i crushed them on this lure last year.  i took it home, changed the split ring in the nose, and changed out hooks.  put it away for this year.  i did take it out and try to coax a few LMB with it, but no luck.  this year, i put it into a lure keeper and checked it with my luggage.  

 

it killed again this year!!  killed.  its a tad on the lighter side in windy conditions, so it took a spinning reel to get it where they were smashing bait.  one time a small bird went after it.  i fished it for five days and had to change hooks everyday.  big hard mouth striper can beat on hooks.  the last two days, i put it away to force myself to try other baits.  

 

MVP.  the Berkeley Surge Shad in Bone color.   i ran out of hooks on the last active day and had to resort to red hooks that i had.  this might be my most successful hard bait ever.   all striper bass tho.  i'll flip it out into clearlake later this month.  for sure. 

 

 

Do you just fish it slow near the surface?

3 hours ago, MassBass said:

Do you just fish it slow near the surface?

I did.  Just slow enough to get it right under the surface.  Almost as a top water.