Is Sexy shad the best all around crank color?

[TriStateBassin106]

This question has lingered in my head since I started throwing around my KVD 1.5s and Rapala DTs in the same color this year, it seems like Sexy shad can imitate almost anything and be used in most conditions, it can give off a flash or solid color at will and the chart stripe does wonders in dirty water or overcast days.. caught many good fish on that color this year alone and if I had to fish with only one color of crankbait forever it would be sexy shad. 

 

Do you guys like the Sexy shad color on crankbaits/hard baits?

[MN Fisher]

Considering that all my crankbait catches this year - pike as well as bass - were on Bluegill or Pumpkinseed patterns...and the few times I tried a Shad I got nuttin'....I'd say no. At least in my experience.

[Mike L]

I don’t throw them much, but when I do I’ll usually start off with it but I wouldn’t say it was my killer color. 
 

 

 

 

Mike

[ajschn06]

I’m partial to the bluegill patterns, but if you asked me right now to pick one it would be a Chart black back 1.5....

[Siebert Outdoors]

The Bandit spring craw color is one of my all time favorites.

[galyonj]

9 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

Considering that all my crankbait catches this year - pike as well as bass - were on Bluegill or Pumpkinseed patterns...and the few times I tried a Shad I got nuttin'....I'd say no. At least in my experience.

I've caught on both this year, but it really seems like they're only interested in one or the other at a time. If I get bit on shad, I'm more than likely not getting bit on a bluegill pattern.

[Spankey]

It a good proven pattern as far as me fishing it but I would never say it would be MY best all around crank pattern. 

10 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

Considering that all my crankbait catches this year - pike as well as bass - were on Bluegill or Pumpkinseed patterns...and the few times I tried a Shad I got nuttin'....I'd say no. At least in my experience.

 

2 hours ago, ajschn06 said:

I’m partial to the bluegill patterns, but if you asked me right now to pick one it would be a Chart black back 1.5....

The Rapala Original Bluegill is one of my most productive patterns. Not the Real Live Image stuff they put out. The original bluegill - still in production. But not the best all around pattern. In my opinion. But has caught a lot of fish. Green and brown bass. 

[Spankey]

33 minutes ago, galyonj said:

I've caught on both this year, but it really seems like they're only interested in one or the other at a time. If I get bit on shad, I'm more than likely not getting bit on a bluegill pattern.

I find that to be true on some days.  

[camman]

I think like most colors, its a regional play into the top colors.  Out here in California, I don't own 1 bait in the sexy shad color.  I've tried them in the past and haven't found them that productive.  I have been successful at times with a  shad pattern so maybe the bass I catch don't prefer a sexy shad and like a more generic shad?

[ajschn06]

1 hour ago, Spankey said:

It a good proven pattern as far as me fishing it but I would never say it would be MY best all around crank pattern. 

 

The Rapala Original Bluegill is one of my most productive patterns. Not the Real Live Image stuff they put out. The original bluegill - still in production. But not the best all around pattern. In my opinion. But has caught a lot of fish. Green and brown bass. 

I use custom painted ones.... most of the stock sunfish/bluegill patterns aren't very good imo….

[Sam]

Depends on the forage in the body of water and if you have either aggressive bass feeding or bass that are just sitting there waiting for a meal to pass by.

 

Feeding bass will hit most baits if they mimic what they are eating.

 

Other bass that just hover around will hit a bait if it passes close enough to them.

 

But to answer your question, yes, I throw Sexy Shad first and then go to colors, like Firetiger on rivers and a crawfish colors on lakes.

 

Baits and colors change by the hour so get the most out of your patterns as soon as possible.

[Spankey]

14 minutes ago, ajschn06 said:

I use custom painted ones.... most of the stock sunfish/bluegill patterns aren't very good imo….

All I know is, I’d never spend $0.10 on a live image or true image Crankbait again. I’m a Rapala fan boy since I was a kid. Back a handful of years ago when Rapala put out the real image on some baits I could not wait to get some in my possession and fish them. They are dang near a zero to me. I’m saying they suck. But overall I’m a big Rapala fan. Just not a real image fan. Too much other stuff works better to waste my time with them. The true image smallmouth in a DT and Shad Rap work great for the occasional channel catfish. But I’m sure they work great for the next guy. 

[Luke Barnes]

In a Largemouth lake I fish, sexy shad tore it up. But at a smallmouth/largemouth lake I fished rip rap with a red craw squarebill and tore em up on it. So to me it's dependant on location, species, water clarity. Would I have caught the same fish if i switched the colors? No idea, but I know smallies like rocks and craws like rocks so that's what drove that decision. 

