Keitech Easy Shiner 4": the shad that covers zander and mid-sized pike
Before tying this one on, it helps to know if the spot actually calls for it. CarnaFish reads the scene from a photo.
In the Easy Shiner range, the 3-inch is the finesse size for perch, and the bigger sizes are aimed at pike. The 4-inch sits in a particular place: it is the size that covers zander and mid-sized pike with one single bait.
On most French waters, it is the size you tie on when you do not yet know what you are going to meet.
What built this lure's reputation
Two characteristics, and they explain why this model took over.
The tail starts kicking very low. The wrist is thin and the paddle is wide: the tail works as soon as the bait starts moving, with no speed threshold to cross. You can fish extremely slowly without losing the signal.
The material is loaded with salt and attractant. Keitech plastic is denser than average, which improves casting distance, and it carries an attractant that makes fish hold the bait a little longer.
The trade-off is above-average fragility. A bait rarely survives more than two or three fish.
Head weight, the main adjustment
| Situation | Jighead |
|---|---|
| Margin, less than 2 m | 7 to 10 g |
| Lake, 2 to 4 m | 10 to 14 g |
| 4 to 6 m or light current | 14 to 18 g |
| More than 6 m or strong current | 18 to 25 g |
On the water: with this bait more than most, resist the temptation to over-weight it. Its tail works at very low speed — too heavy a head cancels that advantage by speeding up the fall and flattening the action.
Head shape follows the usual logic: round for a straight retrieve, football over stony bottoms, where it holds better and tips the bait nose-down on the pause.
The retrieves
The slow straight retrieve in contact, the baseline for zander. Cast, let it sink, wind very gently while keeping contact with the bottom. No rod work at all.
Pulls with a drop. Two wide pulls, then let it fall back on a semi-tight line. The bite comes during the fall, signalled by a knock or by the line stopping too early.
Vertical jigging, from a boat over structure. Lifts of 30 to 50 cm followed by a controlled drop.
When to size up, when to size down
That is the question this pivot size raises.
Drop to the 3-inch if you are targeting perch, if the water is very clear, or if you are getting follows without bites — downsizing is nearly always the right correction against wary fish.
Move up to the 5-inch or larger if you are specifically after pike, in a big-fish period, or in heavily stained water where bulk helps detection.
The 4-inch stays the right default as long as you do not yet know what the fish want.
Not sure what to tie on?
Photograph your spot: CarnaFish reads the scene, cross-checks the conditions and gives you the zone, the lure and the retrieve. Free on iOS and Android.
The stinger
For pike, add one every time: short strikes are common on a shad this size and a single hook lets a lot of bites go. See our page on the stinger rig.
For zander, it stays optional. Zander usually engulf the whole bait, and a stinger increases snagging. Only add one if you miss several bites in the same session.
Colours
Three families are enough in practice.
- Naturals (roach, perch, ayu) as soon as visibility exceeds a metre.
- UV and translucent glitter in low light and at depth, where they stay readable once standard colours turn grey.
- Contrasted patterns (chartreuse, white, fire tiger) in coloured water or after a flood.
Our guide to lure fishing for zander covers how to read the spots. And if you are torn between the 3- and the 4-inch on a given water, CarnaFish analyses a photo and answers.
Key takeaways
- The pivot size: it covers zander and mid-sized pike with one single bait.
- The tail kicks from the lowest speed — do not over-weight the jighead.
- The bite most often comes during the drop, not during the pull.
- Drop to the 3-inch on follows without bites, go up to the 5-inch to target pike.
- Fragile: count on two to three fish per bait.
FAQ
What jighead weight for the Easy Shiner 4"?
7 to 10 g along the margin, 10 to 14 g down to 4 m, 14 to 18 g down to 6 m, 18 to 25 g beyond that or in current. Avoid over-weighting: the tail works at very low speed, and a heavy head cancels that advantage.
Is it suitable for pike?
Yes, for mid-sized pike. Always add a stinger hook: short strikes are common on a 10 cm shad and a single hook lets a lot of bites go.
When should I drop to the 3-inch?
If you are targeting perch, if the water is very clear, or if you are getting follows without bites. Downsizing is nearly always the right correction against wary fish.
Is the bait fragile?
Yes, more than average. Keitech plastic is soft and salt-loaded, which improves both the action and the casting but limits life to two or three fish per bait.
What retrieve for zander?
A slow straight retrieve in contact with the bottom is the most consistent. As an alternative, two wide pulls followed by a drop on a semi-tight line, with the bite coming during the fall.
What colours should I choose?
Naturals as soon as visibility exceeds a metre, UV and translucent glitter in low light or at depth, contrasted patterns such as chartreuse in coloured water or after a flood.
The full zander lure guideSeason-by-season strategy: which family of lure, when, and why.Go from theory to fish
CarnaFish reads your spot from a photo and gives you the game plan: zone, lure, retrieve. Free on iOS and Android.