Z-Man Giant TRD
$5.99 (per pack of 6)
The Z-Man TRD, and the Ned Rig that it spawned, is one of the most productive finesse bass presentations discovered in recent years. And while this small bait has done a number on largemouth and smallmouth bass of all sizes, Z-Man wanted to create an offering aimed at larger fish.
Made from Z-Man’s ultra-durable, tear-resistant soft bait material, Elaztech, the Giant TRD stickbait is 6-inches long, twice the size of the Finesse TRD. It’s designed to mate seamlessly with Z-Man’s new Mag ShroomZ and Mag ShroomZ Weedless jigheads, the zero-gravity Giant TRD remains ever-visible, standing up on bottom, where it continuously waves to any bigmouth in the neighborhood.
Mirroring the mushroom shaped head and welded wire keeper of the original Finesse ShroomZ jig, the Mag ShroomZ beefs up to a custom 6/0 wide gap hook. The Mag ShroomZ Weedless jighead adds an adjustable double, multi-strand wire weedguard for working cleanly through brush and vegetation. Precision-cut mushroom heads on both jigs stand straight up on bottom, and add lively pivoting, rocking motion to baits when dragged. The upright posture also yields exceptional hooksets.
“I like to think of the Giant TRD / Mag ShroomZ combo as a mega shaky-head,” says Stephen Browning, of the Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour. “You might also call it power-finesse fishing. Throw it on a casting rod and 14- to 16-pound fluorocarbon. Let it hit bottom and soak for 4 to 6 seconds. Give it short little pulls or hops as you retrieve it back to the boat. Much of the action and appeal occurs as the bait sits tail-up, on bottom, just like regular Ned rig fishing.”
Browning adds another rigging wrinkle. “One other cool method is to pitch and flip baits like the ZinkerZ™ or Giant TRD on a Texas rig. Fish it around shallow cover, grasslines, stumps or flooded brush. You’re power-finessing heavily pressured fish, and it scores big bites when bass grow accustomed to seeing other baits. Even when you stop working it, the buoyant Giant TRD is always working overtime down there.”
Crafted around the proven Finesse TRD framework, the 6-inch Giant TRD will be released in mid-July, and will be offered in 12 select Z-Man colors.