[Teal]

In clear to slightly stained water, it's always a starting point for me 

[Jonas Staggs]

my sexy shad lipless crankbait has been my most productive lipless crank. 

[Luke Barnes]

1 hour ago, Jonas Staggs said:

my sexy shad lipless crankbait has been my most productive lipless crank. 

I'll give you that. As far as lipless go that's my go to.

[WRB]

Medium and Deep diving crank baits are like soft plastics, sooo many good colors why restrict yourself?

Somedays silver Shad with purple-green flake back works others charteuse Shad with blue-gold flake back when bass feeding on Shad. 

When crawdads are active the black with red-orange is the ticket, other days it's black w/orange belly.

Then Baby bass colors green back w/ black flake and silver belly out fishes everything else.

What is Sexy Shad other then a KVD Strike King color?

Tom

[galyonj]

2 hours ago, Jonas Staggs said:

my sexy shad lipless crankbait has been my most productive lipless crank. 

It's funny how color changes one's confidence in a given lure.

 

Academy's house brand used to put out their traps in a color called green terror, and last year I tore them up on that color. They've apparently discontinued that color, and I'm out of them.

 

Now I barely throw those H2O lipless baits anymore because it's like my heart's not in it or something.

[TriStateBassin106]

20 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

Considering that all my crankbait catches this year - pike as well as bass - were on Bluegill or Pumpkinseed patterns...and the few times I tried a Shad I got nuttin'....I'd say no. At least in my experience.

I live in NJ where we have no shad and none of those bluegill colors worked for me this year. besides sexy shad the only color i've gotten bit on is Tennessee shad and Black back chart.

6 hours ago, Teal said:

In clear to slightly stained water, it's always a starting point for me 

I've had luck in it in Stained lakes around here in Jersey, some ponds I fish have that green algae water which is a solid green, chart black back works well in those situations. 

[Ben77]

Black back chartreuse and bluegill colors work for me. I mostly fish in stained to murky water. I have a kvd 1.5 in sexy shad and I know it would work but just haven't gotten time to use it.

[Bird]

I don't really know why certain colors work in certain conditions but I try to remember them when they do.

 

I see sexy shad in several bait options and always have had good results with that color option. 

[Jonas Staggs]

5 hours ago, galyonj said:

It's funny how color changes one's confidence in a given lure.

 

Academy's house brand used to put out their traps in a color called green terror, and last year I tore them up on that color. They've apparently discontinued that color, and I'm out of them.

 

Now I barely throw those H2O lipless baits anymore because it's like my heart's not in it or something.

Yeah it was actually the first crank I bought when I got back into fishing. I bought it cause it was the only one left. I was surprised when it slayed. As I wanted a red craw.

 

I can recall one day reeling it in, I couldn't tell where my lure was, I saw something moving, thought it was a fish, nope just my lure. Lol. Had the same thing happen first time I trimmed a jig skirt too.

[Mbirdsley]

Around where I live in mid Michigan we have American gizzard Shad so you need a hint of green on sunny days and the smallies hammer it .  However, sexy Shad has been good on overcast days for what ever reason and I’ve caught a lot of smallies and large mouth when It is cloudy.
 

my all around best cranks have been flashy silver ones or like I said ones with green 

 

chartreuse is a situational thing on clear body of water as the sun starts going down 

[ChrisD46]

16 hours ago, Sam said:

Depends on the forage in the body of water and if you have either aggressive bass feeding or bass that are just sitting there waiting for a meal to pass by.

 

Feeding bass will hit most baits if they mimic what they are eating.

 

Other bass that just hover around will hit a bait if it passes close enough to them.

 

But to answer your question, yes, I throw Sexy Shad first and then go to colors, like Firetiger on rivers and a crawfish colors on lakes.

 

Baits and colors change by the hour so get the most out of your patterns as soon as possible.

*Sexy shad IF your waters have shad ... If up in MN. , WI. or other waters where bluegill are dominant  - then "no" and you would be better off with a blue gill pattern.

[Sam]

48 minutes ago, ChrisD46 said:

*Sexy shad IF your waters have shad ... If up in MN. , WI. or other waters where bluegill are dominant  - then "no" and you would be better off with a blue gill pattern.

Chris, I catch a lot of bass in a private pond with no shad using a Sexy Shad color 1.5 or 1.5 KVD Strike King crankbait.

 

Have no idea why, but for some reason these pond bass will hit the Sexy Shad crankbaits and no other color.

 

I have not figured it out other than Sexy Shad works in all bodies of water I fish, be it ponds, lakes, or rivers.

 

Go figure????