Flicker Shad?

[eyewinder]

Rather than hijack another thread dealing with crankbaits, I thought I'd ask WC fishermen's about their experiences with Berkley's Flicker Shad.

In the other thread, the bait doesn't seem to be anyone's favorite.

I'm curious about how others feel about this bait after a season of using (or not). It was the subject of lots of discussion early-on when the low prices caught everyone's eye.

I used it in spring and early summer, and caught everything except walleye on it (trout, white bass, crappie, smallmouth, etc.), so haven't given up on it, because I do NOT live in walleye heaven. But I will admit that it's not the first crankbait that I snap on when beginning a troll.

[westside]

I generally prefer my good old shadraps. Flickers were the ticket on Winnebago this summer though. At the price they are worth having. If your getting hit on shadraps try a few along side. Might be what they want that day.

[Walleye Buster]

Had good luck with the flicker shad, Caught everything from sunfish, Bass, Walleye White Bass, Crappie and even a catfish.

[rspahr]

I caught fish with it. It is not my favorite. The price is right though.

[Ristorapper]

Pulled three nice fish TODAY with a Flicker Shad #5 size firetiger because I just couldn't find my #5 firetiger Shad Raps. Two 20" and an 18".

Only negative I have had with the flicker shads is that they may in more cases than other lures get knocked out of tune after a fish. SO be sure to check them out of the box and after each fish and you should be good to go.

They are going to be the first lure in the water tomorrow morning too because of the fish they caught me today.

[KHedquist]

I have had good luck with them on Pool 4 typically have one on and the other a Shad Rap, but the Flicker usally produces, not as well built but they do work


quoting Mr McNamara. A SKUNKED ANGLER SHOULD BE DELIRIOUSLY CONTENT TO GO FISHING AND ACCEPT HUMILITY:exactly:. moreyes <'{{^}}< :cheers:http://www.walleyecentral.com/photopost/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=106750

[Traxionunlogged]

I've had days where they went 1 for 1 against shad raps. Then again I've had days where it was shad raps 4 to 1 over them. They seems to run a wilder than the shad raps. Tuning is super important and my biggest kock on the lures, they were all tuned poorly out of the box. And you have to keep checkign them or you'll end up with a mess. But for the price, they caught fish. I'll always test one out here and there. Another good lure option!

[T Mac]

I have had good luck with them.
They probably produced more walleyes for me last May and June than any other crank. But....you know how that works...if something is catching fish, you keep using it.
It just depends on where your fish are laying and what they are feeding on.
The only negative I have seen with them is the back hook likes to pull out (in the landing net... I haven't lost a fish that way.)

[Steve B]

I remember reading on the other Berkely sponsored site that people were experiencing the rear hooks being torn out of the lure when landing better than average fish.

Has anyone here had that happen?

[Ristorapper]

Another good day with the flicker shads today. Started with firetiger #5 and worked through a few other colors and finsished with chartruese and white/pearl. Got me all 5 eaters today. Tune 'em and go!! Did break a hook using the pliers to remove hook from fish today. Ran a couple shad raps today without results but like T-Mac says you go with what brings results and stay with them on a given day or two.

[Kolby K]

Flicker Shads have a different action compared to Shad Raps. Some days the fish prefer this action, some days they don't. Therefore I find it valuable to get each bait out and see what produces. One thing about th e Flicker Shads I love. They really keep your rod tip vibrating when running Fireline and especially leadcore. Great leadcore baits. Easy to tell when it's fouled. They are sensitive, but very easy to tune with a bit of pressure from a finger.

[huskr99]

I'll be the one. My favorite. This year they were my go to lure. First tourney that we trolled, I only had one number 5 and it was the only one that caught any walleye. Throughout the year, we always had half the rods with them and they always seemed to produce. My partner lives and dies by shad raps, but they just weren't producing. I'll always have one on (black/silver). It does make me worry though as I have had the back hooks ripped out a couple of times.

[undguy]

I was using one (#5) yesterday and it kept coming to the surface. No weeds or gunk on line. 5 to 8 feet of water in river current. Using 10/4 Fireline (and yes, Risto, it was pink). It would come up and bounce for about 30 yards, then go down for a while, then come up again. What caused this?

