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).
Can you use these fishing dock lights at night ??
What type of jig head could I use with the slam shady to catch strikers from the shore?
Thanks for your rigging information I’m in to deep water. Use some shrimp today caught a few puffers and small snappers.
Thanks for your fishing trips and storage hints really appreciated. Mike
How long can you leave them rigged on your pole or store them after use?
How about reeling from a kayak sitting position?
I have the same question but I guess experiment
Been there done that with mixing soft plastics…rookie mistake, what a mess!!!
Didn’t watch these videos soon enough.
good afternoon,
thank you for posting these video’s – i have not found much here that was not helpful – nice Team work, I have a question please, all answers welcome – looking at Luke’s tackle bag, which tackle bags/backpacks do you like ? I have seen many with reviews of a product being loved for many reasons and same product with less favorable reviews.
P
Thanks for posting the nice comment Paul! Here’s a review of the best tackle bag that I’ve used so far: https://www.saltstrong.com/articles/plano-z-series-waterproof-tackle-bag/
perfect and thank you !
Very helpful and informative. I am new to fishing and this has helped me learn at a quicker pace than being on my own.
Never knew about mixing. Repacking now. Lol