Deps Sakamata Shad: Sizes, Heavy Weight, and Rigging

If I could take only one soft bait with me, I would choose the Sakamata Shad without hesitation. One lure can do so many things—from fishing it weightless to using it as a chatterbait trailer—and that range of options is exactly why I trust it so much. The Sakamata Shad has brought me more bass than I can count over the years.

A 5-inch Sakamata Shad weighs 9.8 g in the standard material and 11.3 g in Heavy Weight. Move up to the 8-inch standard bait and the plastic alone weighs 36.5 g—about 1.29 oz. Length is only part of the choice: material, hook fit, and the weight of the finished rig deserve a look before you order. deps official product page

The Sakamata Shad is a soft jerkbait from deps with applications ranging from unweighted darting retrieves to jighead presentations and use as a bladed-jig trailer. This guide brings together the manufacturer’s specifications and practical fishing methods to help you identify the version that fits your intended setup.

Featured image source: Image: deps inc.

Sakamata Shad rigged for bass fishing. Image: deps inc. Source: Image: deps inc.

What the side keels do

The side keel helps shape the Sakamata Shad darting action. Image: deps inc. Source: Image: deps inc.

The fins along the sides of the Sakamata Shad are central to its design. Deps describes them as keels that help the bait dart upward when worked through the water. They also help control its direction during the dart. The body has a slim, smooth outline and a forked tail.

Hook placement is part of that action. For a more pronounced, irregular upward dart, deps describes an offset-hook setting that puts a slight arch in the body. That detail is useful when setting up the bait for a soft-jerkbait retrieve; the jighead method discussed below is a separate presentation.

Sakamata Shad sizes and weights

The current Japanese product page lists nine sizes, from 2 to 8 inches. The 2-, 2.5-, and 3-inch baits use Non-Salt material. Sizes from 4 to 8 inches are listed in Normal material, with Heavy Weight versions also listed for 5, 6, 7, and 8 inches. The table uses “standard” for the Normal version.

Size	Baits per pack	Standard / Non-Salt bait weight	Heavy Weight bait weight	Deps offset-hook recommendation
2 in	15	0.65 g / 0.02 oz · Non-Salt	—	Not specified
2.5 in	12	1.3 g / 0.05 oz · Non-Salt	—	Not specified
3 in	8	Approx. 1.65 g / 0.06 oz · Non-Salt	—	Not specified
4 in	8	3.7 g / 0.13 oz	—	1/0
4.5 in	8	6.5 g / 0.23 oz	—	2/0–3/0
5 in	6	9.8 g / 0.35 oz	11.3 g / 0.40 oz	3/0
6 in	6	16.0 g / 0.56 oz	18.0 g / 0.63 oz	4/0
7 in	5	24.8 g / 0.87 oz	28.0 g / 0.99 oz	5/0–6/0
8 in	4	36.5 g / 1.29 oz	41.0 g / 1.45 oz	6/0

The step from 4 to 5 inches

The standard 4-, 4.5-, and 5-inch baits weigh 3.7, 6.5, and 9.8 g respectively. For a jighead setup, the finished casting weight includes both the head and the plastic. Comparing only the jighead’s weight misses much of the load as you move through these sizes.

Deps introduced the 4.5-inch model to fill the space between the 4- and 5-inch sizes used for strolling presentations. It gives you an intermediate option when you want to change the size of the bait without moving a full inch. deps official 4.5-inch article

The larger sizes need a weight check

The 7-inch standard bait is already close to an ounce, and the 8-inch standard bait exceeds an ounce before a hook is added. Compare the complete rig’s weight with your rod’s stated lure range. A rod’s lettered power rating alone does not tell you whether it covers a 36.5 g plastic plus the hardware you intend to use.

Standard vs. Heavy Weight

Material and translucency differ between Sakamata Shad versions. Image: deps inc. Source: Image: deps inc.

Heavy Weight is a different material option within the same size range. Deps increases the loading in the body while leaving its upper section unsalted, producing the lower center of gravity described in the manufacturer’s design explanation. Deps presents this construction as a way to work the Sakamata Shad through midwater and near the bottom with less reliance on added weight tuning.

Size	Standard material listing	Heavy Weight material listing
5 in	Salt 10%	Salt 75%
6 in	Salt 10%	Salt 75%
7 in	Salt 5%	Salt and glass sand 70%
8 in	Salt 5%	Salt 65%

Percentages follow the manufacturer’s material descriptions. The 7-inch Heavy Weight listing specifies a combination of salt and glass sand.

For a buyer, these are separate decisions: the size determines which length you are ordering, while the material determines which version of that size you receive. Keep the material name with the size whenever you compare weights or follow an angler’s setup.

Deps also notes that the higher salt content makes Heavy Weight baits look cloudier than the standard material. Material and salt content can affect translucency, so the same color code can look different across versions.

