The bait monkey is calling my name for more glide baits. Anyone using it and have some long term use pros and cons? Would be much appreciated!

 

I'm on the fence with ordering a few or getting some slideswimmer 250s and bullshooters from Japan. 

One of the better glides you can get. I wouldn't hesitate. Threadfin and bone are the only colors needed. 

^^^ Agree with @Rockhopper about it being one of the, if not the, best fish catching "inexpensive" production glides.  I had a limited edition ghost shad that I lost to a Northern at the boat and still have a perch.  It's also the only glide that has delivered for me at night.  I love the big bait bite, but don't always love throwing them as much.  The spro chad shad is the exception.

 

scott

 

 

 

The other guys nailed it with regard to the Spro version.   Awesome bait, worth the money.   

 

That said, the resin KGB Chad Shad is worth thinking about because imho it's just that much better.       

 

Amazingly TW has the KGB ones right now as well.    

1 minute ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

The other guys nailed it with regard to the Spro version.   Awesome bait, worth the money.   

 

That said, the resin KGB Chad Shad is worth thinking about because imho it's just that much better.       

 

Amazingly TW has the KGB ones right now as well.    

You are the monkey!

 

scott

1 minute ago, softwateronly said:

You are the monkey!

 

scott

Bawahaha 🤣

 

The sink rate on the resin ones is significantly different, and you can really stall out the resin versions.   

 

Either way you'll be happy with a Chad Shad, if you commit to throwing it, it will produce some of the most exciting and magical days on the water.   I had one of those days a few weeks back when I found them chasing adult sized Gizzards.  

 

Why yes, I have a video on those baits.

 

 

I like the resin bait better, but the Spro version is pretty solid. Only issue I had was the first one I got, the tail section got water inside it and balloned up. It still works and Spro offered to replace it for me, just made me a little uneasy about getting more. 

On 4/9/2025 at 9:52 PM, AlabamaSpothunter said:

The other guys nailed it with regard to the Spro version.   Awesome bait, worth the money.   

 

That said, the resin KGB Chad Shad is worth thinking about because imho it's just that much better.       

 

Amazingly TW has the KGB ones right now as well.    

So the spro version is the “regular” version and the KGB Chad Shad is the resin version? What’s the difference between the two? The KGB is over $100 dollars more than the spro version.

25 minutes ago, woolleyfooley said:

So the spro version is the “regular” version and the KGB Chad Shad is the resin version? What’s the difference between the two? The KGB is over $100 dollars more than the spro version.

To me they're quite different baits.

 

1. Using resin vs. ABS creates a significantly different sink rate, and on the resin version, the sink rate is much slower.    This allows you to fish it like an underwater walk the dog topwater or suspending jerkbait.     I.E.......Chop, chop, chop, pause................chop, chop, chop.       The resin ones dang near suspend they sink so slowly.     You can always use suspend dots, or lead wire on the hooks to achieve a faster sink rate, but you can't make the ABS version sink slower.

 

2.  The actual size of the baits is quite different.    The resin Chad Shad is noticeably smaller and lighter.   If you're throwing it all day, the half oz difference can make a difference for sure.   I doubt the fish can tell the difference in size b/t the two, so the smaller size of the resin ones can be an advantage.  ABS Spro is on top, resin is on bottom

 

3.  The swim is a bit different b/t the two, I can't fully say if one is better than the other because I've fished the resin one so much more, but they do swim a bit differently.   

 

4.  Castability seems better on the resin versions, as noted already, the resin one is smaller, and for whatever reason I have to be more mindful about casting technique with the ABS version as it has a tendency to want to "helicopter" on the cast.  

 

5.  Finishes.......the resin ones are hand painted by true artists.  The Spro ones are based on those same artists designs, but obviously not hand painted. 

 

This is more nuanced, but the sound is very different b/t the two as well.   For whatever reason, the resin ones have a bit of "squeak" noise in the joint.   For some this is important.    KGB thinks the baits get that squeak from tank testing in chlorinated water, and they say if you bait stops producing it you can dunk it back in a pool.  This has never been a concern for me so I've never tried it.   

 

Differences number 3, and 4 aren't worth buying the resin over the ABS version, however the first two differences, and especially the first difference are things to certainly consider though.   

 

I wouldn't buy the resin version unless you're prepared to commit some real time to learning and fishing with it.    If you just want a great glide bait to check that box for occasional usage, the ABS one is likely the better bet.  

 

Lastly the one clear advantage the ABS version has besides cost, is it features swiveling hook hangers.   That can be a massive advantage depending on how the fish is hooked.   

 

 

Allow me to play devil's advocate for a moment. I prefer the Spro version. I fish highland reservoirs and the faster I can get my bait down the better. The slower resin for me means it will take longer than the Spro and thus is less efficient. Now that being said I wrap my hooks with lead wire anyways so I guess the point was moot. lol What was I talking about again?🤦‍♂️

52 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

To me they're quite different baits.

 

1. Using resin vs. ABS creates a significantly different sink rate, and on the resin version, the sink rate is much slower.    This allows you to fish it like an underwater walk the dog topwater or suspending jerkbait.     I.E.......Chop, chop, chop, pause................chop, chop, chop.       The resin ones dang near suspend they sink so slowly.     You can always use suspend dots, or lead wire on the hooks to achieve a faster sink rate, but you can't make the ABS version sink slower.

 

2.  The actual size of the baits is quite different.    The resin Chad Shad is noticeably smaller and lighter.   If you're throwing it all day, the half oz difference can make a difference for sure.   I doubt the fish can tell the difference in size b/t the two, so the smaller size of the resin ones can be an advantage.  ABS Spro is on top, resin is on bottom

 

3.  The swim is a bit different b/t the two, I can't fully say if one is better than the other because I've fished the resin one so much more, but they do swim a bit differently.   

 

4.  Castability seems better on the resin versions, as noted already, the resin one is smaller, and for whatever reason I have to be more mindful about casting technique with the ABS version as it has a tendency to want to "helicopter" on the cast.  

 

5.  Finishes.......the resin ones are hand painted by true artists.  The Spro ones are based on those same artists designs, but obviously not hand painted. 

 

This is more nuanced, but the sound is very different b/t the two as well.   For whatever reason, the resin ones have a bit of "squeak" noise in the joint.   For some this is important.    KGB thinks the baits get that squeak from tank testing in chlorinated water, and they say if you bait stops producing it you can dunk it back in a pool.  This has never been a concern for me so I've never tried it.   

 

Differences number 3, and 4 aren't worth buying the resin over the ABS version, however the first two differences, and especially the first difference are things to certainly consider though.   

 

I wouldn't buy the resin version unless you're prepared to commit some real time to learning and fishing with it.    If you just want a great glide bait to check that box for occasional usage, the ABS one is likely the better bet.  

 

Lastly the one clear advantage the ABS version has besides cost, is it features swiveling hook hangers.   That can be a massive advantage depending on how the fish is hooked.   

 

 

Thank you for such a detailed response! How fast does the spro version sink?

Zappu floating boards can be used to slow your ROF.

17 minutes ago, woolleyfooley said:

Thank you for such a detailed response! How fast does the spro version sink?

My pleasure!   The ROF is listed as 3-4 for both, so I can't give an exact number to it.  All I can say is it's very noticeable and much slower on the resin one.     The resin ones again almost suspend in place they sink so slowly; that's not the case with the ABS one I've got. 

 

 

4 minutes ago, GreenPig said:

Zappu floating boards can be used to slow your ROF.

I've seen those at my local store, and I'll have to buy some next time there to try out.

 

That's a great tip and option.  

I actually wish the abs version would sink a little faster