Hello,

What dou you think about this sassy shad kit ?

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jhtml?id=0011987116447a&navAction=push&navCount=6&indexId=cat410021&podId=0011987&catalogCode=IC&parentId=cat410021&parentType=index&rid=

Would it be ok for walleye ?
Gnerally speaking, are the sassy shads a good lure for walleyes ?

Thanks,

Dan

Dan.
I've had good luck using (bare) Sassy Shads when vertical jigging in river systems. In general, I've had to really work them to get walleye to bite them though. That being, really snap them sharply and letting them fall back on a slack line. And I've also noticed this works best when the water temps are just at that transition zone. To me, that being just at 50 degrees, where I'll switch from slow trolling cranks and crawlers to jigging live minnows. The shad and perch colored sassy's seem to work best on my rivers.

I've used sassy shad and similar action baits (walleye assassins) with good success casting them below dams/open water in winter. I use 1/8 onz 1/0 hooks. A good alternative to twister tails. If your lucky you can tie into a steelie, it always warns you up on cold days!I think they are excellet on walleyes.

what is a steelie ?

I've had some success vertically jigging them in the spring on the Detroit River. My experience is similar to what Capt. Dan said: 1) They work better with a more exaggerated jigging motion - but don't forget the pause between lifts, 2) They seem more effective once the water is starting to warm up.

Homer.
Ditto on the "when the waters are warming" for the sassy's. Seems above that 50 degree mark is when the sassy's shine the best for me as well.

Dan.
Not to steal SKR's thunder, but a steelie is a Steelhead, a migrating Rainbow trout. One that lives in Oceans/Lakes and migrates into and spawn in rivers.

The kit is priced right and has a good overall color scheme for starters. The jigs in the kit are not what I usually use with my shads when I fish though. I have made my own kit and so can you. Mr. Twister has a web site where you can order on-line. Any search engine should take you there if you would like to make your own. I like jigs with eyes on them when fishing sassy shads. I use the same colors I would for the the conditions that I would if I were crank bait fishing or spinner fishing. Want a clown pattern? Use Red or Orange jigs with 3" chartruese glitter shads, etc. etc. Weight depends on the mood of the fish and the skill of the angler. Beginners should use heavier jigs until they can keep the boat over the jig. Sassy shads work almost all the time. I have caught fish in December/January in water 70 feet deep and 37 degrees; and during summer in water 10 feet deep and 70 plus degrees, this year. Shorten the jig stroke (6 inches), keep a tight line, use no stretch line and color up (flourescents) for cold dirty conditions. Make longer jig strokes (3-5 feet), use a slack line fall, low stretch bright colored mono, and color down (sivers & golds). Scents can help at times. Experiment when you know there are fish under the boat, i.e. use minnows and catch some first. I do use minnows but only when my partners are catching fish on them and I can't buy a bite.
Good fishing
Andy

Hi,
A guy I worked with swore by the sassy shad in the Maumee River in Ohio during the summer and fall.He waded and casted them.He had a lommis rod and he said he could feel the shad working.He always got Walleyes.

you mean live minnow or dead minnow ?
do you use them with a plastic lure, or as they are ?

thanks

which scets would you reccomend ?

Most scents will work, or get scented plastics. Anise oil is good, I will periodically splash some on my plastics. Garlic dipping dye works good too at times. When I do use minnows I use live ones. With no stretch lines I can feel the shad bodies swimming. The better they swim the more fish they catch. If I rig one and it has little or no action I take it off and rig another.
Good fishing
Andy

How would you fish with plastic lures in winter cold waters ?
Which plastics would you use, and what action ?

thanks,

dan

I have never fished them through the ice. I suspect they would work though if a person would take the time to figure it out. I would try using the thinnest no stretch line available. In really clear water I would use a 18" mono leader with a crane swivle but more than likely I would do that all the time. Keeps line twist to a minimum and is easier to tie and change colors etc. Probably the best place to use them would be in current where fish are moving actively. Use as heavy a jig as necessary to keep your line closer to the hole, some angle would be a good thing but not to much. I would keep banging it on the bottom to attract attention, then pause it just above the bottom and slowly raise it just to get the tail moving. At the same time I would use a dead stick nearby with a very lively minnow. I would also experiment with scents to see if it helps. For colors I would do just like in summer. If I know what colors other fishermen are catching their fish on I try that one first. Keep on changing if your not catching fish. Cold water fish seem to be allot more color sensitive. If you know that people are using small spoons or jigging cranks downsize your plastic to simialr size. Best to learn new presentations when you know there are fish that can be caught in the are you are fishing.
Good fishing
Andy

I have caught Walleye, bass and Pike by using a 4" inch Sassy Shad as a trailer on a 3/8 oz Gopher Bait Spin. I fish alot from shore and this setup is pretty snag resistant, plus you have both the tail and the blade giving off vibration!

i guess the fish shold be really " in the mude " for such a strong combination of vibrations....
i don't think would work for inactive fish....

I've used Sassy's in all types of water. It's my go to bait fished real quick. I think it is a response bite like a slow moving crank in cold water. I fish white one's in lakes with shad in them, 2" to 30' of water and catch fish with it. In shallow throw to shore and rip and fall to the bottom back the boat. In deeper water fish right under the boat up and down. Hang on thought, most bite are hard. Most days it will out fish live bait. I know what some people are thinking, yea right. After three years of testing I'm hooked. I've even trolled them and caught fish. One key to keep in mind is the weight of the jig head. Use a much heavier head than you would to throw bait with.

Appleye
Scott Appley

The new Storm WIDE-EYE Shads are a darn good shad bait.

They have very good vertical jigging characteristics.The shad jig is built around a quality VMC hook. They have a good kick, and a nice thump to the tail. The WIDE-EYE shad is also scented, not sure what scent that is? I often add my own scent of choice to boost the piggy power up just a bit.

So far they have produced well for me on the open water. Recently they have shown some promise under the ice.

Ed "Backwater Eddy" Carlson...><sUMo>
Backwater Guiding

I do not like most kits myself,found that you may use about half of whats in them. as far as a sassy shad,I have hade really good luck with the 2" and 3" black with the gold looking flakes in them. I keep a good supply of them on my boat!!

Doctor them,by notching a "V" in the tail. And a curve too. Takes some slow wobble away. Makes it wiggle easier.Cold water?Live bait,cut the head off,and put a minnow like that on your shad.Ummm..smell the Walleye in the pan.Gotta' try something new. That hasn't been on the bottom in their face before,right?Work's for me,and I put quite a few in the boat,especially in the cold water period's.