Popcorn Shrimp for Persnickety Inshore Predators
Four-years of R&D yields remarkable Z-Man Trout Trick� Jerk ShrimpZ�

Extraordinary things happen when a luremaker takes his or her time in the creation a new bait�as opposed to the all-too-often practice of rushing products to market before they�re truly ready.

�The Trout Trick Jerk ShrimpZ has been one of our favorite projects, a bait we�ve been test-fishing and tweaking for the last four years,� notes Z-Man president and expert inshore angler, Daniel Nussbaum. �It�s been a fun, interesting ride with a ton of trout and redfish in the boat. Now, it�s time to share this special bait and put it in our customers� hands.�



For Nussbaum and other Z-Man insiders, a critical part of the 48-plus month process involved the seemingly mundane ritual of observing, again and again, exactly how live shrimp swim and which parts of their anatomy drive the engine. �On the water, we observed that under normal conditions, shrimp swim slowly forward,� Nussbaum observed. �But when they�re frightened or chased by a predator, they dart away rapidly in reverse, employing short, sharp spurts.

�We could have easily designed this bait forward-first like so many other shrimp imitations on the market, but we really challenged our team to mimic the jet-propulsion, reverse movements of fleeing shrimp�that�s the action fish see and respond to when hunting crustaceans. I�m pleased to say, this bait transcends expectations. It�s that dead-on. When you twitch or sharply hop the Jerk ShrimpZ along bottom, you get a super lively reaction I�ve not seen in another crustacean replica.�

Sculpted with a tail-first posture by intent, the 3.5-inch Trout Trick Jerk ShrimpZ has produced numerous species beyond its seatrout namesake, including big redfish, snook, flounder and even juvenile tarpon during testing. The soft, durable ElaZtech� bait sports a tucked-under tail and flat belly which combine to amplify natural gliding action on the fall�the critical second half of a live shrimp�s flight response.


Z-Man took its time perfecting the Jerk ShrimpZ, a labor of love that resulted in a remarkably lifelike shrimp-mimic.

Adorning the Jerk ShrimpZ�s anterior, thin sets of pereopods (swimming legs) and twin paddletail antennae vibrate and yield complementary animation. Bulbous eyestalks and a true-to-life rostrum (beak) finish the authentic effect. �Because it�s ElaZtech, all the little appendages won�t tear off, even after multiple fish-catches.�

Nussbaum notes another issue Z-Man overcame in their R&D. �Most shrimp imitations don�t cast well, especially in wind. �We purposefully sculpted the Jerk ShrimpZ with a streamlined shape and swept-back tail and appendages. The bait boasts minimal wind resistance; it casts like a bullet and actually lands softly�perfect for delicate, long-range presentations for when fish get spooky.�

The Jerk ShrimpZ�s ElaZtech composition gives the bait a softness and durability that doesn�t seem to make sense�particularly for anglers accustomed to more rigid plastics that quickly tear apart. The specialized softbait material also yields a final, decisive advantage: buoyancy and an upright underwater posture.

�While other baits lay flat on bottom, the buoyant Jerk ShrimpZ remains highly visible to fish when dragged slowly along the substrate,� Nussbaum conveys. �The head and antennae float up and sway enticingly to create a prominent strike target. We�ve found this shows fish a lively, shrimp-like stance they can�t refuse when they get super finicky and want an ultra-subtle approach.�



Two rigging approaches excel, shallow and deep. �During testing we found this bait shines for redfish on the shallow flats when rigged on an EZ KeeperZ� weighted hook. Also makes the bait virtually immune to snagging grass.

�Snapping the rodtip sharply activates the twin paddletail antennae and makes them vibrate. This gets the reds� attention, even when they�re nosing around, rooting for crustaceans. Redfish just hammer the Jerk ShrimpZ as it glides slowly back down�thanks to its flat belly and tucked-under tail wings.

�In deeper water for seatrout, redfish and flounder, we�ve been super successful rigging the Jerk ShrimpZ on a size 4/0 HeadlockZ� HD jighead. We use the same sharp twitches to mimic a panicked shrimp, which attracts attention from any fish in the neighborhood. The strike trigger occurs, again, as the ShrimpZ flutters seductively and helplessly back toward bottom.�

Released to the public in early August, the Z-Man Trout Trick Jerk ShrimpZ is a 3.5-inch live shrimp replica that pairs perfectly with Trout Eye�, Weedless Eye�, HeadlockZ and EZ KeeperZ jigheads and hooks. Sold in 5-packs, the elite new inshore bait features eight potent color patterns, including Electric Chicken, Laguna Shrimp and Sexy Penny. For more information on all Z-Man ElaZtech baits, visit www.zmanfishing.com.