Fishingbag
Soft None Check price on Amazon

Soft Fishing Lures Shad Minnow Swimbaits, Pre-Rigged Jig Heads Paddle Review

By Sam Pike · Fly fishing & gear reviewer · Published 2026-06-17 · Updated 2026-07-12

4.2 (983) Amazon rating$9.99500+ bought last month

Our verdict

This 5-piece shad minnow swimbait set costs $9.99 and arrives pre-rigged on J hook jig heads, holding a 4.2 star rating across 983 reviews. It costs more than every Berkley soft lure in this comparison, all priced $5.99 to $6.79, but none of those ship pre-rigged, and this set matches Berkley EBPHWR's top demand figure of 500 or more bought last month.

Check price on Amazon

Best for

Anglers who want swimbaits ready to tie on and cast immediately, jig heads included, and who value the 500 or more bought-last-month figure over saving a few dollars on bare soft-plastic Berkley baits.

Skip if

Anglers chasing the lowest price or highest rating, since Berkley EBPHWR and Berkley GMG-NAT both cost less at $5.99, and Berkley GMI2-WMPR's 4.6 star rating beats this set's 4.2 stars, even without pre-rigged jig heads included.

  • Material Plastic
  • Weight 0.45 Ounces
  • Technique J Hook
  • Size 5PCS (3.15 inch，0.45 oz)
  • Pieces 5

Our scorecard

4.2/5 overall
  • Owner rating4.2/5

    4.2 average across 983 owner ratings

  • Popularity3.5/5

    983 owner reviews, more than most models here

The overall score is owner satisfaction weighted by how many reviews back it, so a high rating from few reviews counts for less. The bars below show where this model stands against the other fishing gear and tackle we track in this category on price, popularity and size. Context, not marks against it, and our read of the data, not a lab test.

Overview

Picture wanting to cast a swimbait right out of the package without tying on a separate jig head first. This listing delivers 5 shad minnow swimbaits pre-rigged on J hook jig heads with paddle tails, each piece weighing 0.45 ounces and running 3.15 inches, all for $9.99. That price sits above every Berkley alternative tracked here, but none of those ship already rigged onto a jig head.

On rating, this set's 4.2 stars across 983 reviews ties Berkley GMG-NAT exactly, though GMG-NAT's 2,063 reviews is more than double the sample size. Berkley EBPHWR beats it slightly at 4.4 stars over 989 reviews, and Berkley GMI2-WMPR leads the group at 4.6 stars, though on just 197 reviews. Price-wise, Berkley EBPHWR and Berkley GMG-NAT both cost $5.99 and Berkley GMI2-WMPR costs $6.79, all cheaper than this set's $9.99.

Where this listing pulls even is demand. Its 500 or more bought last month matches Berkley EBPHWR's figure exactly and beats both other Berkley baits. For anglers who'd rather buy a complete rigged swimbait than assemble soft plastic and jig heads separately, the higher price buys convenience, even if the rating sits in the middle of this group rather than at the top.

Pros

  • Arrives pre-rigged on J hook jig heads, no separate hardware needed to start fishing
  • 5 lures per pack at 3.15 inches and 0.45 ounces each
  • 500 or more bought last month ties Berkley EBPHWR for the highest demand figure in this comparison
  • 4.2 star rating across 983 reviews, a large enough sample to trust
  • Paddle tail design built into a complete swimbait rather than a bare soft plastic body

Cons

  • Costs $9.99, more than every Berkley alternative in this comparison, which run $5.99 to $6.79
  • 4.2 star rating trails both Berkley GMI2-WMPR at 4.6 stars and Berkley EBPHWR at 4.4 stars
  • Only 5 pieces per pack, so losing a couple to snags cuts into the set quickly
  • No specific target species listed on this item, unlike the named species on some competing lures

Specifications

MaterialPlastic
Weight0.45 Ounces
TechniqueJ Hook
Size5PCS (3.15 inch，0.45 oz)
Pieces5

Performance notes

The 0.45 ounce, 3.15 inch build sits on the smaller end for a shad minnow imitation, matched with a paddle tail for swimming action and a J hook molded into the jig head rather than added separately. Because the hook is already part of the rig, there's no need to buy or thread on hardware before casting, which shaves a step off tackle prep compared to loose soft plastics. Five pieces per pack means a modest reserve, useful for a shorter outing but something to plan around on a day with heavy snag risk since each lost lure takes its jig head with it. Compared with the single-piece Berkley listings, which appear to be soft bodies without hardware included, this set trades a higher per-pack price for having the complete rig built in rather than requiring separate jig heads purchased elsewhere.

What buyers say

A 4.2 star average across 983 reviews sits right in the middle of this comparison group, exactly matching Berkley GMG-NAT's rating even though GMG-NAT has collected more than twice the reviews. The 500 or more bought last month is the strongest demand figure among the four listings, tied only by Berkley EBPHWR. That pairing of a solid but not exceptional rating with strong recent purchase volume suggests buyers are choosing this set primarily for convenience and price relative to assembling a rig by hand, rather than because it out-rates every alternative. It hasn't drawn the standout 4.6 star score that Berkley GMI2-WMPR carries, but that listing's review base is a fraction of the size.

Check price on Amazon

More from Soft

Similar fishing gear and tackle to consider

Featured in

Frequently asked questions

Does this swimbait set come with jig heads included?

Yes, all 5 lures arrive pre-rigged on J hook jig heads with paddle tails already attached. That's different from the Berkley soft lures in this comparison, which are sold as bare bodies, and it's part of why this set costs more per pack at $9.99.

Is a 4.2 star rating good for a swimbait set?

It's solid but not the top of the group. Berkley GMI2-WMPR rates 4.6 stars and Berkley EBPHWR rates 4.4 stars, both higher, while Berkley GMG-NAT matches this set's 4.2 stars exactly, though across a much larger 2,063-review base compared to this listing's 983 reviews.

How many lures are in one package?

Each package contains 5 shad minnow swimbaits, each measuring 3.15 inches and weighing 0.45 ounces. That's a smaller count than a bulk soft-plastic bag would offer, but every piece arrives ready to fish rather than needing a separately purchased jig head threaded on first.

fishing gear  ·  All Soft Plastic Lures

Check price on Amazon