I use the jerk shads alot, I like the new penny and the saphire (blue). I have had the same problem with the tails getting bit off, but on the flip side of that I caught about 5 or 6 big reds in the early summer at 3 mile with new penny jerk shads with no tails...so you never can tell. I don't throw em away until they wont stay on the hook any more.