May 28, 2014
By Ned Kehde
On May 8 we wrote a brief gear guide that featured Reins Fishing Tackle's three-, four- and five-inch Bubbling Shaker , and its five new colors, and shortly after that gear guide was published, a Midwest finesse angler urged us to call the angling world's attention to the five new colors of Reins' four-inch Bubbling Shad.
Some anglers describe the Bubbling Shad as a small swimbait, while others call it a boot-tailed grub. And some might call it a paddle-tail grub.
It sports a short, smooth-skinned head. Its torso has two segments. The upper segment is encircled with 17 ribs, and it is the portliest part. The lower portion of the torso tapers as it gradually merges with the tail, and it is encompassed with 13 ribs. Between the last or 29th rib and the boot or paddle, the tail narrows, and is smooth-skinned.
Most Midwest finesse anglers will affix it to either a 1/16- or 3/32-ounce Gopher Tackle Mushroom Head Jig, but those anglers who ply deep-water lairs will opt for a heavier jig.
The traditional presentation for grubs and swimbaits similar to the Bubbling Shad is to employ a swimming-style retrieve that can be enhanced by an occasional pause or several shakes. But across the years, several Midwest anglers have discovered that baits like the Bubbling Shad are effective when it is presented with a variety of different retrieves, such as the swim, glide, and shake; hop and bounce; drag and deadstick; drag and incessant shake; and stroll. In essence, they retrieve it as if they were wielding a four-inch finesse worm affixed to a jig.
The slightest movement of the Bubbling Shad causes its tail to undulate, and its body quivers, and at times, air bubbles exude from between its 29 ribs.
The body is impregnated with salt and shrimp scent.
It is manufactured in 11 colors. The five new ones are Aji King Silver , Baitfish, Clear Pearl Black Flakes, Kito Kito Shad, and Pearl White Clear Pearl Silver. The other six colors are Blue Gill, Ghost Pro Blue, Green Pumpkin, Prawn, Scuppernong, and Watermelon Seed.
A package of 10 can be purchased for $5.49.
Footnotes
(1) For more information, please see Reins' website at reinsfishing.com.
(2) For more information about the Midwest finesse retrieves that can be used with the Bubbling Shad, please see this link: http://www.in-fisherman.com/2014/03/05/six-midwest-finesse-retrieves/ .
