Here's some shots of the new Huddleston Deluxe Shad. The baits are 4 and 1/4" long and measure exactly 6/8" thick at the widest point. I don't have a weight on them because my postal scale is packed away, but they should be easily castable on your 10-20lb setups. I haven't cut one in half, but it feels like there is foam along the back, just like the Huddleston trout. There is no wire loop on the belly for a stinger hook, but the baits are so small and thin that it doesn't seem necessary at all. Overall, they look pretty darn cool. Just wish I had more time to go fish them :)

http://www.calfishing.com/files/Images/lures/shad/huddleston_deluxe_shad/huddleston_deluxe_shad_side.jpg

http://www.calfishing.com/files/Images/lures/shad/huddleston_deluxe_shad/huddleston_deluxe_shad_top.jpg

http://www.calfishing.com/files/Images/lures/shad/huddleston_deluxe_shad/huddleston_deluxe_shad_bottom.jpg

http://www.calfishing.com/files/Images/lures/shad/huddleston_deluxe_shad/huddleston_deluxe_shad_head.jpg

I received my baits yesterday and I am going to play around with them this weekend. The size of these baits have me perplexed, I do not know which rod to throw them on. I am thinking my 7'3 H EX Fast tip Powell rod with 15 pound test on a 5:1 Curado. I am going to be fishing some bridge pilings and am wondering if I should step up in line size to help slow the fall of these baits. Then again the size of these baits 20 pound test seems like overkill. I was wondering what some guys who have seen these baits are thinking in terms of rod set-up and line choice.

I'd go Okuma 7'11" MH, Curado 200 size reel, and something between 14-17lb test. I'm a big line guy so I'd start with 17. This is the same setup I fish the Basstrix Paddletail tubes on. I like it because the rod can load up a little bit on the strike before you swing without jerking it out of the their face. It gives the hook a second to roll in to the corner of their jaw I think.

If I was fishing this shad bait around heavier cover I'd probably go to the 7'11" H just to be able to move the fish faster on the initial set and reel. For bridge pylons you have plenty of open water to work with :)

Any guess on the weight Rob?

1/2oz maybe? It's hard to guess. It feels light in my hand.

I weighed it on a crappy little kitchen scale and it is just a tad heavier than 1/2 oz

Rob thanks for the suggestion, I will write a review on the bait after I use it.

thanks John. I don't have a review section for shad lures yet but it's on my to do list. I need to add the 3:16 Shad, Castaic Gizzard Shad, Castaic Platinum series shads, etc. We'll git-r-done

please tell me you just didnt say git-r-done

Well my sister... she's got these moles...

heh

no....please tell me it aint so Rob!

I think something just gota holt of him is all. LOL!!!

Anybody get anything on the shad yet?
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Go big or go home!