MADNESS MADSWIM 160 Soft Lure - 16 cm

Product highlights

The Madswim MADNESS soft lure is a shad specially developed for targeting predatory fish in sea and freshwater. Designed to offer high versatility, it efficiently covers a wide range of situations, from shore fishing to boat fishing. Its design meets the demands of technical anglers while remaining easy to use for occasional practitioners.

Its lively yet supple material provides a responsive, dynamic swim while maintaining excellent stability. This combination keeps the Madswim attractive even at low speeds, making it a go-to choice for difficult conditions or when fish are wary. Its ability to remain effective when lightly weighted gives a real advantage in shallow areas, along edges and in low-current sectors.

The Madswim also stands out with its flat nose, which accommodates many shapes of jigheads and different rigs. This feature improves lure hold, reduces tearing and ensures a neat presentation even after multiple casts. It’s a versatile MADNESS shad, suitable for a wide variety of predators: pike, zander, sea bass and other opportunistic hunters.

Technical specifications

• Shad specifically developed for targeting predatory fish in sea and freshwater.


• Tonic and slightly softer material than the Madshad EVO, for a reactive, stable swim.


• Designed for straight retrieves, slow cranking and towing techniques.


• Lure remains stable and effective even when lightly weighted.


• Flat nose suited to many types of jigheads.


• Compatible with wide-gap Texas rigs to fish in snaggy cover.


• Suitable for targeting main predators such as pike, zander, sea bass and other predatory species.


• Part of a range offered in several sizes to match conditions and target species.

Benefits and strengths

The Madswim MADNESS offers many advantages that make it a benchmark lure for predator anglers. Its primary asset is its versatility. Thanks to its design, it adapts equally well to continuous animations and more rhythmic retrieves. On a straight retrieve, it allows efficient coverage of large water areas, while in slow cranking it can trigger strikes from less active fish.

When towing, its tonic material transmits angler inputs well. The lure rises quickly on the pull then descends in a controlled way while staying stable, increasing strike chances both on the fall and the rise. This ability to keep an attractive action throughout the animation phase is decisive against educated predators.

Its flat nose and compatibility with many jigheads provide real comfort: you can adjust head weight and shape according to depth, current or target species without changing the soft bait. The Madswim also rigs very well on a wide-gap Texas hook, allowing confident fishing in weeds, submerged timber or structure where the biggest fish often lurk.

Finally, its effectiveness with a light weighting allows fine, natural presentations, particularly rewarding in shallow zones, shelves, shallows or estuaries. This subtle presentation, combined with a stable swim, makes it a complete soft lure for predatory fish.

Usage tips

To get the most from the Madswim MADNESS shad, adapt rigging and animation to fishing conditions. For straight retrieves, choose a jighead appropriate to depth and current, then retrieve at a steady speed, occasionally pausing slightly to let the lure fall and change swim depth.

In slow cranking, a continuous, low-speed retrieve takes full advantage of the material’s suppleness and the lure’s stability. This approach is especially effective when fish follow without committing: a regular, discreet swim often provokes strikes from wary fish.

For towing, perform firm rod pulls followed by controlled releases while keeping contact with the lure. The Madswim stays attractive during descent phases, significantly increasing the chance to hook a fish at that key moment.

In snaggy areas, a wide-gap Texas rig is strongly recommended. It reduces snags while providing good hook-up efficiency. Adjust hook size and associated weight according to depth, bottom profile and predator activity.

Testimonials

FAQ

Question 1: Is this lure suitable for both sea and freshwater fishing?

Answer: Yes, the Madswim MADNESS soft lure is designed to perform in both sea and freshwater. Its tonic material, stability when lightly weighted and compatibility with various jigheads make it effective for sea bass and other marine predators as well as pike, zander and freshwater predators across different depths and zones.