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Lures · Soft paddle-tails · Our take
Savage Gear Cannibal Shad
8cm Cannibal Shad, covering the LB single lure and mixed-colour kit options
A handy soft lure for searching out perch, zander and pike. Just keep an eye on which version you're buying: the single LB lure and mixed-colour kits aren't the same package.
- The LB single-lure version measures 8cm and weighs 5g.
- Firetiger and Clown are listed colour options for the LB single.
- The 8cm mixed-colour version has a paddle tail, scent and UV-active features.
- Mixed-colour kits include round ball jig heads with carbon-steel hooks; listed 8cm options use #2/0 hooks and 5g plus 7.5g heads.
Make sure it’s the right one. The LB listing is an 8cm, 5g single lure. The 8cm mixed-colour version lists scent and UV activity, with kits including jig heads. Those kit features shouldn't automatically be assumed for every LB single.
Tackle Index Score
Tackle Index score
A useful, uncomplicated soft-lure option, with kit choices that help newcomers and single bodies that suit an established tackle box.
- Product Quality8.6/10
- Performance8.8/10
- Impact on Fish Catching8.5/10
- Ease of Use9/10
- Value for Money8.4/10
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Who it suits
Is it right for you?
Great for
- Roving perch and zander anglers. A manageable shad format for exploring canals, rivers and stillwaters with changes of depth and retrieve.
- Anglers building a simple soft-lure box. The mixed-colour kits combine lure choices with jig heads, taking some of the shopping faff out of getting started.
Maybe skip if
- Anglers fishing thick weed or tangled timber. The supplied round ball jig-head approach leaves the hook exposed, which isn't ideal for pulling through heavy cover.
- Dedicated big-bait pike anglers. This 8cm version doesn't offer the substantial profile they're looking for, even though pike can certainly take smaller shads.
The lowdown
Introducing the Savage Gear Cannibal Shad
A handy soft lure for searching out perch, zander and pike. Just keep an eye on which version you're buying: the single LB lure and mixed-colour kits aren't the same package.
- The LB single-lure version measures 8cm and weighs 5g.
- Firetiger and Clown are listed colour options for the LB single.
- The 8cm mixed-colour version has a paddle tail, scent and UV-active features.
- Mixed-colour kits include round ball jig heads with carbon-steel hooks; listed 8cm options use #2/0 hooks and 5g plus 7.5g heads.
Quick verdict
A cracking starting point, without overcomplicating things
The Cannibal Shad makes sense if you want a straightforward soft paddle-tail you can work through different depths. The 8cm size gives you a useful predator-fishing option without jumping straight into big-pike-lure territory.
The main catch is choosing the right package. An LB single lets you pick your own rigging; a mixed-colour kit brings suitable listed jig-head options. Neither gets around the usual soft-lure drawbacks: tooth damage, snags and the need to get your presentation right.
A useful, uncomplicated soft-lure option, with kit choices that help newcomers and single bodies that suit an established tackle box.
- Product Quality
- 8.6/10
- Performance
- 8.8/10
- Impact on Fish Catching
- 8.5/10
- Ease of Use
- 9/10
- Value for Money
- 8.4/10
The practical paddle-tail design and listed kit components make a sensible package, though soft bodies remain vulnerable to damage.
The shad format supports steady retrieves and lift-and-drop presentations across a useful range of predator-fishing situations.
Its adaptable presentation helps you search different depths, but location and lure control matter more than scent or colour alone.
A straightforward retrieve gets you started, with the mixed-colour kits reducing the initial jig-head shopping faff.
Singles let you top up existing tackle and kits bundle useful components, although damage and snag losses affect ongoing value.
Head to head
How it stacks up
Side by side with the closest kit we've reviewed. This updates as we add more reviews.
Savage Gear
Savage Gear Cannibal Shad (this one)
Top scorer
Scores are our own, out of 10. Best in each row is in green. Prices change, so check the latest before you buy.
The full rundown
Everything you'll want to know about the Savage Gear Cannibal Shad
The Savage Gear Cannibal Shad is the sort of lure that makes a lot of sense when you want to grab a light predator outfit and go looking. No elaborate routine needed, mate. It's a soft paddle-tail shad: put it on a suitable jig head, get it swimming at the right depth and cover some water. That basic approach is useful whether you're searching a canal for perch, working a river crease for zander or exploring somewhere a cheeky pike might join in. Simple doesn't mean thoughtless, though.
