It is currently 29 Mar 2024, 10:17


New Topic Add Reply
Author Message
First time shad fishing
Post 20 May 2022, 20:47 • #1 
New Member
Joined: 02/11/21
Posts: 8
I went shad fishing for the first time ever on May 17th in Downeast Maine. I took an Eddie Bauer 7wt that I bought last February with a WF floating line and sink-tip leader. I tied up a few shad darts based on internet patterns and a friend's guidance. The rod handled the dumbell-eyed dart well after I opened my loops so that I didn't catch it in the back of the head. I hooked a shad on my fifth cast. What a blast! The fish pulled hard, made runs, and went airborne during the five minutes it took to land it. I can see why some call them a poor man's tarpon. My buddy landed three more and I brought two home to smoke. They were delicious but I need to refine my filleting technique on missing bones.



Top
  
Quote
Post 20 May 2022, 21:23 • #2 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 06/23/05
Posts: 4966
Location: US-MT
If you can avoid all the bones on shad you are some sort of magician.

Shad are great fun.


Top
  
Quote
Post 20 May 2022, 21:44 • #3 
New Member
Joined: 05/12/22
Posts: 16
Location: MA----FL
My neighbor use to Shad fish the CT River, he brought them home and threw them in his garden as fertilizer. Just saying.


Top
  
Quote
Post 20 May 2022, 22:20 • #4 
Master Guide
Joined: 02/07/18
Posts: 428
Location: US-MA
I have only flyfished for them once and caught two and thought they were a lot of fun, especially in some pretty good current up by a dam on the Merrimack. I can see why people who have targeted them enjoy catching them as they put up a good fight. That is a nice looking setup and a fine fish. I tried the roe, but was not a big fan of it after frying it up.


Top
  
Quote
Post 20 May 2022, 23:17 • #5 
Master Guide
Joined: 01/08/08
Posts: 695
Location: US-MA
Congrats Flickah, Nice fish. I agree - they're a blast on a fly rod!


Top
  
Quote
Post 21 May 2022, 05:25 • #6 
Master Guide
Joined: 07/18/07
Posts: 735
Location: US-NH
Shad are fun! I did not know that they run up that way.
Nice outfit on the shad.


Top
  
Quote
Post 21 May 2022, 06:52 • #7 
Guide
Joined: 03/21/22
Posts: 172
Location: US-PA
Nice job on the shad. Never had an opportunity to fish for them where I live by I always see on other forums and here., people targeting them. Thanks for sharing


Top
  
Quote
Post 21 May 2022, 07:37 • #8 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 12/05/06
Posts: 2089
Location: US-PA
I used to chase them in the Delaware River with a behemoth 9'6" 8wt Leonard Bamboo rod I owned paired with a St. Aden reel, a combo that weighed close to 16 ounces.

I made my own shooting head from a sinking line and yellow Stren and I used heavily weighted shad darts I fabricated using yellow and white Mylar piping pulled over a hook wrapped in lead. There was no such thing as dumbbell eyes or bead and cone heads in those days. ;) However, the combo of a sinking shooting head and lead got the darts down.

It was a blast when you hooked up, but at least in Pennsylvania on the Delaware it could be feast or famine depending or where you were and when.

Congratulations on hooking up your first time out!!


Top
  
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  

New Topic Add Reply



Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Shaft, Wandering_About and 26 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Jump to:  
Google
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group