How To Maximize Your Results With Slam Shady Paddletails [Rigging, Retrieving, & Size Selection]
- By: Luke Simonds
- on September 24, 2019
- Found In: Lure Reviews, Retrieving Lures
This page will show you how to get the most fish catching with your Slam Shady paddletails throughout all seasons with the least amount of equipment needed.
You can also see all of the documented species that have been caught on the Slam Shady lure (on our way to a world record) toward the bottom of this post.
The great thing about soft plastics is that they are so versatile and can be effectively used in so many different applications making them a lure type that can catch fish in pretty much all regions throughout the year.
But the bad thing about soft plastics is that they won’t work well at all if they aren’t rigged properly or if they aren’t paired with the right sized jig head or weighted hook.
So the videos below will walk you through the essential details to make sure that you know the specifics for the following:
- How To Rig Slam Shady 2.0
- How To Rig Zman Slam Shady Lures
- How To Retrieve Paddletails
- Lure Size Selection Tips
- How To Store Your Lures
Just click on the respective videos below to see the details:
Introduction
How To Rig Slam Shady 2.0
How To Rig Zman Slam Shady Lures
How To Retrieve Paddletails
How To Select The Right Size
Click here to join the Insider Club
How To Store Your Lures [Important]
Click here to join the Insider Club
Equipment Links
Paddletails
Weighted Hooks
- 3/0 Owner TwistLock with 1/16 oz weight – great for 0 to 2 ft depths
- 3/0 Owner TwistLock with 1/8 oz weight (FAVORITE) – great for 1 to 2.5 ft depths
- 4/0 Owner TwistLock with 1/8 oz weight – good for 1 to 2.5 ft depths, but I like the 3/0 option better
Jig Heads
Jig Head Weight Table
- 1/8th oz – great for depths of 2 to 4 ft
- 3/16th oz (FAVORITE) – great for depths of 2.5 to 5 ft
- 1/4th oz – great for depths of 3 to 8 ft
Species Caught On The Slam Shady
Want to join us on our way to setting a world record for most species of fish caught on a single swimbait (of the same color)?
Below is the list of species that have been caught on this lure so leave a comment below and send us a picture at fish@saltstrong.com if you’ve caught a new species on the Slam Shady!
- Almaco Jack
- Barracuda
- Bar Jack
- Bigmouth Sleeper
- Black Acara
- Black Drum
- Black Sea Bass
- Blue Runner
- Bluefish
- Bonefish
- Bonito
- Bowfin
- Brown Trout
- Bullseyes Snakehead
- Bumper (Atlantic Bumper)
- Chain Pickerel
- Channel Cat (catfish)
- Cobia
- Coho Salmon
- Crappie
- Croaker
- Cubera Snapper
- Flounder
- Freshwater Catfish
- Freshwater Drum
- Gafftopsail Catfish
- Gag Grouper
- Gar
- Green Sunfish
- Grey Chub
- Halibut
- Herring
- Hybrid Striped Bass
- Jack Crevalle
- Kingfish
- Ladyfish
- Lake Trout (Canada)
- Lane Snapper
- Largemouth Bass
- Lizardfish
- Lookdown
- Mangrove Snapper
- Mahi Mahi
- Mayan Cichlid
- Musky Sucker
- Mullet
- Needlefish
- Northern Pike
- Northern Snakehead
- Orange-Spotted Trevally
- Oscar
- Ozark Bass
- Peacock Bass
- Pinfish
- Pufferfish
- Queenfish
- Rainbow Trout
- Red Grouper
- Red Snapper
- Redbreast Sunfish
- Redfish (Red Drum)
- Remora
- Ribbonfish
- Rock Bass
- Sawfish
- Sea Robin
- Sennit
- Schoolmaster Snapper
- Shad
- Shark (multiple species)
- Sheepshead
- Silver Sea Trout (Sand Trout)
- Smallmouth Bass
- Smallmouth Buffalo (Carp)
- Smoothback Puffer
- Snook (common)
- Spanish Mackerel
- Speckled Perch
- Speckled Trout
- Spotted Bay Bass
- Stargazer
- Strawberry Grouper
- Striped Bass
- Sturgeon
- Swordspine Snook
- Tarpon
- Tilapia
- Toadfish
- Tripletail
- Walleye
- Warmouth Bass
- Weakfish
- White Bass
- White Perch
- Whiting
- Yellow Jack
- Yellow Perch
- Yellowfin Croaker
Conclusion
These Slam Shady paddletails will enable you to catch quality fish across all seasons and water columns as long as they are paired with the proper jig head or weighted hook for the specific conditions you’ll be fishing.
