With endless color options now days, what is everyones preferred shad pattern and or color for any types of lures. Ive always loved sexy shad even though it doesn't really look like a shad that ive seen. But I also really like the black back and silver sides because it is more accurate. But then bone and just all white get alot of recognition for representing shad color wise. 

 

I prefer the top over bottom color and pattern wise, but what does everyones experience suggest? 

Sexy Shad for me only and it looks good under water.

I always get whites and blacks and sexy shads only.

If it's a shad - it's gotta be sexy.

If it’s a soft plastic; electric Shad

Zoom's Smokin Shad

I dont prefer one over the other . I even bought some glow in the dark swimbaits and use them during the day . They work like any other shad colored baits . 

I don't throw a lot of 'shad' patterns locally as it's rarely a prime forage choice here.

However, my Mexican adventures always include a "shad" pattern.

 For cranks it's the citrus shad

And for swim baits, we have our best luck with a sexy shad.

However it's a home made type flavor done with Spike-It Bait Pens

over a mostly Pearl colored bait.

But it's totally Money !

Fish Hard

A-Jay

23 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

I don't throw a lot of 'shad' patterns locally as it's rarely a prime forage choice here.

However, my Mexican adventures always include a "shad" pattern.

 For cranks it's the citrus shad

And for swim baits, we have our best luck with a sexy shad.

However it's a home made type flavor done with Spike-It Bait Pens

over a mostly Pearl colored bait.

But it's totally Money !

Fish Hard

A-Jay

I have some swim baits in the mail on the way.  This was my plan from the start.  Looks like it’s possible to fade the color?  Feather it in.  
 

any tips? For sure I think red gill lines are needed. 

6 minutes ago, Darth-Baiter said:

I have some swim baits in the mail on the way.  This was my plan from the start.  Looks like it’s possible to fade the color?  Feather it in.  
 

any tips? For sure I think red gill lines are needed. 

A clean - Dry bait is important.

Let your work dry over night for best results.

The pens we use are garlic scented so a buffer zone for the work area can help.

Adding "Gills" never seemed to add bites and can jack up the bait a bit (no recommended).

Store the pens tip down.

Finally yes, the colors will fade and do feather in nicely.

Hope that helps.

A-Jay

 

Thank you sir.  Your example looks like an old crankbait I had.  Even the red under the chin. Cotton Cordell Double Deep. 
 

nice job. 

It's not a common color, nor does it probably represent a color of a real shad, but my most productive "shad" color is the Parrot color the Rapala DT series comes in.  Blue on top, chartreuse on the bottom, with some orange and silver mixed in here and there.  It probably represents both bluegill and shad forage.

white

olive back

purple back

sexy shad

clearwater shad

basically any shad color

I have had good luck this year with the 6th sense color shad scales.  

Since the weather got hot sexy shad has been killing it.

 

Where I fish in south Louisiana, I've relied on Bandit's Louisiana Shad, and Bagley's Tennessee Shad for years. In some of the Mississippi River oxbows I fish, Sexy Shad has also produce well.

13 hours ago, Finessegenics said:

If it’s a soft plastic; electric Shad

I love Yamamoto Electric Shad in the Zako. To me its the best looking soft swimbait out there. 

 

@A-Jay i love spike it markers for times like that. I turned hollow body yellow perch swim baits into bluegill with them!

Bone/White/Pearl is what I go to for jerks and topwaters.

 

Chrome sexy, or blue chrome from lipless. 

 

Cranks I like green or blue gizzard shad, and river shiner. 

chartreuse sexy shad