I love the Zoom Fluke... but what are the alternatives? 

 

I am aware of the 6th sense 5.2

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/6th_Sense_Flush_52_Soft_Jerkbait/descpage-SSFSA.html

 

The Strike King Caffeine shad

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Strike_King_KVD_Perfect_Plastic_Caffeine_Shad_5_8pk/descpage-SKPCS.html

 

Creme Pro Series jerkbait

https://cremelure.com/Pro-Series-Jerk-Bait-Smoke-Shad-_p_94.html

 

Are there any others?

Yamamoto d-shad

Afew that are in my rotation:

Xzone Whiplash Shad

Deps Sakamata Shad ($$$ and always out of stock)

OSP Dolive Stick

 

Trick worm 😉😉😉😉😉👍👍👍👍👍

yamamoto d shad is a good one. big bite makes a few. bass assassin makes a few. Check tackle warehouse they have dozens f them.

Here are 2 of my favorites.

Bass assassin ( top )

Keitech shad impact ( bottom )

PowerBait® Power® Jerk Shad

Berkley Powerbait Jerk Shad 10pk - Tackle Warehouse

Good Fishing

2 hours ago, Big Swimbait said:

Xzone Whiplash Shad

I have only used a couple times, but they tore up so quickly (not even fighting fish) I never bothered with them again

 

2 hours ago, Don Preller said:

big bite makes a few

Their triple tail or whatever its called is pretty dense, I havent spent much time with it but seems sturdier than the super fluke but fishes a bit different because of its own weight. 

 

Why are you looking for alternatives? 

Almost as heavy as a Caffeine Shad, so very castable, and more durable. Comes in 4", 5", and 6".

Big Bite Baits Jerk Minnow 10pk - Tackle Warehouse

 

Bulk packs available on their home page with a wider availability of colors. Junebug's been great for me. Priced right too.

Jerk Minnow - Big Bite Baits

 

 

I am a D Shad faithful.  I throw it a lot.  I have posted my rigging suggestions and it’s waaaay more involved than most realize.  Here’s my day to day DShad box.  Never leave without it.  

I try to work in a skinny dipper.  

I like the Yamamoto D Shad or an OSP DoLive Stick but still throw a Fluke as well. For Flukes I prefer a 4/0 Gamakatsu screwlock with a 1/16oz weight.

I like the Flush because it comes in a nice package so they don’t get bent up, and they have a nice action.

 

The Berkley Jerk Shad is really nice too.

There are non 

I've tried the alternatives and keep going back to the Zoom fluke.  Everything else I have tried is secondary imho.

Megabass Sling Shad. Expensive but not too bad.

 

RI Shiver Glide is my favorite. Harder to find in stock. Heavy and a bit larger than most soft jerkbaits.

Slug-O

 

Interesting suggestions. I hadn't heard of any of them at the time of posting. D-shad sorta rings a bell now that I hear it.

 

Sluggo... man.. I did a search about it. It appears that started the fluke craze? They look pretty useful.

54 minutes ago, Bazoo said:

Interesting suggestions. I hadn't heard of any of them at the time of posting. D-shad sorta rings a bell now that I hear it.

 

Sluggo... man.. I did a search about it. It appears that started the fluke craze? They look pretty useful.

The Yamamoto d shad is basically a fluke shaped senko. The plastic feels very similar. It also has the senko shimmy as it sinks. I really like it. Only downside is the durability but that’s a worthwhile trade off imo. 

13 hours ago, Bazoo said:

Interesting suggestions. I hadn't heard of any of them at the time of posting. D-shad sorta rings a bell now that I hear it.

 

Sluggo... man.. I did a search about it. It appears that started the fluke craze? They look pretty useful.

When the sluggo first came out they were unreal. you cold throw that thig on a shallow flat and twitch it a few times and watch fish come from 20 feet away to smash it. they had never seen anything like it before. they went nuts for it for the first couple years.

The 5 inch Caffeine Shad is in a class all by itself and has a completely different action than the others due to the air bubble in the tail. Best used on an 4/0 Owner Twistlock LIGHT hook. 

16 hours ago, Bazoo said:

Interesting suggestions. I hadn't heard of any of them at the time of posting. D-shad sorta rings a bell now that I hear it.

 

Sluggo... man.. I did a search about it. It appears that started the fluke craze? They look pretty useful.

The Slug-Go was the start of the soft jerkbait. They’re a little stiffer/tougher plastic than the Fluke, and have their own action. On a 3/0 hook, they will dart with the slightest twitch of the rod, and maintain good action on 15-17lb line. 

 

On post front/bluebird days, a Bubble Gum 4.5” Slug-go nose hooked on a weedless wacky/Neko hook is straight money. 

For me the fluke is an alternative to the caffeine shad, less and less so as the years go by. Nothing cast or skips as well as the caff shad, and the senko like tail wiggle on the drop seals the deal for me as the best soft jerk bar none.

I'm with the folks here who are on the caffeine shad bandwagon. Always reach for those. @TOXIC's love of the D shad is pretty inspiring though. I need to get a pack.

Alternatives? We don’t need no stinkin alternatives