fishing sassy shad

How do you fish sassy shad for hybrids and stripers? Do you jig it off the bottom, rip it in fast or jerk it and let it fall? What size jig is best to use? What if you are targeting sand bass as well?

thanks.

The three inch sassy shad with a 3/8 ounce jig head gets a lot of use in my boat. This last week has produced by just hitting the bottom and raising it up and down slowly about a foot. The hybrids and whites both will hit it. Also, cast it out, let it sink some and slowly bring it back in to the boat. Yesterday a tiny white had the entire bait in it's mouth. I thought that it would die from removing the hook. To my surprise, the bait was just lodged it it's mouth and the hook did not penetrate any tissue.
This time of the year will produce fish on most any lure. I noticed another boater using 6 inch sassys earlier in the week.

Do what Don says !!!. He knows.

What I try to do is use the weight that will match the depth I am fishing. Generally a 3/4oz head for less than 20 feet deep and a 1oz for over twenty. If the fish are actively feeding on top, you can just chunk and wind. If they are suspended, I usually cast and let it sink to the bottom on a tight line, then slow roll it right back up to the boat. If they are sitting on bottom, I let it sink and hop it back to the boat from a long cast. As always, it takes a little experimenting from day to day. They will let you know how they want it so vary it up.

I usually use a 1 ounce head, that is what I am used to so that is what I throw most of the time. If you are fishing shallow, less than 5' I would down size the head, probably go with a 1/4 ounce screw lock type head. The lighter head falls slower and gives the fish something to react to and still be able to see on the fall.

The Shanghai assassin from www.moestackleshop.com is flat out killer in this application.

Take a little extra time when you rig the body to the head, try to have it centered in the body, the lure lasts longer and it falls without twisting the line.

Vary the retrieve and pay attention to what you are doing so you can repeat the one that works.

Some days the fish will hit the bait with their heads to stun it , then
Turn back and eat it. If you are missing strikes by jerking on first contact,
Try to keep reeling and set the hook only when you feel pressure, not
Just a bump.
Mo

do you have to cut the head of the sassy shad off before putting the jighead on?

The hook should come thru the bait half way back. If the hook shank is too short for the size sassy you have, yes, you can bite the head off. Also, carry a tube of Super Glue with you so right before you thread the sassy up behind the jig head, put a drop of superglue behind the jighead on the part you thread the sassy onto. It will last way longer and you'll not get your "pants pulled down" (body pulled off the jig head)....

If you accidentally glue your finger to the jig head and the fish are close to the top, hold it in the water at the side of the boat and when one comes up to take it you're ready to grip the fish by the jaw and haul it aboard! I seen Fastguy do this lotsa times. One time the fish was so big I had to grab him to keep him from going in the water with the fish. He won't admit it, though - he's too proud to make it seem that easy but it is. If you try it and nothing comes to the bait, try "knocking" on the side of your boat with the fist of the other hand to get their attention. Superduck has had some good success with that method as well...

Thanks to all. In my case I will probably glue it to my forehead. I guess i can just stick my head underwater and blow bubbles.

Probably works better than knockin' on the side of your boat...

been so long since i've had my "pants pulled down" out on the lake that i can't really remember what it's like.

Look for a video tomorrow afternoon from Lake Twak! Gona show ya how to double down with a Naanaa Sassy! Yes Georgeeee x 2

If you accidentally glue your finger to the jig head and the fish are close to the top, hold it in the water at the side of the boat and when one comes up to take it you're ready to grip the fish by the jaw and haul it aboard! I seen Fastguy do this lotsa times. One time the fish was so big I had to grab him to keep him from going in the water with the fish. He won't admit it, though - he's too proud to make it seem that easy but it is. If you try it and nothing comes to the bait, try "knocking" on the side of your boat with the fist of the other hand to get their attention. Superduck has had some good success with that method as well...