SABIKI RIGS FOR TWAITE SHAD
The best colours for maximum fishing success on twaite shads
Sabiki fishing for twaite shad in the upper Italian lakes, where these fish are also called agone or sarda, can be a very successful and entertaining at the beginning of the summer. In the right place, at the right time and with the right sabikis, you can catch over a hundred fish in one evening. And it's not uncommon to have these glittering silver "mini tarpons" on 2, 3 or even all 5 nymphs at the same time. Our nymphs have been specially designed, tested and manufactured to our specifications for this species of fish. Bright, eye-catching colours have proven to be the best and most catching patterns to lure these fish.
SABIKI FOR AGONE – MEDITERRANEAN OR TWAITE SHAD
SUCCESSFULLY TARGETING AGONE AND TWAITE SHAD IN THE LAKES OF NORTHERN ITALY
With our premium-quality sabikis, you are perfectly equipped to successfully target these fish in the large lakes of Northern Italy.
Sarda or agone is the local name for the landlocked (stationary) form of the Mediterranean or twaite shad, which occurs naturally in many lakes in Northern Italy. This pronounced schooling fish can be extremely effectively targeted with a sabiki, especially during the spawning season. Here you can find the right sabiki rigs to pursue these powerful fish on your next fishing trip to Italy.
COLOURS, MATERIALS AND RIG CONSTRUCTION
Sabikis fitted with nymphs in highly visible, bright colours have proven particularly productive:
- white
- yellow
- silver
- gold
- chartreuse
- fluo-orange
Head beads in bright contrasting colours as well as glittering tails and appendages ensure excellent visibility even at dusk. The nymphs of our sabikis for agone are hand tied on gold-plated quality hooks in sizes #10, #12 and #14.
All sabiki rigs are carefully hand tied, approximately 220 cm long and equipped with 5 nymphs, each spaced about 40 cm apart. The rig is constructed from a high-strength monofilament, allowing you to safely land multiple fish at once. The main line section has a diameter of 0.25 mm, while the side arms measure 0.20 mm in diameter. The length of the side arms is approximately 3–4 cm, providing sufficient freedom of movement while reducing tangles.
The sabiki is equipped with a swivel at the top end, allowing quick and secure attachment to the snap of your main line. At the bottom end, a snap swivel enables easy connection of the casting weight.
TECHNIQUE AND APPLICATION ON THE WATER
The fishing technique for agone is straightforward yet highly effective. During the summer months, the fish gather in large shoals at dusk in suitable shallow-water areas. Particularly promising spots include inlets of streams or areas where fresh groundwater flows into the lake.
The rigging is simple: attach one of our sabikis to the main line of your rod, which should ideally be at least 3.5 m long. A soft rod tip helps prevent the hooks from tearing out during the fight. At the lower end of the sabiki, attach a suitable casting weight. Weights such as the jumping jack have proven particularly effective:
- Their slim, streamlined design allows for long casting distances.
- In shallow water, they cause fewer snags compared to traditional pear leads.
- The buoyancy of the air-filled plastic tube ensures they sink more slowly.
After casting, retrieve the sabiki steadily and at a relatively fast pace, guiding it dynamically just below the surface. This makes the nymphs move lively and naturally. The reflective materials glitter and flash due to the rapid movement, attracting the fish’s attention. The agone will often strike reflexively.
The feeding window is usually relatively short, but all the more intense. When the fish are actively feeding, you may experience a strike on nearly every cast. At productive spots, it is common to hook several fish simultaneously. A true “full house” – one fish on each nymph – is by no means unusual.