I have been playing with the Strike King Shad Rage Tail and have noticed if I use a 3/0 EWG hook I can get more tail action then 4/0 to 6/0 recomended on the package. I was wondering if anyone has notice if the extra action is a good thing or if it spooks fish.

On the Shad, I like the 4/0 EWG heavy wire hook best of all and get better hook up ratio on it than 3/0. If you're doing fine with the 3/0 then keep on with it.

Big O

www.ragetail.com

i tried mine with a 4/0 rigged tail up and tail down and i still couldnt get it to look natural like I first thought when i bought them.

I think the shad is anything but natural.  It's a buzzbait, really.  I love it because I can fish it fast and cover a ton of water without any hangups like a regular buzzbait.  It's got a more subtle sound than metal on water and actually throws around more water than some buzzbaits.  It skips under docks and laydowns good too and comes to the surface fast.  Works great in those situations.  I use a 4/0 Gamakatsu EWG heavy wire hook.

What pound line do you prefer with these? I was using 15lb cxx the other day and all i got was a bunch of wobbling but no buzzing.

I'm only running two poles right now, since 90% of my fishing is done out of kayaks, canoes, or small pontoons.  One has 30lb braid and the other has 10lb mono.  I usually use the 30lb braid, which has a much smaller line diameter.  Not sure what, but it works fine.  If you're not getting a buzz, check to be sure you detached the tab that holds the tail to the body for packaging.

I did that as soon as i took it out of the package. It seems like something is wrong. I have heard people talk about how great these are and im kind of frustrated.

Try stretching it out a little.  Be careful because the tail can rip pretty easy.  But stretching it at the U bend in the tail and at the part where it joins the body might loosen it up.

The tail should be flopping from side to side pretty violently on top of the water.  It doesn't really buzz I don't think, but it should be making quite a disturbance.  Make sure that it's all the way on top of the water and keep your rod tip up a little bit.  It doesn't take much usually.  Big-O will probably be able to key you in on some other tips.  I haven't had that problem and I've used a ton of these things.  He is the owner of Rage Tail baits, so he might have a trick or two up his sleeve.  Other than the above, I don't know man.  The test on the line shouldn't matter, because the action is in the tail.

Jig n Big, Go to my website or SK web site and review the hooking instsructional video. Also like Brian mentioned use 4//0 EWG hook and I like a heavy wire hook as well. On a slower to med retrieve with the shad, it should wobble and flop back and forth, but when you increase your retrieve speed, then the tail will start slapping back and forth and making more noise.

Big O

www.ragetail.com

On the Shad, I like the 4/0 EWG heavy wire hook best of all and get better hook up ratio on it than 3/0. If you're doing fine with the 3/0 then keep on with it.

Big O

www.ragetail.com

Big O you were right about the 3/0 to small missed all the fish that went after lastnight. I don't think the action will change much though

Let'em load up on it before you set on 'em. Remember, it is soft plastic and they like to mouth it which gives you time to hit the fish, unlike hard wire buzz baits. If you are in open, might try a trailer hook Too, shad still runs fine.

Big O