First, there's a buying detail to get straight. The 8cm LB version covered here is listed as a 5g single lure, with Firetiger and Clown among its colour options. The 8cm mixed-colour offering is a different shopping proposition, with scent and UV activity listed, plus kit options containing round ball jig heads. Don't lump those details together and assume every pack gives you the lot. If you've already got a box of heads, singles can make sense. Starting from scratch? A kit cuts out some of the initial matching-up faff.
At 8cm, you're dealing with a useful middle ground rather than a tiny finesse bait or a great big pike snack. It's a sensible profile for targeting better perch and zander, while still being something a pike can happily intercept. That matters when you're choosing your end tackle. If pike are a realistic possibility, use an appropriate bite-resistant trace rather than banking on luck. A smaller lure doesn't make their teeth any less sharp, and leaving a hooked lure in a fish is a rotten outcome for everyone.
The paddle tail gives you a straightforward way to put movement into the retrieve without constantly twitching the rod about. A steady wind is a proper starting point, especially when you're trying to locate fish rather than tease one particular spot. Once you've found an interesting depth change or hard patch, try a controlled lift and let the lure drop back. Keep enough contact to notice a knock or an unexpected stop. Takes aren't always dramatic wallops; sometimes the line just behaves differently, and that's your cue to pay attention.
Head weight deserves more attention than it usually gets in the tackle-shop daydream. The listed 8cm kit options use #2/0 hooks with 5g and 7.5g heads, but neither weight is automatically right for every swim. Depth, flow, wind and line diameter all affect how the lure travels. Too light and you may struggle to reach the zone; too heavy and you can spend the retrieve ploughing into trouble. Aim for control rather than constant bottom contact. And remember, a jig-head weight isn't the total weight you're asking your rod to cast.
Colour-wise, the mixed selections give you a tidy way to start experimenting. Darkwater includes Fire Cracker, Lemon Cracker, Olive Hot Orange and Fluo Yellow Glow. Clearwater includes Holo Baitfish, Motor Oil UV, Ice Minnow and Chartreuse Pumpkin. Those names point you towards different approaches, but fish don't read the packet. Start with a colour that makes sense for the visibility, then change one thing at a time. If you're swapping colour, head weight and retrieve every three casts, it's much harder to work out what's actually helped.
Scent and UV activity are listed for the mixed-colour version, and they're extra features rather than a shortcut to a bent rod. Neither replaces finding fish or getting the lure past them properly. In colder water, slowing down and spending longer around likely holding spots can be more useful than racing along the bank. When predators are chasing fry, covering water with a steadier moving presentation can be the better shout. Let the swim and the response guide you, not a rigid idea that one retrieve must work all year.
The drawbacks are the familiar soft-lure ones. Teeth can damage the body, repeated rigging can loosen it and an exposed jig hook will find weed or snags if you send it through enough of them. Carry a spare and take a moment to rig the body straight; a kinked shad is an avoidable bit of faff. Overall, the appeal is a flexible, approachable lure format with useful buying options. It won't turn every trip into a bag-up, but it gives you a sensible tool for fishing actively and learning a water.
Specifications
The nuts and bolts
- Lure type
- Soft paddle-tail shad
- Length covered
- 8cm
- LB single-lure weight
- 5g
- LB pack contents
- One lure
- Mixed-colour kit heads
- Round ball jig heads with carbon-steel hooks; #2/0, 5g and 7.5g options listed
- Mixed-colour version features
- Paddle tail, scent and UV activity
Specs checked with Savage Gear, Oct 2026.
Spot a model or spec change?
Our take
Depth first, colour second
The clever bit isn't carrying every colour under the sun. It's pairing the lure with a head that lets you reach the fish while keeping the retrieve controlled.
Use the Darkwater and Clearwater selections as sensible starting points, not rules. A well-presented shad near feeding fish beats a perfectly matched colour swimming miles above them.
The buying details
Closer look: one lure name, different packages
The LB single is the straightforward top-up option: an 8cm lure listed at 5g, sold individually. Firetiger and Clown are listed choices. That's handy if you already know which heads you like and simply want another body for the box.
The mixed-colour 8cm version adds a different set of buying details. It lists a paddle tail, scent and UV activity, while the kits include round ball jig heads with carbon-steel hooks. The listed #2/0 heads come in 5g and 7.5g options. That gives you a starting point for adjusting depth and control, rather than one fixed presentation.
