Our take on the Shad 2.0

The Shad 2.0 carries over the rubber and the finish of the hand made Wolfcreek baits, in a production version and therefore at an accessible price. The decisive argument is how soft the plastisol is: the tail starts working at speeds where most large shads stay lifeless. On following pike that refuse to commit, that is exactly what is needed.

From 75 to 200 g: what you need to know

• Soft shad from the Swedish brand Wolfcreek Lures, production version of the hand made model
• Three sizes: 20 cm at 75 g, 25 cm at 120 g and 30 cm at 200 g
• Phthalate-free plastisol, soft and stretchy, resistant to pike teeth
• Tail that works at very low speed, with a tight and steady rolling action
• Material both dense and soft, which makes the lure easy to inhale on the strike
• Anal fin that steadies the swimming action and can hide a hook, realistic 3D eyes and detailed scale finish
• Rigs: shallow screw, screw-in weighted head with a belly harness, 8/0 to 10/0 jig head on the 20 cm
• Large pike and catfish first, zander on certain spots

The slow swim, the Shad 2.0 argument

Wolfcreek moulds this soft shad in a phthalate-free plastisol, a deliberately soft and stretchy material. That is what lets the tail start working while the lure is barely moving, and it is also what takes pike teeth without tearing on the first bite. At the same time the body keeps enough density for the fish to inhale it properly. On the water, that translates into a tight rolling action you can read through the rod, even on a very slow retrieve.

Shallow screw or screw-in weighted head: setting the depth

The rig fully determines the running depth, and that is how you steer the Shad 2.0. For presentations above weed beds and in less than two metres, the brand recommends its Shallow Screw, which threads into the head of the lure without weighting it. As soon as you want to run along drop-offs, switch to a screw-in weighted head combined with a belly harness. The weight can then be adjusted in steps without taking the whole rig apart.

• Shallow screw for fishing under two metres and above vegetation
• Screw-in weighted head and belly harness to cover drop-offs and deep zones
• 8/0 to 10/0 jig head with a bait keeper on the 20 cm, completed by a belly treble for lift and drop fishing
• Clip-on weights to fine tune the depth without changing harness

At these volumes a stinger stays essential, since strikes often come at the rear of the lure. The brand’s Stinger Wire comes in 1/0, 2/0 and 3/0, to be matched to the shad size in use.

20, 25 or 30 cm: choosing by target fish

The 20 cm is the entry point into large volumes, the one that stays castable with a versatile pike setup. The 25 cm already calls for dedicated tackle and selects better fish. The 30 cm and its 200 g belong to pure big bait territory, kept for hunting very large pike and catfish, with a rod and reel sized accordingly. On some waters zander also react to this slow swim, mostly on the intermediate sizes.

Colours follow the same logic: Perch and Real Roach to imitate local prey in clear water, Hot Pike and Firetiger when visibility drops or when you want a reaction bite, Golden Olive and Sherbet Shad for everything in between. This shad naturally takes its place among the other lures for pike in the catalogue, on the large volume slow swimming slot. It also opens our Wolfcreek Lures range, alongside the brand’s rigging hardware.