If they are hickory shad, I have had good success using a shortened 3" slug-go on a small (1/16 oz) jig head. I cut off part of the head of the slug-go to shorten the lure to the length of the bait and to make it fit on the jig head better. The only colors I have used are alewife or silver with black speckles, but the shad don't seem too fussy. I have also caught them on small castmasters. Makes me wonder if they are shad if they won't hit a castmaster. I also saw one young fisherman catching them two at a time on yellow shad darts. Have fun!