2017 BUYER’S GUIDE
6. V&M Hightail Shad
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First look: A slim shad body is said to add body
movement to the action, while the upturned pad-
dle tail keeps the bait down in the water column
better when fished on a jighead or umbrella rig.
Size: 6 inches
Colors: 4
Suggested retail: $5.49 for 5
7. Gambler GZ
First look: The 5-inch Big EZ is no
longer the biggest swimbait in
Gambler’s lineup. The new mouthful is
the GZ, available in 6 1/2- and 8-inch
versions. Like the Big EZ, the rear end of
the body is crimped to enhance the
action imparted by the paddle tail.
Size: 6 1/2 and 8 inches
Colors: 29
Suggested retail: $8.99 per pack of
four (6 1/2) or two (8 inch)
gambler-lures.com
bayoutoutdoors.com
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8. Savage Gear 3D Line Thru
Gizzard Shad
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First look: The line-thru tie system reduces the
likelihood of fish throwing the hook using the weight
of the lure’s body. Its articulated slow-sink body is
designed to provide lifelike swimming motion at
medium retrieve speed.
Size: 7 and 10 inches
Colors: 3
Suggested retail: $15.99 to $24.99
9. Big Bite Baits Suicide Shad
bigbitebaits.com
savagegear-usa.com
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PADDLE OR STRAIGHT TAIL?
By the looks of sales records, the paddle-tail swimbait is the most popular
type, but there are times when a straight tail gets the nod, according to Tennessee
pro Jason Lambert.
“The paddle tail is my favorite, but sometimes it’s better to switch up,” he
says. “For instance, at Kentucky Lake last summer, I won with a straight-tail Castaic
Jerky J. The straight-tail swimbait is a bit more subtle, and that might be its advan-
tage where there’s a lot of fishing pressure such as at Kentucky Lake or Pickwick. A
straight tail can produce a bite or two extra sometimes.”
Lambert notes that the paddle-tail version is better when the water is murky
or when fishing in low-light conditions. In the final analysis, however, he thinks
that the tail type is a matter of personal preference most of the time.
“Whether it has a paddle tail or a straight tail, any swimbait’s key objective is
that it imitates a shad as closely as possible,” he says.
DECEMBER 2016 I FLWFISHING.COM
First look: The Suicide Shad’s slick body finishes with a pad-
dle tail. The head is solid to last longer without having to be
replaced or re-rigged. The belly has a hook slot.
Size: 3 1/2 and 5 inches
Colors: 8
Suggested retail: $7.99 for five of the 3 1/2-inch size; $8.99
for four of the 5-inch size
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