Why the classic jig head fails with Pig Shad and how you can perfectly adjust the large Swedish rubber on the shallow rig with a stinger chain and screw-in weights for large pike.
Greetings and welcome back to Pangea Compass! Hardly any large rubber has had such a lasting impact on European pike fishing in the last ten years as the legendary Pig Shad from Sweden. Its seductive rolling around its own longitudinal axis (“belly roll”) paired with the powerfully beating paddle tail makes meter pike equally weak over weed fields and in open water - provided you mount the classic in such a way that it can develop its full running potential.
Compass profile: The most important things at a glance
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Target fish & discipline: Capital pike – big bait spin fishing in shallow and open water
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Difficulty level: Beginners to professionals (extremely versatile thanks to the modular system)
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Key tackle: Pig Shad (20-26cm), Stainless Steel Shallow Screw, Double Stinger with Swivel Chain, Screw-in Weights (5-25g)
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Key message: A classic jig head with a long hook bow stiffens the back of the Pig Shad - it only shows its irresistible flank movement on a shallow rig with belly weights.
Why the classic jig head fails with Pig Shad
If you pick up a 20 or 23 centimeter long Pig Shad, you'll immediately notice its bulbous, triangular body profile: the back is broad and flat, while the belly is tapered. When retrieving, it is precisely this geometry that ensures that the bait tips from one side to the other like a struck prey fish with even the slightest pull. If you now pull a rigid 10/0 or 12/0 lead head jig hook through the front third of the rubber fish, the following happens: You literally cement the backbone of the bait and destroy 50 percent of its rolling movement.
In addition, there is the dreaded leverage effect in the fight: a large pike measuring over one meter shakes its head violently while jumping. A heavy jig head with a long, rigid hook shank acts like a crowbar in the pike's mouth, cutting through and simultaneously destroying the soft rubber with the first bite. The Swedish solution to this problem is called Shallow screw rigging.
Step by step: The perfect shallow rig with a stinger chain
For optimal assembly, first screw a stainless steel spiral (shallow screw) exactly in the middle and straight into the nose of the Pig Shad. A pre-assembled stinger system made of at least 40 to 60 kilograms of 1x7 steel, titanium or a continuous barrel swivel chain with a strong snap ring is attached to the eye of this spiral. Two ultra-sharp treble hooks are attached to the belly of the rubber fish using small stinger spikes (retaining pins) - in such a way that all three flukes of the treble hooks protrude freely!
As soon as a pike grabs hold, the smooth spikes immediately detach themselves from the belly of the rubber: the expensive shad slides up on the leader out of the danger zone of the 700 pike teeth, while the treble hooks sit securely in the corner of the mouth on the freely movable swivel chain. By the way, you can find many hand-cast alternatives and tailor-made large rubbers based on this principle directly in our manufactory collection Handmade rubber fish & softbaits on Pangea.
Pangea practical tip from the water
Never insert one of the treble hooks directly into the belly of the Pig Shad, always use separate stinger pins! If a hook fluke gets stuck in the thick rubber, not only will you lose an entire gripper when you bite, but every bad bite will tear a deep slit in your stomach. And another trick for extremely shallow weed bays less than one meter deep: screw a small 3 gram pear lead into the belly at the level of the pectoral fins - this stabilizes the keel when retrieving quickly without the bait sinking into the weed!
Voting by Lure Size: The Complete Rigging Chart
From the handy 15-centimeter tournament for heavily fished club waters to the 26-centimeter giant for the lagoons and large alpine lakes, the Pig Shad is available in four main sizes. To ensure that the balance between your own weight, hook size and running depth is right straight away, the following overview serves as a direct blueprint for your tackle box:
| Model & Length |
own weight |
Optimal rig & hook size |
Area of application & depth |
| Pig Shad Tournament (15 cm) |
20 g |
Single stinger (size 1) or 6/0 offset hook |
Pike & large zander in the polder / herb (0.5 – 3 m) |
| Pig Shad Jr. (20 cm) |
50 g |
Shallow screw + double stinger (2x size 1/0) |
The all-rounder on the heavy spinning rod (1 – 5 m) |
| The Pig Shad Original (23 cm) |
90 g |
Shallow screw + swivel chain (2x size 2/0) |
Classic big bait pike fishing (1 – 7 m) |
| Giant Pig Shad (26cm) |
130 g |
Heavy-duty swivel rig (2x size 3/0) |
Open water & autumn large pike (2 – 10 m) |
Depth control every second: screw-in dots vs. Fastach leads
The brilliant thing about the shallow rig is its versatility right on the water: you don't have to carry five different baits with different jig head weights. If you fish in the morning over a shallow field of water lilies at a depth of one meter, you can throw the 23 Pig Shad with no worries on a pure shallow rig. If the wind picks up at midday and you move to the 5 meter drop edge, simply hang a 15 gram hanging lead (clip weight) in the front eye of the screw or screw a 10 gram tungsten dot into the belly.
After each catch, be sure to note down at what depth and with what additional weight the bite came: With our free Pangea catch book (My Fishing Log) you can save exactly these rig combinations, including water temperature and air pressure, and after a few weeks you will immediately recognize your recipe for success for your home water.
The right setup on Pangea
Frequently asked questions from practice (FAQ)
Which rod do I need for the 23 cm Pig Shad?
Since the 23 Pig Shad weighs around 100 to 115 grams including the shallow rig and light additional weight, a powerful spinning or baitcasting rod with a casting weight of 120 to 150 grams (3 to 5 oz) is ideal for casting the bait all day without getting tired.
How do I repair a torn Pig Shad after multiple pike bites?
The soft rubber mixture can be easily welded with a hot knife blade or a lighter: Heat the crack edges briefly, press them together firmly for ten seconds and secure the worn out nose with a drop of superglue before screwing in the shallow screw.
Can I also fish the Pig Shad weedless on an offset hook?
Yes, the 15 cm Tournament and the 20 cm Pig Shad Jr. in particular have a narrow slot on the back and can be easily cranked through thick reeds and water lily fields on a weighted 8/0 to 12/0 wide gap swimbait hook.
Conclusion
If you free the Pig Shad from the rigid jig head and use a flexible shallow rig with a swivel chain and interchangeable screw weights, you will not only catch significantly more catches, but you will also hardly lose any large pike during the fight and will multiply the lifespan of your rubber fish. Try out the modular system on your next pike trip – tight lines and a big Tight Lines!
Prepare your big bait box for the next meter pike!
Discover catchy large rubbers, shallow rigs, titanium leaders and powerful pike rods directly from our European partner dealers on Pangea.
TO THE PREDATORY & BIG BAIT RANGE
Thomas Preihsl
Founder, Pangea – Connecting the World of Fishing
Questions about tackle or partnership? WhatsApp / Tel.: 01577 1341296
