Cut Down Squidgy fish/shads

[Lizardboy]

In my oppinion even the smallest squidy fish is a bit big for bream. I'm not saying you won't catch any on it but, I just think its bigger than ideal and will be ignored by timid or shut down fish. I've been doing quite a lot of experimentation and recently took to my squidgies with a knife....I now have a range of No 1/3 (tail length as small as 2.5cm's/1 inch) squidgy fish and shads. I reckon they are now a good size for bream. They look great in the water and have an even fatter action than the full size versions...the whole body shakes!

I haven't caught any bream on them yet (got flatties & bass though) , but I reckon it won't take me to long.

A few things I've noticed: The shad tails are more durable and are better for cutting down than the fish tails, although I have cut down both. I've been cutting them down using the cutting part of a large pair of pliers. I sometimes make the body shallower (more like the shape of a conventional paddle tail eg ecogear grass minnow) The cut down versions are less durable and can sometimes split down the middle, so you must take care when rigging them. I'm sure this could be remedied with some glue.

I'm sure I'm not the first to have tried this. Has anyone else tried cutting them down? How have you done? If you haven't give it a try and let me know how yo go!

Lizard

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[beefaman]

I use a stanley knife to cut some of the squidgies down when going is slow. The shads I find are the best, i just follow the contour of the fish and cut it a smaller size then the original. I have landed several fish, but have found smaller flatties seem to hit them a fair bit. :rolleyes:

[Pukka]

Cutting down plastics is a great way to make a new 'gun' lure
Try using the last inch of the tail section of a 3" Bass Slider Grub, or pinching the round head off a 2.5" Atomic paddle tail to get the hook point nearer to the tail - works a treat!

Pukk'