Huddleston Weedless Shad.. Impressions

[einscodek]

Picked up one of these during the sale on the 4th.  Was a bit skeptical at first seening such a dink swimbait but seeing it in the water swimming true with a subtle huddtail wag looks like a minature version of my Huddleston trout.  Perfect for these Northeast waters I fish.

Said lure swims true without much wobble letting the classic Hudd tail do all the moving.

On my outing this morning I gave it the first and often last casts in the area I fished.

Good news is that it got bit by a 2.5 pounder eventually.. and ok Ill count the big 16" bullhead catfish which also got landed somehow.

Did not rip nor damage the plastic and it remains solid after these two..

Bad news is that my KVD plastics outfished it 4 to 1 cleaning up areas after the Hudd went through them.. could just be today.

That said its a tool I welcome in my toolbox for days or seasons when fish are more willing to hit a subtle swimmer.

Really like how it swims in the water..just like how a fish is supposed to.

Pleasantly surprised..

[stk]

I got a couple of these as well, haven't fished them much but thats probably because I haven't much confidence in them yet.  I have a tough time feeling what the bait is doing in the water, maybe it's because I've been fishing a jig too much and I'm expecting something else.  How do you fish these things?  Just straight retrieve or like a jerk bait?

[einscodek]

You jig fisherman so just tune in on it and you can feel its tail give alil thumpin not as much as a 68 special but nonetheless a mini thump.

I just started up on these this morning but I worked them jerked lightly thru hydrillas..

but the hookups I had with the bass and catfish were when I was just slowly steadily winding.

You'll notice the tail kicks fast when you wind it too fast but if you wind it slow, the tail kicks more naturally slow.

Like you I need to build more confidence in these and figure out when and where best to use but its comin' and I can see its merits.

Good bait.

[stk]

What reed/rod/line do you fish the weedless shad on?

[einscodek]

Was using my flippin stick 7'6 with 30lb braid so I could get a good hookset.. its a bit too light to throw on a swimbait rod

[Comfortably Numb]

Good bait. I had some bad % with hookups.

 

Might get expensive when the pickeral eat it though.

[Bluebasser86]

They work great on the fall also, caught a lot of fish that take the bait before I ever start the retrieve. The last several I bought did not last very well though so I've stopped using them except in tournaments. 

[SoFlaBassAddict]

I can't even begin to guess at how many fish I've caught on them. My only complaint is that they do get torn up fairly easily. You can use Huddlebond to put them back together. As much as I do like them, I'm still not sure if they're worth the price.

Killer little bait though.

[Master Bait'r]

These are great! Just reel it as slowly as you can and let it kind of bump/move along the bottom. Let's the guys without swimbaits rods use the swimbait approach very nicely.

I like them in gentle rivers too. Smallmouth grass killer for sure and the current really makes them come alive when you work against it right.

Great in-between bait. With they were half price but I could say that for anything really.

[einscodek]

Had concerns about the durability based on reviews but after two fish it seems ok still. The coating has a couple of small lines from the teeth but no tearing.

I didnt like how it acted when it was suspended though so I keep it moving forward on the retrieve.

I gave it a ton of casts this morning as well but nothing.. not a great day the fish werent biting a whole bunch but plastics still landed me my only fish a 4 pounder.

So hudd got outfished again today.. good tool but is it worth the price?  Jury is still out..

[Master Bait'r]

Had concerns about the durability based on reviews but after two fish it seems ok still. The coating has a couple of small lines from the teeth but no tearing.

I didnt like how it acted when it was suspended though so I keep it moving forward on the retrieve.

I gave it a ton of casts this morning as well but nothing.. not a great day the fish werent biting a whole bunch but plastics still landed me my only fish a 4 pounder.

So hudd got outfished again today.. good tool but is it worth the price? Jury is still out..

Much like any other tool it's only worth it when you need it. If you were throwing it on a crank or plastic day no wonder it didn't "win". I say keep a few just in case.

[Primus]

I just started fishing these recently and I'm very impressed. . So far durability is not a concern and I have not had a problem with hooks sets using a 7' heavy action rod with 17 lb floro though I could probably get a with a little lighter line and a MH rod more than likely. I'm also liking the weedless Hudd 68, it seems like the fish stay pinned on the weedless hudds better than the jig style based on my limited sample size with this style .

[hatrix]

For me they are more of a spinning rod deal usually. As for casting them on a swim bait rod it should be no prob. Actually easier maybe then say a average M/H. I have thrown them on a sim bait rod and can really bomb them with it. It might be a good idea to throw them with a split shot also. Helps with casting and let's it get down a bit deeper.

Also as bluebasser I think said they work great on the fall. I have had great days using them as a pitching bait.