Long shanks for short striking shad
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Miles
Apr 25, 2012, 8:31:12 PM4/25/12
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I took The Wreck of The Edmund Fitzgerald (my canoe) to Fletcher's this afternoon to see if I could find some shad. Wasn't hard - there were plenty. The water temperature drop has slowed them down a bit maybe, but they are still hitting. I got about a dozen, lost half as many.
This outing gave me a chance to try some flies I tied. I vaguely remember reading somewhere that one way to catch short-striking fish is to tie flies on a long-shank hook with short-shank proportions. I didn't invent this idea, but I can't remember where I saw it. Anyway, I tied some white marabou darts with pearl chenille and hot pink floss over dumbell eyes. I tied the marabou tail on about half-way down a #6 3x streamer hook, so that the tips of the marabou were just beyond the bend of the hook. Instead of being behind the bend, the tail ends right at the bend.
I fished this fly for a while, and caught several hickories. When things slowed down, I switched to a white and chartreuse Clouser approximately the same size. I could feel the fish hitting the fly, but my hookup rate was a lot lower. I switched back to the short-tied darts, and started connecting with more fish. It was a pretty clear difference -- more hookups, more solid hookups, and more fish to the boat. I plan to tie a few more in chartreuse, and maybe red and yellow.
I can include a picture if anyone needs it. I can also show you what it is at the next Beer Tie.
This outing gave me a chance to try some flies I tied. I vaguely remember reading somewhere that one way to catch short-striking fish is to tie flies on a long-shank hook with short-shank proportions. I didn't invent this idea, but I can't remember where I saw it. Anyway, I tied some white marabou darts with pearl chenille and hot pink floss over dumbell eyes. I tied the marabou tail on about half-way down a #6 3x streamer hook, so that the tips of the marabou were just beyond the bend of the hook. Instead of being behind the bend, the tail ends right at the bend.
I fished this fly for a while, and caught several hickories. When things slowed down, I switched to a white and chartreuse Clouser approximately the same size. I could feel the fish hitting the fly, but my hookup rate was a lot lower. I switched back to the short-tied darts, and started connecting with more fish. It was a pretty clear difference -- more hookups, more solid hookups, and more fish to the boat. I plan to tie a few more in chartreuse, and maybe red and yellow.
I can include a picture if anyone needs it. I can also show you what it is at the next Beer Tie.
Bigdaddy Dave
Apr 26, 2012, 11:09:58 AM4/26/12
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New guy here. Thanks for the tip.
Trent Jones
Apr 26, 2012, 10:14:00 PM4/26/12
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Good post Miles. It was great hanging out at the VA fly fishing festival as well. For anyone who is unfamilier with the Edmund Fitzgerald or Great lakes shipping.....please see the link below....its a true story....
-Trent
On Wednesday, April 25, 2012 8:31:12 PM UTC-4, Miles wrote:
Trent Jones
Apr 26, 2012, 10:14:20 PM4/26/12
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On Wednesday, April 25, 2012 8:31:12 PM UTC-4, Miles wrote:
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