It won't be long now before the shad run hits our waters. Shad will hit
brightly colored small flies. Hot pink, hot orange, chartruese are great
colors. A flyrod from 4-8 weight will get the job done. Look out
Goldsboro, Kinston and Pitchkettle.
Here are a few flies I use...the first one was hot last year. As time gets
closer I will be tying a new assortment.
That's a great article, Ed.. Boyd Kynard is the biologist whose work is referred to in the book, The Founding Fish. If you enjoy this article then you should read the Founding Fish by John McPhee. The covers all things Shad and Shad Fishing through the prisms of Natural History, American History, Biology, ecology, and from the eyes of a fisherman.
I usually don't wory as much with the weight of the fly as I do the line. I'll throw an intermediate on the neuse around pitchkettle and kinston. Up at Weldon you will have to throw a 200-250gr sinking line to have much success. I tied a bunch of flies last year for them but figured out that if a pink and white one doesn't work, you may as well go home. All these are is a marabou tail, estaz body and bead chain eyes on a #4 hook. Little pink and white clousers are good too. Bring a few dozen, because if you aren't getting snagged, you aren't fishing in the right spot. See yall on the water.
if the ramp doesn't have a dock I use the bridle method. I use a long stern line on the windward side . play out plenty as not to get tangled w/the trailer. your helper can have the bow and stern line to walk down as you back the boat. As soon as she floats put the trailer forward. Do make sure all line clear trailer bunks and guide ons before backing. when put boat bac on , do the same on the windward side of the ramp. Let the wind do the work. River current works the same as wind.
Heres a few more I did today , I found pictures of krill and copepods and tried to imitate them, which most of the shad flies I've seen do resemble the copepods.
Don't forget this time of year...later part of March....largemouth bass
are on the prowl for an easy meal. Big crappie and bream also
venture around the banks of creeks and the treeps and cypress
knees in the swamps.
Oh and big old Bowfin...rearing and willing to fight....
Scott ,I have caught Shad and Stripers at the same time in Trent River near Trenton. The 8 wt was nice to have . Bows do start up in the last of March! Lets hope for the warm up
DB, great job on your flies. I had to read the articles you had sort of fast, but from the looks of some of your flies, they look a lot like the description that was given. It will be interesting to see if these will do better than the flies with dumbell eye, or bead eyes. The transparancy of the thread you used also adds to the real thing the article described, as well as the scrimp like protrusions.
Nice flys Scott. I cannot wait for the shad to start moving in. I got Febuary to look forward to as well the Bass will start pre spawning in sutton so that should keep me occupied then shad in march and then wait for the inshore to kick in.
I understand...flyrodding for shad kicks everything else into gear and
sets the tone for fishing to come. Can't beat catching em up on the fly
rod thats for sure...
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