The Menace measures just under eight inches long and weighs just under five ounces. That combination creates a head down fall that can cover roughly two feet of water per second in free fall. The result is a compact lure that delivers the depth and punch of larger rubber presentations while maintaining a smaller profile. This makes it especially effective during early season periods, cold fronts, or any time muskies demand a downsized look.
The Menace is also the first true shad profile musky jerkbait, a shape that has long been overlooked. From Green Bay to deep southern reservoirs, shad are a major forage source, and the Menace closely mimics the narrow body profile of shad and panfish that has traditionally been missing from rubber musky jerkbaits.
How to Work the Menace
At its core, the Menace is a pull and pause lure with an aggressive fall every time it stops. It can be worked with long rod sweeps or short taps, causing it to surge forward with a rocking motion that closely imitates an injured baitfish.
One of my favorite ways to fish the Menace is with an upward popping action similar to working a tube. Thanks to its compact profile, it excels as both a follow up bait after tube style presentations and as a stand alone option in shad based systems or waters dominated by smaller forage.
The Menace is an easy lure to throw that has all the action needed to get strikes without wrecking your shoulder in the process. It pairs well with medium and heavy action musky rods and performs well with any style of leader. Fluorocarbon and multi strand wire give the Menace a freer action in the water, while straight wire can increase its side to side movement with each rod snap.
From the earliest stages of designing the Menace through extensive testing across the South, Canada, and Europe for big pike, one thing became clear: there is really no wrong way to fish it. Its vertical fall, side to side action, and belly roll consistently produce bites.
Cheers,