Z-Man's newest softbody swimbait is the Shadtron LT

Impressions: The Shadtron LT was designed by Jose Chavez, a renowned lure designer known for crafting baits that not only look incredibly realistic but also exhibit lifelike movement. Over the years, I’ve fished a variety of his designs from brands like 13 Fishing, Savage Gear, and now Z-Man. The Shadtron follows his previous Z-Man release, the Mulletron LT, which debuted in 2023 as a saltwater-focused swimbait. While the Shadtron builds upon key elements of the Mulletron - including Z-Man’s ultra-durable ElaZtech material, a line-through harness, and photo-printed finishes - it also introduces several new features of its own.

The Shadtron is available in two sizes, a 4.5" and a 6". Though measuring only two inches longer the 6" bait is much larger in overall profile and volume

One of the most noticeable upgrades is the increased texture throughout the bait’s body. The Shadtron incorporates 3D-molded scale patterns, fins, gills, and eyes, all enhanced by highly detailed photo prints and hand-painted accents. These additions give the bait a more natural and refined look in the water.

The 4.5" fast-sink bait only weighs a little more than 1oz. and can be thrown on conventional (non swimbait specific) setups. The slow sink model weighs in at only .75oz. 

However, the most intriguing feature lies inside the bait - a dual-channeled over/under line-through harness. This design allows for versatile rigging, giving anglers the option to use the included single top hook or rig a treble hook on the belly for different presentations.

Comparing the two Shadtron sizes side by side
 

The Shadtron is available in two sizes, 4.5” and 6”, and comes in both slow-sink and fast-sink configurations. As with all Z-Man soft plastics, it’s made from 10X Tough ElaZtech, a non-toxic, high-stretch thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) known for its durability and buoyancy. Like other Z-Man plastics, the Shadtron needs to be stored separately from traditional soft baits to prevent material breakdown.

Z-Man offers some very good patterns in the new Shadtron line including this Chartreuse Shad which features metallic flake in the ElaZtech body

When it comes to color patterns, Z-Man really delivered. The Shadtron is available in eight striking patterns tailored for a shad-profile bait: Gizzard Shad, Threadfin Shad, Blueback Herring, Chartreuse Shad, Sight Flash, Fishbone, Glimmer Shad, and Mossback. I especially appreciate the mix of opaque and semi-translucent finishes, as well as the varying levels of embedded glitter, which give anglers the flexibility to "match the hatch" based on water clarity and conditions.

Each Shadtron comes with a custom sickle shaped black nickel hook

Real World Tests: To test the Z-Man Shadtron, I took it to local Northern California lakes and the California Delta, fishing it on 12lb and 15lb fluorocarbon. I paired it with a variety of rods from Trika, Megabass, and Powell, putting it through its paces over several months. My primary target was largemouth bass, though I also hooked into the occasional shad eating striper when they showed up on the Delta.

By angling the line in the insert you can rig the bait either to the bundled single sickle hook on top or a treble hook of your choice on the bottom

Operation: If you’re an experienced soft swimbait angler, you likely know what to expect from this style of lure. Unlike hard-bodied swimbaits, which often have sharp, exaggerated movements, one-piece soft swimbaits produce a more subtle, natural-looking action. They move smoothly through the water, with most of the action coming from the tail. The Shadtron stays true to this design philosophy but benefits from the unique properties of Z-Man’s buoyant ElaZtech material, which plays a key role in its performance.

The oversized round boot tail moves at a moderate genuine looking pace even at slow retrieves