BEMIDJI, Minn. Northland Fishing Tackle® made a huge splash in the premium hardbait category with their introduction of the balsawood Rumble crankbait series designed by Northland’s chief bait designer, Jarmo Rapala—proving fishing is better with balsa.

A jack-of-trades when it comes to all freshwater species and depths, the mid-running Rumble Shad crankbait is still available in three sizes with varying dive curves. The report was unanimous after a year on pegboards across the country: walleyes, bass, and other gamefish find their unique roll and tight action irresistible.

The #5 dives 5’ to 12’; the #7 dives 8’ to 16’; and the #8 dives 14’ to 21’. All are formed of balsawood through the unique Heat Compression Molding (HCM) process and feature a welded through wire construction from the tie-eye to the tail. Designed to imitate shad, perch, and bluegills, the bait features a tight action, whether cast and retrieved or trolled behind the boat.

Now, new for Spring 2023, the inimitable Rumble Shad is available in a total of 39 custom artisan colors, from match-the-hatch patterns to vibrant custom paint themes. Adding merit to the mix, each Rumble Shad also features sticky-sharp, short-shank treble hooks and an oval split ring on the line tie for precise tracking.

Northland Fishing Tackle Marketing Director, Mike Anselmo, comments: “The feedback we received from pro tournament anglers, guides, and everyday multispecies anglers was unanimous. These baits simply catch fish—period. While the profile is close enough to mimic a shiner, it also matches a lot of different baitfish coast-to-coast. With three dive curves from shallow to deep, and now the addition of dozens of new colors, it’s versatility can’t be beat. Whether cast or trolled, it’s a ‘desert island’ crankbait that you’ll want in your box—and probably in half-a-dozen or more colors to match depth, weather, and predominant forage conditions.”

Northland pro, Joel Nelson, adds: “In the spring I troll the bait earlier than most walleye fishermen tend to—like the smaller #5 that dives 5’ to 12. I can cover a lot more ground and put more fish in the boat in a lot of situations—from lakes to rivers. And, come bass opener in many states, the bait does deadly double-duty for hammering on both smallmouths and largemouths. And in the river and on reservoirs? The bait literally catches everything. With even more colors to choose from, I’m really excited about dialing in the right pattern for every body of water I fish.”

The new colors include numerous shad-, bluegill-, perch-, and other minnow imitators—to custom “limited edition” paint jobs—and now 7 different crawfish patterns to catch fish in any situation you might encounter.

Beyond multispecies use during spring, Nelson sites the transition from early- to late-summer when low-light trolling in the morning and evening is key to boating more walleyes. “Drag a balsawood Rumble Shad along the weedline in natural lakes and you’re going to catch everything: walleyes, pike, bass, and even big, slab crappies.”

In the fall, Nelson turns to the #7 and #9 sizes for chunking and winding when the wind comes up.

“If the wind starts howling, I go out on that second or third day and cast the bigger size Rumble Shads out on top of the structure and bang ‘em right down into the rocks. If you get wedged, just pop the bait out and give it some line and big walleyes and bass inhale it as it floats out and up.”


Northland Team Pro and veteran guide, Brian “Bro” Brosdahl, interjects: “The Rumble Shad has a unique tight wobble that fish rush in to eat. Last year I did a lot of pitching and retrieving, and had everything follow and strike. And now there are even more great match-the-hatch colors and sought-after patterns. You can troll it on a flat line or lead-core, too, to cover water efficiently and sort through neutral- to negative-fish. Even those finicky fish are apt to strike when this thing strolls by, sending off its auditory and visual signals.”

Bro adds: “But, personally, I like pitching ‘em – a simple cast and reel, maybe with a few twitches thrown in. It casts well and you can feel the bait thumping while you’re reeling, definitely a plus. I caught a lot of big walleyes on it last year, some big bass and toothy critters, too—even giant crappies.”

New colors include Blue Chartreuse Shad (BCSD), Bone Belly Gill (BBG), Blue Olive Shad (BOSD), Burnt Crawdad (BRCW), Camo Green Craw (CGC), Cooked Crawdad (CKCW), Crusty Crawdad (CRCW), Chartreuse Rootbeer (CSRB), Faded Schoolbus (FSB), Green Crawdad (GCW), Hot Claw Crawdad (HCCW), Hot Tiger (HT), Injured Shad (IS), Orange Belly Gill (OBLG), Purple Gill (PBGL), Rootbeer (RB), Red Crawdad (RCW), and Tennessee Shad (TSO).

Rumble Shad Features & Specifications:

Made from Premium Balsawood
Heat Compression Molding (HCM) Construction
Welded through wire construction from tie eye to the tail
Individually tank-tested
Premium short-shank hooks
Size- #5- 2 1/4", 3/8oz, #6 hook (Depth- 5-12ft)
Size- #7- 2 3/4", 1/2oz, #4 hook (Depth- 8-16ft)
Size- #8- 3 1/4", 5/8oz, #3 hook (Depth- 14-21ft)
39 unique artisan colors

MSRP $9.99

Northland Lures