shad profile lure works;

Open water; 3/4 oz spoons like Kastmaster and Hopkins Shorty in chrome with white/chartreuse chicken feathered size 2 treble works very well, shad colored Splash-It surface popper fish fast, shad colored crankbaits, Jerkbaits, soft plastic Flukes, tail spinners like Little George and Sworming Hornets.

In the brush a white weedless bronze Eye style frog. Swimbaits like 4" BBZ, Roboworm s

Shad swimbait, Huddleston Deluze shad swimbait, Basstrix 5" shad paddle tail hollow body swimbait.

Rocket Shad single spin spinner bait, any shad colored spinnerbait......most of your tackle box could work.

Split shot reaper or a 1/8 oz dart head with a shad worm, take your pick.

Tom

[CC268]

Thanks for all the help guys

[Jay Ell Gee]

Can't go wrong there. I personally prefer the small magic shads by lake fork tackle (on the 3/0 1/16) and the Keitech seinfeld impact fat.

[webertime]

Can't go wrong there. I personally prefer the small magic shads by lake fork tackle (on the 3/0 1/16) and the Keitech seinfeld impact fat.

 

The Seinfeld model is sick!

[TNBassin']

I use Lake Fork Tackle live magic shad, Berkley realistix, Havoc Sick fish, Yum money minnows, and Zoom super fluke jrs. The ones with the boot tail, not the other kind. 

[Tartan34]

I'm a huge fan of the Vivif line...and have found that the Pearl works best for me.

[shootermcbob]

Lake fork tackle live magic shad in the 3.5 inch size, fished on a 1/4 ounce jighead...I have had really good success with this lure.

[roadwarrior]

All these suggestions should work at one time or another.

My most consistant presentation is a Sworming Hornet/ LFT

Live Magic Shad. If you go this route, work the bait this way:

Long cast letting the lure fall to the bottom on slack line. Once

it reaches the bottom reel up 5-6 turns QUICKLY, then allow

the bait to fall on slack line again. Repeat until you feel you

are "out of the zone". DO NOT pump your rod. The blade will

lift the lure when you reel. If you pump the bait it simply moves

forward.

 

 

[Lip 'em!]

I bet that alabama rig would be money.

What size swimbait hook should I use? I have 3/0 1/16oz already, is that alright? They were feeding on small shad, nothing big

Can I even fish an alabama rig with 12 lb mono? If not then I will have to pass on the alabama rig. Looks like you need a really heavy setup for that

Yes those hooks you already have should be fine with small swimbaits if you are fishing shallow.

Sadly the standard A-rig is a heavy setup requiring heavy duty gear to fish it effectively. I fish it on 65lb braid and a 7'9" heavy action swimbait rod. Search the forums though for the topic about the smaller A-rigs. Might give you some ideas on how you might be able to fish one of these more finesse rigs on lighter tackle.

[GoneFishi'n]

huddleston deluxe weedless shad. One of the best shad imitators out there. Its a fish catcher.

I agree, they love the weedless grass minnows.

[CC268]

I got some super flukes, I will pick up some of the lake fork swim baits sometime...just don't want to get overwhelmed with too much swimbait stuff...already have some berkely shads, storm wildeye shads, and the superflukes...i will see where that gets me...already caught a few bass on the wildeye shads

[Hanover_Yakker]

I'll throw a different name into the mix for you.  At first glance, the paint detail of the bait out of the package is not like a SPRO or Lucky Craft.   No these are handmade by a fisherman and look "rough".  His name is Mike Bucca aka "Triton Mike", and he makes the Bull Shad.  It is a hard swimbait much like a SPRO but it comes in sizes that range from 5" all the way up to 9" and they flat out catch fish.

 

http://www.bullshad.com/

 

Check out TackleTour's review - http://www.tackletour.com/reviewbuccabullshad.html