[Steve B]

>I was using one (#5) yesterday and it kept coming to the
>surface. No weeds or gunk on line. 5 to 8 feet of water in
>river current. Using 10/4 Fireline (and yes, Risto, it was
>pink). It would come up and bounce for about 30 yards, then
>go down for a while, then come up again. What caused this?



It needs tuned, most likely.

[Ristorapper]

I do know when I pull these I will do what others have called super tuning. I'll get the boat up to speed faster than I plan on trolling and tune the lure. With these you can always start at slow idle speed, tune, increase speed, check tune, readjust..... I let enough line out (5-8 feet) when tuning so that I can see the lure and what it is doing. Once I confirm that it is running straight I'll send it back. On tuning if it runs away from the boat move the eye on the lure slightly in the opposite direction it is running. Recheck.

It's a real pain in the behind but these lures have proven themselves to me so gotta mess with them.

UNDguy; I'm guessing you have to tune that one also. If it is not fouled with anything, think you have a tuning problem. Have you caught anything on that pink fireline?? I am using the same 10/4 you are but in smoke. I Still have not come to bring myself to buying PINK!! But then I stocked up on Crystal and haven't spooled any on my crank reels yet.

One other thing I pay particular attention to when pulling flickers is the placement of the line on the snap prior to tuning. Try to center the line on the snap by pulling on the line with one hand and the lure with the other hand before tuning. make sense. After netting a fish or fouling the lure recheck this connection at the snap again before checking tune. Then retune if necessary. With mono I don't think the mono would move on the snap but with fireline, the knot doesn't cinch up tight on the snap and is cabable of moving which may throw off the tuning process.

So check knot on snap, center it by pulling line and lure in opposite directions, tune and go fishing.

24 F tomorrow morn; plan on being out at sunup UNDguy?? Maybe not me; 24 F and 10 - 20 mph south winds. BRR!! If I only had a windshield to hide behind!! you too??

[Powerdive]

We've had good luck with the Flickers this year down here in the Ozarks, especially the smaller size. Had a huge shad hatch (or two!) on the area lakes (Stockton, Bull Shoals) this summer, and matching the prevailing forage has been the ticket. Caught some very nice fish on the white and silver colors, run on leadcore. I've had no problems with tuning at all. Excellent baits, IMO.

[undguy]

>I do know when I pull these I will do what others have called
>super tuning. I'll get the boat up to speed faster than I
>plan on trolling and tune the lure. With these you can always
>start at slow idle speed, tune, increase speed, check tune,
>readjust..... I let enough line out (5-8 feet) when tuning
>so that I can see the lure and what it is doing. Once I
>confirm that it is running straight I'll send it back. On
>tuning if it runs away from the boat move the eye on the lure
>slightly in the opposite direction it is running. Recheck.
>
>It's a real pain in the behind but these lures have proven
>themselves to me so gotta mess with them.
>
>UNDguy; I'm guessing you have to tune that one also. If it is
>not fouled with anything, think you have a tuning problem.
>Have you caught anything on that pink fireline?? I am using
>the same 10/4 you are but in smoke. I Still have not come to
>bring myself to buying PINK!! But then I stocked up on
>Crystal and haven't spooled any on my crank reels yet.
>
>One other thing I pay particular attention to when pulling
>flickers is the placement of the line on the snap prior to
>tuning. Try to center the line on the snap by pulling on the
>line with one hand and the lure with the other hand before
>tuning. make sense. After netting a fish or fouling the lure
>recheck this connection at the snap again before checking
>tune. Then retune if necessary. With mono I don't think the
>mono would move on the snap but with fireline, the knot
>doesn't cinch up tight on the snap and is cabable of moving
>which may throw off the tuning process.
>
>So check knot on snap, center it by pulling line and lure in
>opposite directions, tune and go fishing.
>
>24 F tomorrow morn; plan on being out at sunup UNDguy?? Maybe
>not me; 24 F and 10 - 20 mph south winds. BRR!! If I only
>had a windshield to hide behind!! you too??


Risto

I have caught lots of fish on the pink Fireline, both jigging and pulling cranks. I like it for jigging because you can see it very well. Thanks for the tuning tip - I had done some adjustment, but not that involved. I'll give it a try because I do think the Flickers are fish catchers.