| Are you a bass fisherman? If so then you | | | | On most waterways the shad imitating Swimbaits are |
| undoubtedly know that shad are a food staple for | | | | the most effective. YUM brand soft plastic shad are |
| bass in many waterways. For this reason shad fishing | | | | an effective shad imitation for bass fishing as well. |
| lures are a popular lure choice for many bass | | | | These soft plastics have been impregnated with |
| fishermen. So what is the perfect shad imitation? | | | | scents that smell much like a live shad, which makes |
| There are many choices available when it comes to a | | | | them more effective than traditional soft plastics. |
| shad imitation, but in my view there are two main | | | | 2. Crank Baits - Crank baits have been imitating shad |
| choices. | | | | for many years. Some of the more popular and |
| These 2 shad fishing lures (or types of fishing lures) | | | | effective shad crank baits would include the Bagley |
| are the main two varieties when it comes to baits | | | | G-force and the Rapala Shad Rap. These are both |
| that mimic shad, and is what this article is about. The | | | | great shad imitations and are quite effective for bass |
| "perfect" shad imitation comes from one of these to | | | | fishing. Typically crank baits have a lip in the front to |
| varieties of fishing lures. The number one "perfect" | | | | allow the bait to 'swim' to different depths when |
| fishing lure is probably impossible to determine, and | | | | retrieved. When it comes to shad fishing lures |
| depends on the angler and temperament of the bass | | | | another effective crank bait is the KickTail minnow. |
| themselves, but if there is one single "perfect" shad | | | | This shad imitation is sort of a hybrid between a |
| imitation it comes form these two fishing lure | | | | swim bait and a crank bait. In any case many |
| varieties. | | | | crankbaits are effective shad imitations. The bottom |
| | | | line is that any serious bass angler needs to have |
| 1. Soft Plastics - Soft plastics, especially swim baits, | | | | effective shad lures in their tackle bag/box. The |
| are very effective shad fishing lures. Typically these | | | | most effective bass baits that imitate our friend the |
| baits are segmented soft plastic baits with a | | | | shad will come from one of the two varieties of |
| thumping tail. Normally Swimbaits are retrieved quite | | | | fishing lures listed above. These two bass lure |
| fast, and then stopped from time to time to allow | | | | varieties will produce your own personal 'perfect' |
| the bait to sink into the strike zone. There are | | | | shad imitation that hopefully will serve you well for |
| Swimbaits that imitate shad as well as other bait fish. | | | | many years to come. |