Shads are among the most popular soft lures for sea fishing. Whether line fishing, pulling or elevator fishing, their caudal fin, emitting strong vibrations, attracts the curiosity of fish. These soft lures, ubiquitous in every sea bass angler's tackle box, need to be rigged with special heads to get the most out of them and avoid bridling or distorting the swim.
The characteristic shape of shad heads
These heads, ranging in weight from a few grams to over 150, have a distinctive fish-like shape.
Fitted with a fixed or articulated hook, often quite short, they can be recognized by their more or less large gills.
This width will have an impact on the rolling of the lure and should be taken into account when selecting it.
The attachment point is on the top. Either centered or towards the front.
If you look at them from the underside, you'll notice that, depending on the model, they're not all the same shape. This shape will affect the rolling action, i.e. the lure's ability to oscillate from left to right when reeled in.
For what type of lure?
These lead heads are suitable for all shad lures, i.e. fish-shaped lures ending in a more or less imposing paddle.
These lures are either pre-cut, ready to receive the lead head, or not. In the latter case, it's up to you to make the cut. I explained the method I use in this article.
How to choose the right weight for your shad head?
Generally speaking, you'll hear the following rule of thumb: 1 gram per metre of depth. This may be valid, but it doesn't take into account many factors such as wind, current, boat drift, lure size, etc. Shads, with their imposing paddle, have a slower descent speed than very tapered lures like slugs. This is why I apply the 2 grams per metre rule. In other words, in 20m of water, I'd use a 40-gram sinker. This rule is of course evolutive but it's a good basis.
My personal selection
Generally speaking, brands developing a soft lure will also develop the associated lead head. This is undoubtedly the simplest but most restrictive solution. The more lures you have, the more types of lead heads you'll have, all available in different weights.
That's why, for all my shads, I use 2 types of heads that fit on all the lures I use, with the exception of the Fiiish black minnow, which requires its own lead head.
The Delalande "angel" heads, which have the advantage of being sold in bulk, and the "ready-to-fish" heads, which I like for their rolling and the quality of the hooks. Both models are available in a wide range of weights.
These heads also have a little detail that I really like: the weight of the head is written on them. This saves you the hassle of finding the right weight at a glance
