Imakatsu Needle Shad

IMAKATSU’s Needle Shad is designed around the rolling action created by its firm material and pin tail, with a focus on ease of use and excellent durability. The body is intentionally designed with a thicker profile, helping to produce an easy rolling action while minimizing lift. The vibration generated by the pin tail is subtle rather than excessive, creating a lifelike, baitfish-like movement. In the realistic colors, the lure also produces flash despite being a soft bait, allowing anglers to take advantage of the flashing and fading effect created by its rolling action.

For mid-water rolling with a jig head, the Needle Shad can be retrieved with a fine shaking motion similar to mid-strolling. Its darting action can also be used when targeting sight-fishing bass. Rigged weightless on a wacky-style hook, it can be shaken on the surface to create ripples, a technique known as “surface pikupiku.” When probing from the mid-water column to the bottom, it can also be used on a drop-shot or heavy Carolina rig. With a heavy Carolina rig, the basic approach is to drag the lure along the bottom, then focus on detecting bites when the sinker contacts hard bottom or brush piles. In addition, a pendulum rig, which moves the jig head like a pendulum, brings out rolling action throughout the body along with an irregular hunting action. It is available in approximately 3-inch, 3.5-inch, and 4-inch sizes, with both soft-bait colors and realistic colors.