GEAR
PRODUCT REVIEW
SPRO BRONZEYE SPIT SHAD 60
B
orrowing some key
traits found in other
members of the pop-
ular Bronzeye family, the
folks at sPRO have built
another winner with their
new spit shad. Though it
inherits a few features
found in its hollow-body
predecessors – the Bronzeye
Frog, Bronzeye Pop and
Bronzeye shad – the versa-
tile spit shad behaves differ-
ently and can be used to
ignite some explosive strikes
when tossed around thick
grass, bream beds, docks,
sparse cover or in open-
water situations.
First Impression
44
The bait looks like a
hybrid between a Bronzeye
Pop and the Bronzeye shad.
Its main body is similar in
size, and the rear section
features two tails that ride
in a stacked position on the
rump – like on the shad.
One thing that sets the
bait apart is a unique nose
design that sPRO refers to
as a “spit cup.” shaped
along the lines of an invert-
ed teardrop, the cup catch-
es and spits water while
helping to provide a fluid
walking, gliding action.
Like the rest of the
Bronzeye stable, the spit
shad has a soft-but-durable
body that collapses easily
around a super-sharp 4/0
Gamakatsu EWG double
hook. The hook is one size
larger than the hook used
in sPRO’s size 60 Bronzeye
Pop model and the same
size used in the frog that
started it all more than a
decade ago – the Bronzeye
Frog 65.
In Action
I logged several hours
with the spit shad tethered
to a froggin’ stick, but it only
took seconds to figure out
there is plenty to like about
the bait. For starters, it cut
the wind and cast like a bul-
let for a 1/2-ounce lure.
By Matt Williams
PHOTOs BY maTT PacE
It was easy to make the
bait walk and glide.
Twitching it fast imparted an
erratic walking action, while
a slower cadence made the
bait glide 180 degrees to
either side and spit water
simultaneously. For fish
wanting something more
subtle, working the rod tip
downward – slow and easy –
made the bait move forward
and throw water in a
straight line more like a tra-
ditional chugging popper.
Final Thoughts
I’m hesitant to call it the
best all-around performer in
the Bronzeye lineup, but the
spit shad is arguably the
most versatile because it can
go lots of places and do lots
of things when it gets there.
With its unique spit cup
nose and walking action,
the spit shad is sure to pro-
vide an attractive look and
sound combination that’ll
get you bit. It’s worth
adding a few to your stash.
FLWFISHING.COM I AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2017