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Berkley Powerbait Manic Shad |
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| Product Type | Swimbait |
| Tested Size(s) | 3”, 4”, 5” |
| Tested Colors/Patterns | Fathead, Firetiger, Smelt, |
| MSRP | $5.99 |
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FishPittsburgh.com Score (1- Poor to 10 – Fantastic) |
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Category |
Score |
Notes |
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Durability |
9 |
Manic Shad is very durable because the soft plastic body is medium density. It is not easily torn and there are extra body in each pack. |
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“Fish Appeal” |
7 |
I have experienced a lot of fish (Bass mostly) following the bait to the boat and then striking because of the action. |
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Special Traits |
7 |
The rubber blade in the front of the lure gives it an unique action. This blade allows it to be easily adjusted. |
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Price |
5 |
Because the lure is very durable and has a great action I believe that the price is very fair. |
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Diversity |
5 |
Fish in the local rivers, ponds, and lakes have shown interest, but wind or current will mess with the lures action. |
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Total |
33/50 |
See Comments Below. |
RECOMMENDATIONS: First, if you purchase the manic shad, rig the lure with a barrel swivel about 8 inches up the line. This will help eliminate line twisting. Another thought is to use lighter line with the 3” versus a little heavier line for the 5” size. I like 8lb test for the 3” and I used 15lb test for the 5” size. Check your hooks before you start fishing because most of them are sharp but I found a couple that were slightly sharper than I like. Take a file and sharpen the hook and you will be ready to catch some fish.
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Berkley Powerbait Manic Shad |
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Pros |
Cons |
| Action is Unique | Line Twist |
| Durable | Lack of hook-ups |
| Color Selection | Inconsistent Hook Sharpness |
| Ability to be tuned | |
| Size Availability | |
ABOUT THE CRITIC: You must know that I am very critical of my lures. I only have about 3 lures that I use that would receive a perfect 50 and I personally modify those lures once I have them. I consider any lure over 40 great and any lure over 30 good. Anything less than 30 and you probably won’t see it in my tackle box.
