Pro Tip written by Mark Fong, Northern California Angler
I love fishing swimbaits and over the years I have caught many different varieties of fish on the AA Bad Bubba Shad. From smallmouths to lingcod, this bait just plain gets bit. However for me there is something special about the way a striper will devour a swimbait and it doesn't get much more exciting than catching stripers on the Delta or in the rivers with swimbaits and light gear.
I like the Bad Bubba Shad for many reasons. The tail has a strong kick and the body has an enticing side to side roll. This secondary action is an important bite trigger that is not present in all swimbaits. The body is durable and has a bulky profile that holds a big hook well.
The Bad Bubba Shad is available in over 50 different colorways and 6 sizes ranging from 2” to 9”. For targeting stripers I prefer the 4” and 5” sizes. While I have caught stripers on a number of colorways including Sexy Shad (555), Shad (T78) and Ghost Shad (T80), my go to choice is typically either Pearl (209) or Pearl with a Chartreuse Tail (T52).
I prefer to match my jighead color to the body of the swimbait to create a natural appearance, however there are times I will do exactly the opposite with a Pearl (209) bait. While a matching white jig head works great, switching to a chartreuse or red can be even better.
I have found that using the lightest jighead possible allows the bait to have the most action. Depending on current and depth, I may go as light as 1/4 oz or all the way up to a 3/4 oz jighead. I really like the Blade Runner Tackle Striper Special, it has a super sharp 90 degree heavy duty hook and a double barbed keeper. There are times when I want to give the fish a different look and I'll switch up to a Blade Runner Spintrix Underspin to add some flash and vibration.
I fish a custom built 8' spinning rod that is rated for 10-17lb line paired with a 2500 series spinning reel that is filled with 20lb braid and a top shot of 15lb fluorocarbon line. In addition, I have a 7'6” casting rod rated for 12-25lb line matched to a 300 series casting reel spooled with 30lb braid and a 20lb top shot leader.
Finally, I am a big believer in scent and I have had good success with Smelly Jelly Pro Guide 3X Elite Shad Scent.
