Improve Your FFS Performance With The Z-Man Graph ShadZ

It's no secret that the latest bait trends have been tools to enhance your on-the-water performance while utilizing forward-facing sonar (FFS). With live sonar technology sweeping the fishing world over the past few years, it's become an essential learning tool for anglers to catch more fish and a necessary tool for the tournament angler to stay on the cutting edge of the sport on the tournament trail.

Looking at some of the most popular baits utilized on FFS, Z-Man ElaZtech plastics have become well-represented in the jighead minnow community with the Jerk ShadZ. It is a quintessential minnow-style bait for Moping, Strolling, and Hover Strolling techniques while utilizing FFS because of its baitfish profile, subtle action, availability in sizes from 3.5" to 7", a wide variety of colors, and long-lasting ElaZtech construction.

Z-Man understands that different baits and profiles are needed for each scenario, and it is time to bring something new. Dialing baits to fit the minnow-shaking craze can be daunting, as a wide variety of soft plastics and jig heads are on the market. Z-Man intends to remain on the cutting edge, producing baits that catch fish and take innovation to a new level; with that in mind, in steps, the Z-Man GraphShadZ.

The Graph ShadZ was created to provide anglers with a streamlined pre-rigged jig that accurately mimics the size and profile of baitfish throughout the country. It is engineered specifically for use with forward-facing sonar, and here's how.

Learn more about FFS and the Z-Man baits that will put more fish in the boat with this great article: Not Another Forward-Facing Sonar Story.

Line Through Jighead

One of the biggest conundrums when fishing a jig and minnow is the line tie and knot. One of the key components of a good jig and minnow setup is the 90-degree line tie, which allows your bait to sit vertically in the water column and produce the most realistic quivering action with subtle shakes of the rod tip. However, often, due to force applied to the knot while fishing the bait, that knot angle will shift, causing the action of the bait to suffer.

The Graph ShadZ combats this with a line-through jighead design, where the line tie is located on the chin of the head. This design ensures that your knot does not become displaced while also being abrasion-resistant as it is protected by the line-through channel of the head, all while staying horizontal at a consistent 90-degree angle. The perfect horizontal head balance ensures that the bait provides consistent action in the strike zone for the most lifelike presentation.

Body

As we move back to the business end of the bait, the goal of the Graph ShadZ was to create a profile that blended seamlessly with the jighead for the most natural presentation and to mimic various baitfish accurately. The 10X Tough ElaZtech construction of the Graph ShadZ provides the action, durability, and buoyancy needed in a minnow-style bait that appeals to various predatory game fish. With every kick, the forked tail utilizes a thick lower lobe that displaces more water for a more realistic quivering motion.

The action, profile, and buoyancy of the Graph ShadZ are all for nothing if the bait is not properly fed onto the jighead. Z-Man's solution for the perfectly rigged bait is simple: the Graph ShadZ features a hook guide channel. This channel is molded into the body of the ElaZtech plastic during production, and when you feed it onto the line-through jighead, you will have a perfectly straight bait secured by the durable lead keeper.

No good jighead is complete without the proper hook. The Graph ShadZ features a custom 3/0 medium wire black nickel sickle-shaped hook. This hook complements this bait by providing a hook gap that matches the bait profile while ensuring an exceptional hook-up ratio.

FFS Optimization

The Graph ShadZ has the profile and design of an excellent jighead minnow bait for vertical presentations, but how does this bait improve performance on FFS?

It's a great question, and the main components that ensure a better return are density and how much air the bait produces. Starting with density, the harder the material of the bait you're using on FFS, the stronger the return you will see. That's why the head of this bait utilizes a combination of precision alloy metals to strengthen that return. The Graph ShadZ features an integrated air bladder that produces air within the ElaZtech body. This bladder traps air bubbles in the bait and slowly releases them as the bait is worked through the water column. The molded-in scale pattern along the bait also releases additional air bubbles, ensuring the most prominent sonar visibility. 

Check out the full Z-Man Fishing Pro Seth Feider breakdown: GRAPH SHADZ in Depth.

Conclusion

The Z-Man Graph ShadZ takes the standard jighead minnow design to the next level. Anglers are offered a highly proficient pre-rigged bait that is enhanced for the FFS fisherman. Utilizing feedback from anglers to create a bait that produces the latest innovation for a market loaded with minnow-style baits. The Graph ShadZ is available in eight color-matched bodies and heads in 3/16oz, 1/4oz, and 3/8oz. These colorways have been chosen to accurately mimic any baitfish near you, whether it's Goby Sauce for smallmouth on the Great Lakes or Electric Shad chasing spotted bass on the Coosa River. If you want to improve your efficiency utilizing FFS, the Z-Man Graph ShadZ checks all the boxes for a deadly combo!

← Previous Post