Problem two revolved around
durability
and
with
the
available materials, there was
little choice but to go for TPE.
TPE is a thermo-plastic that is
incredibly stretchy and durable.
It can stretch huge amounts
and is almost impossible to
tear by stretching. In the field
this meant that regardless
of the toothy critter being
chased, the plastic held up to
the punishment very well. Yes
mackerel and wahoo can make
a mess of TPE, but tailor,
jacks, flathead, barra, cod and
Murray cod barely even scuff
the lure up!
By its nature TPE is quite
flexible and this allowed the
side slits to operate even
better. The tough yet soft TPE
collapses so easily away from
the hook point that the hook-
up potential was increased
again.
The last piece of the puzzle
20
was getting the right action.
This is always a controversial
topic as what is right for one,
is not right for another, but a
few essentials were noted and
addressed. The team wanted
a slight body roll and a strong
tail beat. The big boot tail on
the Flat Shads gave the tail its
distinctively strong action and
the use of a weighted worm
hook gave the body a slight
roll. The action was irresistible
to barra and continues to be to
this day.
What was a great surprise
though was that when the Flat
Shad was rigged on a jig head,
the body roll component went
off the charts. It exceeded all
expectations and turned this
lure into a super deadly open
water lure where casting into
structure was not high on the
agenda. A slow roll with a jig
head rigged Flat Shad produced
stunning results!