Spro KGB Chad Shad

[Brett's_daddy]

Who has these and how do you like them? Any color schemes seem to work better than others? I’ll probably pick one up but am wondering if I should get the Ghost Perch since we have a lot of perch/ bluegill in Vermont but both shad patterns look good too as well as the trout (which we also have a lot of).

[5by3]

I’ve got the gizzard Shad pattern. Have had some success so far, but nothing to write home about. If I had FFS I think I would catch more fish on it. Gets a lot of follows, but the fish don’t always commit.

[NorthernBasser]

The Ghost Perch is a thing of beauty. 

 

[looking45]

13 hours ago, 5by3 said:

I’ve got the gizzard Shad pattern. Have had some success so far, but nothing to write home about. If I had FFS I think I would catch more fish on it. Gets a lot of follows, but the fish don’t always commit.

Talk/find someone who knows how to fish glide baits. There’s a couple ways to make followers commit about 75% of the time

[Brett's_daddy]

20 hours ago, NorthernBasser said:

The Ghost Perch is a thing of beauty. 

 

That’s the one I ended up getting for now…probably will pick up another maybe in Threadfin shad.

[GreenPig]

I have the Gizzard & Bone and like them. Looking forward to the Fall swimbait bite.

[Scott804]

I have one but haven't been able to figure it out yet. It is hard to feel confident any time I cannot see the bait directly. When I can see it, I can't figure out what I need to do to make the bait look good. It just kind of swims in a tight S pattern and I am yet to get a follow from that. I have only fished it for one afternoon though, so I probably just need to put in time. 

[FishTank]

I have one in Ghost Trout and so far nothing but I haven't caught anything on a glide bait since June. Maybe when the water isn't 85+ degrees, they will start biting it. 

[DINK WHISPERER]

On 8/11/2023 at 10:59 PM, Scott804 said:

I have one but haven't been able to figure it out yet. It is hard to feel confident any time I cannot see the bait directly. When I can see it, I can't figure out what I need to do to make the bait look good. It just kind of swims in a tight S pattern and I am yet to get a follow from that. I have only fished it for one afternoon though, so I probably just need to put in time. 

Glide baits need to be worked with the reel. They are not a chuck and wind style of swimbait. They can be used this way but that isn't their intended purpose. 

They are designed to, as their name implies, glide wide from side to side. This almost "hypnotizing" motion is what leads a lot of fish to follow the bait. I like to vary the speed of the glide a lot from slow and wide to fast and choppy like a jerk bait. That's what will usually trigger the strike from a follower.

It also depends a lot on the gear ratio of reel you're using. Higher speed reels make it significantly easier to work a glide.

While you learn your bait you want to find a place with relatively clear water where you can see adequately. Pitch it out 30ft or so and start turning your reel handle a quarter or a half (depending on gear ratio) of the way to a full rotation of the handle at a time. Pause for a second or so and repeat. You should see the bait start the gliding sequence. After you get that down you can adjust for a longer cast and your gear ratio. It's all about building that cadence and repeating it. 

They also make what are called "tracers" that go on top of the bait. They're basically just bright colored sticker strips that allow you to see the bait from far away and confirm whether or not you're working it like you want to. 

It took me a while to gain confidence in them because of not knowing how to properly work one. But once I did I've done really well on them. Don't give up on it. The Chad is a proven  fish catcher everywhere. Good luck! 

 

[Pat Brown]

On 8/11/2023 at 10:59 PM, Scott804 said:

I have one but haven't been able to figure it out yet. It is hard to feel confident any time I cannot see the bait directly. When I can see it, I can't figure out what I need to do to make the bait look good. It just kind of swims in a tight S pattern and I am yet to get a follow from that. I have only fished it for one afternoon though, so I probably just need to put in time. 

 

I recommend fishing glide baits from the bank on calm days. You'll get much better feel and feedback, and then you'll understand what it's doing on the days that you'll actually get bit.

[Scott804]

17 hours ago, DINK WHISPERER said:

Glide baits need to be worked with the reel. They are not a chuck and wind style of swimbait. They can be used this way but that isn't their intended purpose. 

They are designed to, as their name implies, glide wide from side to side. This almost "hypnotizing" motion is what leads a lot of fish to follow the bait. I like to vary the speed of the glide a lot from slow and wide to fast and choppy like a jerk bait. That's what will usually trigger the strike from a follower.

It also depends a lot on the gear ratio of reel you're using. Higher speed reels make it significantly easier to work a glide.

While you learn your bait you want to find a place with relatively clear water where you can see adequately. Pitch it out 30ft or so and start turning your reel handle a quarter or a half (depending on gear ratio) of the way to a full rotation of the handle at a time. Pause for a second or so and repeat. You should see the bait start the gliding sequence. After you get that down you can adjust for a longer cast and your gear ratio. It's all about building that cadence and repeating it. 

They also make what are called "tracers" that go on top of the bait. They're basically just bright colored sticker strips that allow you to see the bait from far away and confirm whether or not you're working it like you want to. 

It took me a while to gain confidence in them because of not knowing how to properly work one. But once I did I've done really well on them. Don't give up on it. The Chad is a proven  fish catcher everywhere. Good luck! 

 

Yeah, I have a Jackall Ganteral and a Pistol Pete and both those I am quite fond of. They are both very responsive with how they dart and twitch and glide out, the Spro Chad Shad feels like driving an 18 wheeler compared to them being sports cars. I'm sure I'll get it eventually but it is definitely different than what my comfort zone is.