To maximize your results, it’s very important to have the size selections listed above on hand because just that small amount of equipment will enable you to be ready to catch any species that feed on small baitfish anywhere in the water column from the surface all the way down to 7 ft…
And if you’ll be fishing deeper water, you’ll just need to get some heavier jig heads to enable the lures to dive down farther.
Your Feedback Is Appreciated!
Please leave a comment down below if you have any questions… I am here to help!
And if you have already begun using them, please use the Comment sections below let us know what size slam shady you like best along with the hook and jig head size.
P.S. If you want to get 20% off the Slam Shady paddletails, the weighted hooks, and the jig heads, plus discounts on tons of other gear, click here to join the Insider Club.
Stop Wasting Time On The Water!
Do what the “SMART ANGLERS” are doing and join the Insider Club.
Here’s what you’ll receive today when you join:
- Weekly fishing reports and TRENDS revealing exactly where you should fish ever trip
- Weekly “spot dissection” videos that walk you through all the best spots in your area
- Exclusive fishing tips from the PROS you can’t find anywhere else
- Everything you need to start catching fish more consistently (regardless if you fish out of a boat, kayak, or land).
- 20% OFF ALL of the fishing tackle you’re already buying!
Click here to join today.
Related articles:
Related categories:
STOP WASTING TIME ON THE WATER!
Do what the “SMART ANGLERS” are doing and join the Insider Club.
Here’s what you’ll receive today when you join:
- Weekly fishing reports and TRENDS revealing exactly where you should fish every trip
- Weekly “spot dissection” videos that walk you through all the best spots in your area
- Exclusive fishing tips from the PROS you can’t find anywhere else
- Everything you need to start catching fish more consistently (regardless if you fish out of a boat, kayak, or land).
Hello. A lot of people troll for speckled trout in my area in the ICW with lures . 3-6 feet deep. It seems to be successful except for me , LOL Im trying to figure out the right trolling speed with and against the current. What weight jig head is best.
I grew up fishing with my Dad and brother. I was never taught these truths about tackle etc… So glad I joined the Insiders club and I’m learning a lot. You guys are totally worth the investment!
Great info, thanks 👍 you busted me on improper mounting 😂
Caught a juvenile Goliath grouper on the original slam shady on Sunday. So I guess you’re gonna need to update the list lol
So, bleeding different scent brands may likely results in batch ruination? Thanks for sharing this profound revelation, Dr. Luke!
Should I inquire upon myself as to why I am a member of SS at this point?
It’s obvious! I need experiential leadership.
Thanks for making time to post the nice comment Richard!
I just went through the initial set of videos and they are excellent! They are the best and most informative I’ve ever seen. Great job!!!
Hi Luke,
sincere question, is there really any difference between the Z-man white paddletails and the Slam Shady/bomber paddletails? as far as fishing baits, they look just the same. it seems like they have the same functions and can be used for the same targets and circumstances. I’m learning a lot from yall and catching a bit more consistently 👍
Hey Arto, my apologies for missing your question. Although both paddletails you mentioned have similar functions, they still have their own unique pros and cons that need to be considered. For example, the bomber is more dense and larger so it has a big advantage when casting distance is needed (especially when fishing the shallows where it’s rigged on a light hook). The Zman lures are tougher, so they gave an advantage when fishing areas with a lot of pinfish and small snapper that are know n to tear up traditional soft plastics.
I just saw a fish I caught on a slam shady 2.0 that isn’t listed above. Sight casted a blue spotted cornetfish walking Delray beach last December. Was pretty cool looking. Has no idea what it was till I found pics on the internet.
If I’m fishing off a pier, what is the best hook? It seems like there is sea grass but it gets deeper than 2ft when casting out but when reeling in its shallow.
Not enough info is known to give a direct answer to that question. But in general, you’ll need to go with more weight when fishing from a pier compared to fishing from closer to the water level due to the higher elevation of the pier. I almost always go with at least a 1/4 oz jighead when fishing from a pier even if the water is shallow so the lure can stay close to the bottom during the retrieve.
What is the best knot? Loop knot or tie the line straight to the hook?
For paddletails lures, I recommend going with a loop knot so that lure has better freedom of motion in the water. My favorite loop knot is the “Non Slip Loop Knot”. Here’s a link: https://www.saltstrong.com/articles/non-slip-loop-knot/