Tackle Tactics » Tips-Techniques » Pro-Lure-Fishing-Tips » Jerkshading

Jerkshading

By Brendan Blackburn

The ever expanding tackle industry continues to produce new and innovative products and there is no doubt that many of these products do catch fish, although sometimes you can't beat the tried and tested. By this I'm referring to the simple yet extremely effective ZMan StreakZ and Scented Jerk ShadZ range.

With today's market flooded by this design of soft plastic, it's with no doubt that many anglers find the choice of brand/lure quite challenging. This article will outline the reasons why the ZMan range has become my go-to when fishing this style of soft plastic.

A go-to lure of mine for fishing the estuary and inshore systems is the compact 3.75" StreakZ. This little plastic offers so much versatility and can be fished in a number of ways from lightly weighted, for getting up in the shallows casting the flats, to fishing the inshore reef systems for species like coral trout and sweetlip. Then there's also my favourite style of fishing, pitching it on the surface for free swimming schools of pelagic species.

The ZMan 3.75" StreakZ comes in a range of colours to suit every application, from a Bloodworm or Opening Night for the flats, to a Nuked Chicken Glow and Coconut Ice Glow for hopping across the reef or the Pearl and Baby Bass to imitate the small herring or fry that are often the main food source for the pelagics, such as tuna and queenfish. Combine the array of colours with a 3/0 size hook and your preferred weight TT Lures DemonZ or HeadlockZ HD series jighead to suit and you'll have yourself an extremely versatile lure.

Moving up in size to the ZMan 5" StreakZ and for an angler chasing pelagic species, such as mackerel and tuna, the 5" StreakZ is a must have in your artillery. Capable of high speed retrieves, while tracking straight and with a single pin tail that creates a prominent bubble trail making this plastic irresistible to pelagics. Not only is this lure a hit with the pelagics, it is equally at home being worked along the reef in search of a bottom fish. It comes in a range of appealing colours, including the well known Bubblegum and Pearl colours. It is ideally rigged on a 3/8oz to 1oz 5/0 or 6/0 TT Lures HeadlockZ HD jighead.

ZMan 5" Scented Jerk ShadZ and ZMan 7" Scented Jerk ShadZ are another must have for an offshore angler. Featuring a split tail and infused with 100% natural fish scent, these plastics are dynamite on the snapper, jobfish and amberjack, just to name a few. Available in over 20 colours, including the classic Pearl, Electric Chicken and Nuked Chicken Glow, along with a host of new colours specifically designed for Australian waters, what's not to love about the 5" and 7" Scented Jerk ShadZ.

Personally, when fishing this style of plastic, I like to have both the 5" and 7" rigged and ready to fish, with the smaller 5" rigged on either a 5/0 or 6/0 HeadlockZ HD jighead and the 7" rigged on a 6/0 to 8/0 HeadlockZ HD. This allows me to quickly change between plastic sizes and colours, maximising the time spent with a lure in the water.

Now, incorporate these three epic plastics from the ZMan range, with the renowned 10X Tough ElaZtech material and you find yourself with a seriously tough and versatile combination of presentation. To prove this, a recent session saw over 10 snapper fall to just the one 5" Scented Jerk ShadZ, not to mention the countless number of green jobfish and amberjack on a single lure.

So, next time you find yourself in your local tackle shop, be sure to check out the large range of ZMan Jerk ShadZ and grab yourself a packet to experience what the hype is all about.

Cheers, Brendan