If you have ever watched bass follow a loud lure like they are window-shopping, then turn away at the last second, you already know the cure: go subtle. This T tail shad soft bait style is built for exactly that. Slim baitfish profile, a tight little tail kick that works on slow retrieves, and just enough glitter flash to look alive without screaming “I am plastic”. It is the kind of bait you tie on when you want bites, not attention.
The best part is its versatility. You can swim it, hop it, deadstick it, fish it mid-water, crawl it on bottom, run it through grass weedless, or finesse it on a dropshot. And because it is sold in bigger quantity options, you can fish it properly without crying every time one gets donated to a rock, a log, or that one tree that lives solely to eat lures.
Why This Lure Works
The T tail shad soft bait works because it does the simple things right. The T-tail design gives a believable swimming posture at slower speeds (so you can fish it when the water is cold or the fish are sulking), and the silicone body stays flexible so the tail still moves without you having to burn it back like a madman. On the matching listings, the bodies also mention glittering sequins for light flash, which is a fancy way of saying “it catches light when it rolls and darts”.
That combination is deadly when fish are pressured or the water is clear. Big thump and loud vibration have their place, but subtle swimmers get eaten in more situations than people admit. Field and Stream’s soft plastic breakdown is basically a love letter to how adaptable soft plastics are, from weightless to weedless to bottom rigs, and this bait fits right into that “do everything” category. Field and Stream soft plastic guide.
How To Fish It
Here is how to get the most out of a T tail shad soft bait without overthinking it.
1) Jighead swim (the bread and butter)
Thread it perfectly straight on a jighead and just swim it back. Vary depth by counting it down, then keep your retrieve slow enough that you can feel the tail working. Wired2Fish hammer this point with swimbaits: match the head to the body and keep it straight so it tracks true. Wired2Fish beginner swimbait guide.
2) Bottom hop and drag (when they are glued to the deck)
Let it hit bottom, lift the rod tip just enough to hop it, then let it fall on semi-slack line. The small tail movement on the drop is often what gets you bit. Bassmaster’s workshop lesson on essential soft plastics and rigs is a good reminder that the simple hop and drag presentations still catch a silly amount of fish. Bassmaster soft plastics and rigs lesson.
3) Weedless Texas rig (grass, wood, and snaggy misery)
If you are fishing grass lines, laydowns, or rocky stuff where jigheads get bullied, go weedless. A pegged bullet weight and an EWG hook turns your T tail shad soft bait into a cover-crawler that still swims on the move. Wired2Fish have a full breakdown of Texas-rigging swimbaits and where it shines. Texas rig swimbait guide.
4) Dropshot (when they are being polite and refusing everything)
Nose-hook the smaller sizes, keep your leader tidy, and shake it in place. The tail flicks even with tiny rod movement, which is perfect when fish are staring at it like it owes them money.
When To Use It
You can fish a T tail shad soft bait basically year-round, but it really shines when:
- Water is clear to lightly stained: subtle profile and light flash look natural.
- Fish are pressured: they have seen every loud bait in the shop already.
- Cold fronts and tough bites: slow swim still looks alive.
- Fry and small baitfish are present: match the hatch with the 70mm or 90mm sizes.
- You need one bait for loads of spots: points, grass edges, docks, rock transitions.
Does It Actually Catch Fish?
Yes, because it does not rely on gimmicks. A T tail shad soft bait is the kind of lure that gets eaten by “normal” fish, not just angry ones. It imitates the most common food source in most waters: small baitfish. And when you fish it properly (straight rigging, the right weight, and not retrieving like you are late for work), it looks like real food.
If you want a quick visual confidence boost, there are plenty of solid swimbait and baitfish-mimic tutorials on YouTube that show exactly how to swim plastics through cover and over depth changes. Soft plastic swimbait baitfish tips.
Gear Pairing
Keep it sensible. You do not need broomsticks for a T tail shad soft bait, but you do need the right “feel” so you can detect the soft bites.
- 70mm (2g class): light spinning, 6 to 10 lb braid with a fluoro leader, small jigheads or dropshot.
- 90mm (4.2g class): medium light to medium spinning or baitcaster, good all-rounder for banks and boats.
- 120mm (9.2g class): medium gear, heavier leader, and either bigger jigheads or weedless hooks for cover.
And because you asked for similar options to help the description (and to give anglers choices):
- If you want an on-site “proper branded” soft shad style alternative, have a look at the Fish King Paddle Tail (sizes and weights are clearly listed).
- For pressured fish sessions, the Supercontinent Shad Soft Lure is another subtle shad profile option.
- If you are in a “tiny bait, tiny bites” mood, the T Tail Soft Bait Rainbow Finesse Pack is a finesse shad pack with small sizes.
- If you want a soft tail with more wormy vibes, the T Tail Worm Fishing Lure is a good switch-up when they will not commit to a baitfish.
- And if you want built-in flash and vibration, the TAIYU 20g jig head soft lure adds a spinner blade to the party.
Specs
- Type: soft plastic swimbait/shad worm with T-tail
- Material: silicone (listed as environmentally friendly silicone on matching listing)
- Tail style: T-tail design for swimming posture
- Flash: glittering sequins mentioned on matching listing
- Colours: random colour options shown on listings
- Sizes and weights: 7cm (2g), 9cm (4.2g), 12cm (9.2g)
- Pack options shown: 1pc, 30pcs, 40pcs, 60pcs, 80pcs, 100pcs
Quick size guide (so you pick the right one)
| Size | Weight | Best use |
|---|---|---|
| 70mm | 2g | Finesse, clear water, small baitfish, dropshot or light jigheads |
| 90mm | 4.2g | All-round swimming and hopping, banks and boats, most conditions |
| 120mm | 9.2g | Bigger profile, pike and big perch, weedless rigs, deeper water |
FAQ
Is this T tail shad soft bait better on a jighead or weedless?
Jighead for open water and clean bottoms. Weedless when cover is thick, snaggy, or you are fishing grass and wood. Pick the rig that keeps you fishing, not unhooking weeds.
What retrieve is best for a T tail shad soft bait?
Start with a slow steady swim. If that fails, add short twitches or let it sink then swim again. Most bites come on the change, not the straight pull.
Which size should I start with?
90mm is the safest bet. Go 70mm when they are picky or bait is tiny. Go 120mm when you want bigger bites or you are targeting pike.
Will the glitter spook fish?
In most cases, no. It is subtle flash, not disco. If fish are ultra spooky, choose lower flash colours and fish it slower.
Can I use this in saltwater?
It is a generic soft bait style, so yes it will catch salt species too. Just rinse your terminal tackle and hooks after, because salt is a bully.
Final Verdict
If you want a soft plastic, you can fish in loads of ways. The T tail shad soft bait is a proper workhorse. It covers finesse, swimming, weedless cover, and tough-bite days without needing fancy gear or fancy skills. Pick the right size, rig it straight, slow down, and let the tail do the convincing.
Tie one on, fish it properly, and stop “testing lures” instead of catching fish.
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