Details
About the Sidewinder Crusader Shad, Bloodhead Pearl
Bloodhead Pearl is the natural colour in the Crusader range. The body is a translucent pearl white with holographic flecks, and the pack is printed Super Holographic, so it flashes like a sprat or small herring as it swims. The red sits on the throat, with a small red spot on the flank.
Why white and red? British Sea Fishing says natural colours such as silver and white are favoured in clear water, and red has always been an anglers' favourite. A white and red shad gives you both. One angler on the Sea Angling Ireland forum called small white bloodhead Sidewinders a favourite that "always gets the biggest pollock of the day".
Be realistic about the red, though. Angling Direct points out that red disappears within a few metres of water, so on a deep wreck the throat shows as a dark patch rather than red. At depth, it's the pearl body that shows.
That makes this bloodhead pearl shad one of the best shads for pollack to carry over reefs and wrecks. Let it touch bottom, lift it, and let it fall back as the boat drifts. Over deep wrecks, fish it on a boom; our Dark Shadow Crusader page has the full wreck rig. One Veals reviewer wrote that pollack and bass both hit it hard.
The Crusader started as one of the top working lures on Crusader, Sidewinder's sponsored boat out of Plymouth, and Sidewinder redeveloped it for 2016. It comes in four colours: Bloodhead Pearl, Dark Shadow, Flo Pink and Rhubarb & Custard. Of all the Sidewinder lures, it's the one named after a working boat.
Pearl holographic bodyFlashes like a sprat or herring.
Red throatA white and red pattern.
4in, 23g, pack of 2Chromed heads, Mustad 32786 hooks.
Pollack, bass and codOver reefs and wrecks.
Specifications
The details
BrandSidewinder
ModelCrusader Shad
TypeSoft shad lure, rigged on a jig head
ColourBloodhead Pearl (Super Holographic)
Length4in
Weight23g
Head and hookDouble-chromed head, Mustad 32786 hook
Pack2 lures
Crusader coloursBloodhead Pearl, Dark Shadow, Flo Pink, Rhubarb & Custard
Target speciesPollack, bass, cod
SKUSW-CRUSADER-BLOODHEAD
Compare
Bloodhead Pearl or Flo Pink?
Bloodhead PearlYou're here
Flo PinkBodyPearl white, holographicFluorescent pink, solid
Pack printSuper HolographicSuper Solid
When anglers use itClearer water, natural lookColoured water, low light
Size and pack4in, 23g, 2 lures4in, 23g, 2 lures
Price£7.95£7.95
How to use
Fishing in four steps
1Drop to the bottom
Let the shad sink until it touches down.
2Lift and let it fall
Raise the rod, then let it flutter back as you drift.
3Stay in touch
Wind down the slack so you feel the take.
4Rinse and dry
Rinse in fresh water and dry the head and hook.
Arrived fast
Easy enough for a holiday session.Very happy
Useful lure for a short session by the water.Would not rebuy
The finish/action did not give me confidence enough to use it again.Good lure
Did the job on a short coastal session.Pretty good
Bought this lure as a little extra present for my daughter.Pretty good
came quickly, i tried it, no complaints.Every review is shown, low scores included. The breakdown chart appears from 10 reviews.
FAQs
Questions about the Sidewinder Crusader Shad, Bloodhead Pearl
What does bloodhead mean on a shad?
It's a red head or throat on a lighter body. On the Bloodhead Pearl Crusader, the red sits on the throat of a pearl holographic body, with a small red spot on the flank. Sidewinder also uses a bloodhead pattern in its Holo Shad range.
Bloodhead Pearl or Flo Pink?
Bloodhead Pearl is the natural colour, a pearl body with holographic flash, for clearer water. Flo Pink is the bright, solid colour that anglers try in coloured water or low light. Many carry one of each and swap when one stops working.
What fish does it catch?
Pollack, bass and cod are the main targets, with ling and coalfish on deeper wrecks. One Veals customer wrote that pollack and bass both hit the Crusader hard, and another rated it on the mid-Channel wrecks.
Does colour matter for pollack?
Less than you might think. A 2009 study of automated commercial handlines off Shetland found the colour of rubber eel lures made no significant difference to pollack catches, and Sea Angler says colour matters most in shallow water. Carry a natural and a bright, and swap if one isn't working.
What rod suits a 23g shad?
Fished on its own over reefs, a 23g lure sits in the 10 to 35g casting band that Gerry's suggests for standard bass lures, with 15 to 20lb braid. Over deep wrecks, fish it on a boom with a heavier lead instead.
Are the heads and hooks included?
Yes. Both shads in the pack are rigged on double-chromed jig heads with Mustad 32786 hooks, so you don't need to buy heads or hooks separately. Tie straight to the eye on the head.
Still deciding?
Message our team
We are a small family-run shop. Ask us anything before you order.
Send us a message support@downthecove.comDelivery and returns
Before you order
Packed and posted by our own small team.
Tracked 48£3.50Free over £30Usually 2–3 working days
Tracked 24£4.50Free with Cove ClubAims for the next working day
Returns30 daysFree in the UKUnused and complete; start it from your order
Order by 3pm on a working day and it usually leaves the same day. Remote Scottish areas and the Isles of Scilly £14.95 · Europe £15 · rest of the world £25.DeliveryReturnsTrack an order
More sea lures
Fill the lure box
Orders over £30 ship free.
Est. 2012Down The Cove · founded in Cornwall, 2012
A small family-run shop with Cornish roots
- Order by 3pm on a working day and we usually dispatch the same day
- Questions answered by our own small team
- Cove Club members get free delivery and member discounts
- We donate 1% of all profits to Compassion UK
We donate 1% of all profits to Compassion UK, supporting its work with children and communities facing poverty: clean water, healthcare and education. Compassion UK is an independent charity. Visit Compassion UK