Best Shad Imitating Lures - Top 3 Lures for Fish that Eat Shad

Shad lures can work extremely well for any species that regularly feed on this smaller fish. Whether you are fishing largemouth bass, striped bass, white bass, catfish or other species, a good shad imitation lure might be exactly what you need to entice hungry fish. Here we will take a look at some of the best shad imitation lures to add to your fishing collection.

Top 5 Shad Imitation Lures

Dr.Fish Softbait Wiggle Shad Soft Plastic Swimbait Fishing Lure Smallmouth Bass Perch 3.9inch

1.BOOYAH Blade – Double Willow Blade – Snow White – 3/8 oz

Product Features

Brand Name: Booyah
Type: Spinner
Quantity: 1 Lure

If you’re shopping for a great shad imitation lure to catch bass and other species, the Booyah Spinnerbaits are great options. These lures are designed to spin and vibrate through the water to get the attention of hungry fish in the area. These are available in a variety of size and color options. However, if you want one that looks like shad, we recommend a white color. They also have a white and red “wounded shad” color which is great as well.

Pros

Spinns and vibrates to attract fish
Have a “wounded shad” color design

Variety of size and color options

Cons

Some anglers prefer other types of lures over spinnerbaits

2. Strike King Sexy Spoon (Sexy Shad, 5.5-Inch)

Product Features

Brand Name: Strike King
Type: Spoon
Quantity: 1 Lure

The second spot on our list belongs to the Strike King Sexy Spoon. These are spoon lures that are designed to vibrate and flash as they are worked through the water. This will get any fish in the area to start paying attention. They mimic dying baitfish which can often entice the baits. These are available in five different color options, but we are particularly fond of the “sexy shad” color.

Pros

Variety of shad imitating color options
Vibrates and flashes to attract fish
Resembles baitfish

Cons

A little bit expensive compared to other options n the list

3. Dr.Fish Softbait Wiggle Shad Soft Plastic Swimbait Fishing Lure Smallmouth Bass Perch 3.9inch

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Product Features

Brand Name: Dr. Fish
Type: Soft Swimbait
Quantity: 6 Pack

The final spot on our list goes to the Dr. Fish Soft Body Swimbait. These lures are designed to closely mimic shad with their scale patterns, colors, and lifelike eyes. They also have a bright belly designed to get the attention of any fish and have a lifelike swimming action with their kicking tails. With seven color options and 3 size options, this is a great choice for targeting a variety of species. In each pack, you get 6 lures.

Pros

Lifelike design

6 Lures per pack
The tail kicks to mimic swimming action

Cons

You may prefer another kind of lure

Shad Imitation Lure Buying Guide

When shopping for a good lure to mimic shad, there are a few different things you want to consider

Type

Color
Species

How to Choose a Shad Imitation Lure

1. Type

There are a wide variety of lures that mimic shad that you may want to consider using. Popular choices include spinnerbaits, spoons, swimbaits, and jerk baits. If you’re targeting bass and you already have a tendency to like using spinnerbaits, then stick with that may be a good option. Or you can experiment with a variety of lures and see which works best for you.

2. Color

The color can also be important. Try to stick with colors that are similar to the baitfish in the waters you are fishing to have the most success.

3. Species

Lastly, the species you are fishing can also affect your lure choice. If you’re fishing striped bass or catfish you may end up wanting different lures, different colors, or different sizes than you would use for largemouth bass. You need to choose the lure that will give you the best chance of landing your targeted species.