KickerFish Shadstick

Springtime can be a bass anglers dream. Big fish start to move shallow and although they are finicky this time of year they can be caught.

For most , this time of year is the start of the fishing season. Although many of our southern brethren do have the luxury of being able to fish year round those above the Mason Dixon are just dusting off tackle, getting the boat ready and waiting for the first warm days of spring.

There are three patterns in the spring; pre-spawn, spawn and post spawn and no other time of year offers bank busters the chance to throw to targets more so than spring.

The first baits most early season anglers choose are rattle baits like Strike King’s Red Eye Shad, Bill Lewis Rattletraps and Cordell Rattlin Spots. Others pitch tubes and cast spinnerbaits but in recent years the swimbait/senko craze has taken the front seat and baits of that genre seem to be the ones that catch tournament winning stringers.

Busting out a Zoom Fluke, a Yamamoto Senko or a Reaction Innovations Skinny Dipper rigged weightless can prove to be very effective in all three phases of the spring.

Another killer bait to add to your arsenal this time of year is the KickerFish Shadstick. Simply put, it’s a combination Senko and Fluke and it can be cast a country mile giving anglers the advantage of not spooking fish.

Characteristics of this 5 ¼ inch bait includes a Fluke-like body and a Senko-like tail. The body of the bait is slotted that aids hook penetration and also serves as a slot for a 5/0 or 6/0 hook to reduce tearing. We recommend a offset Gamakatsu hook for this application.

Those that like a quicker fall will find a weighted Mr. Blitz 1/8 ounce 5/0 Peli-lock Toad Toter hook more to their liking. Because of the bulk of the Shadstick it can be cast long distances and the Mr. Blitz hook keeper holds nicely as a result. Accented with a drop of fishing glue to the keeper before it is inserted will make the bait virtually indestructible and improve hook sets as well.

For those that like salt each Shadstick is injected with 14 grams of salt.

The KickerFish Shadstick can be fished like a worm, jerked and twitched and depending on the bite can be deadsticked as well. The bait wiggles on the fall and will slide side to side when twitched enticing finicky spawners to attack it.

The Inside Scoop
The KickerFish Shadstick comes 8 to a package.

Color choices include chart/pepper, bubblegum, plum apple, green pumpkin, watermelon candy, blue pearl/black hologram, smoke/black/blue/gold, silver pearl gold, watermelon red, pearl pepper, and smoke/black.

The Shadstick retails for $3.50 per package.

To learn more go to www.kickerfishbait.com.