Lipless crankbaits are a killer presentation for intercepting transitioning bass as they move into the shallows throughout the early spring—especially in grass lakes. Storm provided us with a Storm Rockin Shad to review, so I put it through its paces on Lake Seminole. The bass were in an all-out prespawn mode, and throughout my testing I found 4 characteristics that make this bait very effective.
- Unique head shape
- Durable finish
- Sharp hooks
- Castability
Different head shape than most lipless crankbaits
The upper section of the Storm Rockin Shad‘s head is concave, which gives it a noticeably different look than many lipless cranks. It’s not just designed to look cool, though. The unique head shape below the line tie allows this bait to run nose-down, regardless of your retrieve speed. Whether you’re burning it or slow rolling it through submerged grass, it has a very different action that the bass love.
The head shape of the Storm Rockin Shad also contributes to its “rocking” action on the fall—hence the name. When I fished it with a lift-and-drop presentation, I could feel the bait wobbling as it fell on slack line. Consequently, I got the majority of my bites as the bait was falling.
Resistant to hook rash and teeth marks
If a lipless crankbait loses its paint after a couple of fishing days, it’s not worth buying in my opinion. The Storm Rockin Shad held up extremely well to both teeth and hook marks. Its violent vibrating action definitely causes the hooks to abuse the side of the bait, but you’d never be able to tell.
After several trips and numerous fish catches, I can run my finger along the sides of the bait without feeling any loss of paint or finish.
Razor-sharp hooks right out of the package
The Storm Rockin Shad comes with premium black nickel VMC treble hooks, so you don’t have to worry about changing the hooks before making your first cast. Replacing stock hooks is always a good practice, but Storm has saved you a lot of time and money by doing it for you.
Not only are the hooks razor-sharp right out of the box, but they stay sharp, too. Ripping a lipless crankbait through thick hydrilla can dull hook points in a hurry, but I’m still catching plenty of fish on the original VMC hooks.
Streamlined casting
The Rockin Shad comes in both 1/2-ounce and 3/4-ounce sizes, so of course it’s going to throw far. The thing that impressed me most, however, is the way it flies in the air. Regardless of wind speed or direction, you can hurl this bait in any direction and it will not move in the air—no helicoptering, no spinning—nothing. It reminds me of watching a Major League Baseball pitcher throw a knuckleball.
This lack of movement allows for longer and more accurate casts, which is a huge advantage when fishing expansive grass flats.
Bass see the same kind of presentations and baits all the time, so show them something a little different this spring. Priced at $5.49, the Storm Rockin Shad will get you a few extra bites while keeping your budget intact.
The Storm Rockin Shad is available at TackleWarehouse.com and select retailers.