Offset-hook fit and body alignment

The offset-hook sizes in the specification table are deps’ recommendations. They apply to offset hooks; a jighead with the same size number may have a different shape and dimensions.

Deps specifically notes that hooks carrying the same nominal size can vary between manufacturers. Use the listed size as a starting point, then compare the actual hook with the bait’s length and body shape. For example, the 4.5-inch recommendation spans 2/0–3/0, while the 7-inch recommendation spans 5/0–6/0.

When setting up the darting presentation described by deps, pay attention to the intended slight body arch. The aim is a deliberate change in the bait’s posture, with the hook positioned to suit the body.

Four practical ways to fish it

The Sakamata Shad can be adapted to several presentations. Its side keels, streamlined body and forked tail give each rig a distinct action.

1. An unweighted jerk-and-pause retrieve

No-sinker offset-hook rig. Image: deps inc. Source: Image: deps inc.

Fish the Sakamata Shad weightless with a series of jerks and pauses. The bait darts on the pull and then creates a feeding window during the pause. A little slack between jerks gives the lure room to change direction instead of simply moving forward.

Rig the body straight for a clean, repeatable action. When a sharper upward dart is wanted, the slight body arch described by deps can make the movement more irregular. This presentation is especially effective in early summer, when bass are often willing to chase an active bait before striking during the pause.

2. A jighead rig

On a jighead, the Sakamata Shad produces a clean rolling action. Center the hook carefully so the body remains aligned; a crooked bait is more likely to lean or track off line. A steady retrieve can be combined with light rod movement to keep the body rolling without forcing it out of the target zone.

The side keels help the bait maintain its posture and make it easier to hold the intended depth. Jighead weight, retrieve speed and line angle can then be adjusted to follow suspended fish or a specific contour. This is a particularly strong method in late winter and early spring, before the spawning period, when a controlled midwater presentation can stay in front of less active bass.

3. A Carolina rig

On a Carolina rig, the leader separates the Sakamata Shad from the sinker, allowing the bait to move more freely after the weight contacts the bottom. Pull or hop the rig, then pause it so the lure can settle independently.

The side keels help the lure rise off the bottom and create a feeding window as it falls. This lift-and-fall movement is a distinctive action unique to the Sakamata Shad: the sinker maintains bottom contact while the bait briefly lifts, glides and falls behind it.

4. A chatterbait trailer

When used as a chatterbait trailer, the blade’s vibration travels through the Sakamata Shad and into its two forked tail tips, creating a fine but powerful vibration. Rig the body centered on the hook so both tail tips receive that vibration evenly and the trailer tracks behind the blade.

Retrieve speed can be changed to alter the strength of the vibration while retaining the Sakamata Shad’s slender baitfish profile. In the author’s experience, the 5-inch size is the easiest version to use for this presentation because it offers a practical balance of profile, vibration and rigging control.

Reading Sakamata Shad color names and codes

Color numbers are useful when matching a Japanese listing to the bait you want. The current deps page shows 34 color entries across the range, with availability varying by size. Here are several examples, with the official Japanese names shown alongside their English renderings.

Color code	English name	Japanese name
#12	Green Pumpkin	グリーンパンプキン
#19	Dead Shad	デッドシャッド
#39	Pearl White	パールホワイト
#96	Wakasagi	ワカサギ
#127	Silver Shad	シルバーシャッド
#129	Reservoir Shad	リザーバーシャッド
#146	Biwako Wakasagi	琵琶湖ワカサギ
#161	R.R. Wakasagi	R.R.ワカサギ

The author’s top color pick is #129 Reservoir Shad (リザーバーシャッド).

The number is the most precise way to identify the color when wording differs between retailers. Then check that the size and material you want are offered in that color. For a complete explanation of all 34 colors—including the Japanese names and their English translations—read our full Sakamata Shad color guide below.

Choosing the pack for your setup

Standard and Heavy Weight Sakamata Shad packages. Image: deps inc. Source: Image: deps inc.

Start with the presentation you intend to fish, then work through the details on the listing:

• Size: Compare both length and listed bait weight, especially when moving between the 4-, 4.5-, and 5-inch sizes or stepping up to 7 and 8 inches.
• Material: Confirm Standard/Normal, Heavy Weight, or the Non-Salt small sizes.
• Hook: For an offset rig, use deps’ size recommendation and check the actual fit. Select a jighead according to its own dimensions and the bait it will carry.
• Color: Match the code, then confirm its availability in your selected size and material.

Those details define the Sakamata Shad you are buying. Keeping them together makes it easier to follow a published setup, compare alternatives, or make a deliberate change to the rig you already fish.

Shop representative sizes and browse the full lineup

[[JDMAS:sakamata-2-5-standard]]

[[JDMAS:sakamata-5-heavy-weight]]

[[JDMAS:sakamata-8-standard]]

[[JDMAS:sakamata-shad-collection]]