Worth knowing. Don't confuse body weight with head weight. The LB lure's 5g figure describes that single lure; the kit's 5g and 7.5g figures describe its heads. Check your complete rig against your rod's casting range.
On the bank
Who it suits: anglers who like to keep moving
This format suits the roving angler who wants to explore rather than camp on one cast. Fan your casts across a swim, vary the depth and give likely features a little extra attention. On canals, work along changes in bank structure without casting at boats or mooring ropes. On rivers, think about where predators can sit out of the strongest push and intercept food.
It's approachable for newcomers, too. Start with a straight-rigged body and a controlled steady retrieve before adding little lifts and pauses. The aim is to understand where the lure is, not perform a full rod-tip workout. If the tail or body picks up weed, clear it before carrying on.
Heavy cover is less comfortable territory for an exposed jig hook. A snaggy swim may call for a different rigging approach or another lure altogether. Likewise, anglers deliberately throwing large profiles for pike will probably want something more substantial than this 8cm version. It's a useful crossover option, not a replacement for every lure in the bag.
Quick answers
FAQs in full: heads, weights and colours
Does it come ready to rig? Mixed-colour kits include round ball jig heads, but the LB product covered here is listed as a single lure. Check the pack contents rather than assuming every Cannibal Shad listing includes hooks and weight. If you're buying separate heads, choose a hook that supports the body without crowding the working tail.
Which weight should you use? The LB body is listed at 5g, while the kit head options are 5g and 7.5g. For fishing, choose enough head weight to maintain control at your intended depth. A lighter head can give a gentler drop, but that's no help if flow or wind keeps dragging the lure away from the fish.
Which colour set is best? Start with Darkwater for a visibility-led approach in coloured conditions, or Clearwater when you want to explore its baitfish and other colour options in clearer water. There's no need to treat the labels as law. Before blaming colour for a quiet spell, change your depth or casting angle and make sure you're actually covering somewhere fish might feed.
On paper
Pros & cons
What we like
- Straightforward paddle-tail format suits steady retrieves and lift-and-drop fishing.
- 8cm profile is a useful crossover size for perch, zander and pike.
- Single-lure and jig-head kit options suit different tackle-box needs.
- Darkwater and Clearwater colour selections give you a practical starting point.
Worth knowing
- Soft bodies are vulnerable to tooth damage and repeated re-rigging.
- An exposed jig hook can collect weed and snag around timber or rock.
- Similar-looking listings have different contents and features, so buying needs a quick double-check.
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Your questions answered
What anglers want to know
The stuff you’d ask your mate on the next peg. Straight answers, no waffle.
01Does the Cannibal Shad come with jig heads?
Does the Cannibal Shad come with jig heads?
The mixed-colour kits include round ball jig heads. The LB listing covered here is sold as a single lure, so don't assume kit contents apply to it.
02Is the 8cm Cannibal Shad 5g or 7.5g?
Is the 8cm Cannibal Shad 5g or 7.5g?
The LB single lure is listed at 5g. The 5g and 7.5g figures in the mixed-colour kit listing refer to jig-head weights, not complete rigged-lure weights.
03Should I choose Darkwater or Clearwater colours?
Should I choose Darkwater or Clearwater colours?
Darkwater is a sensible starting point for coloured water, while Clearwater offers options for clearer conditions. They're starting points rather than guarantees; depth, light and retrieve still matter.
What anglers say
The word from the bank
Our read: a cracking starting point, without overcomplicating things. The strongest reasons to choose it are straightforward paddle-tail format suits steady retrieves and lift-and-drop fishing. and 8cm profile is a useful crossover size for perch, zander and pike.; the main trade-off is soft bodies are vulnerable to tooth damage and repeated re-rigging..
Our take on the feedback
Why it appeals
Checked Sept '26 — “Straightforward paddle-tail format suits steady retrieves and lift-and-drop fishing.”
Best fit
Checked Sept '26 — “Roving perch and zander anglers: A manageable shad format for exploring canals, rivers and stillwaters with changes of depth and retrieve.”
Worth knowing
Checked Sept '26 — “Soft bodies are vulnerable to tooth damage and repeated re-rigging.”
Tackle Index’s take from the product details and fishing fit we checked. We haven’t found enough independent public feedback to call this an angler consensus yet.
Angler score
What our readers rate Savage Gear Cannibal Shad
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Owner reports
Own this? Help the next angler.
Quick multiple-choice reports from people who say they own the Savage Gear Cannibal Shad. Not verified purchases, and kept separate from our score.
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