Re: {Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders} Weighting Shad Flies?

[r...@robsnowhite.com]

I don't add any extra weight if using a sink tip. I fish from shore and loose a lot of flies on the rocks, no extra time or $ put into my flies (other than bead chain). It's more of a personnel preference. 

Boat fishing guys use orange cone heads - grizz's pattern. In addition, the Binsted flies at the Fletcher's shack also have weight added. 

Sent from my iPhone

On Mar 3, 2013, at 9:02 PM, Joe Walther <jwal...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi everybody.  

Im new to the area and new to the forum, but have been tracking things closely the past couple of weeks.  I think its great that this group exists to share knowledge, make friends, etc...

Anyways, I am starting to tie up some flies for the upcoming shad run and was wondering about whether or not to weight the flies (ie wrap the shank with lead wire).  I will be fishing a sinking line, so the flies I have tied to date have not been weighted.  Any thoughts?

Thanks,

Joe

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[HeaveToo]

If you search the archives I put my recipe for a weighted shad fly called a red headed flasher.  It was a very hot pattern for a while on the Rappahannock.  It is weighted pretty good and it also catches a lot of other species. 

[Richard Lin]

eyes is the weight for flies.

[Terry C]

I fish from my kayak most of the time,  my usual set up will be shad fly #6 1xl hook tied with weighted dumbell eyes and a 250 gr. sink tip #6 wt line with my 9 ft. 6wt rod.   This works great getting the fly down to the fish.  Cast out into the faster current and let it swing into the seam .  Most hits will be in the slower water in the seam or just instide the seam. 

[Alex Binsted]

It's always a good idea to have some of each in your fly box.  I usually fish from a boat and almost always use a fly weighted with lead eyes.  Fishing deeper and in more current with increase your chances for American shad.  Unweighted flies fished in lighter current will be effective for Hickory shad but will have almost no chance at an American.  A lot depends on where you fish, tide and flow.

[Eric Y.]

I'm planning on whipping up some shad flies over the next week or so, and I got to thinking about the best rod (which will also influence fly weight). Current possibilities in the stable are a 5wt with a fast/full sink line, 6wt switch with a floating line and full sink tip, and an 8wt with floating line and full sink tip. Thoughts? Should I still weight the flies if using a full sink line? Less weight, more weight, for each rod? I presume a fast action 5wt is up to the task... maybe not?

[Danny Barrett]

Personaly i like a 6wt for shad. Mibes ine handed tho. You get to feel the full fight. I have depth charge line for shad and my 'flies' arent weighted. But i also toss 1/4" bass spoons on my fly rod for shad. They are amazing cheap at Walmart and provide plenty of fish for me. I know its not conventional, but they seem to like shiny stuff.

Dan Barrett

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[Eric Y.]

I think that the 5wt line I have is approximately the same as the depth charge. It is a Rio InTouch Deep 6. I've never actually used it, but I snagged it at a going-out-of-business sale at Sportsman's Warehouse back when they were closing stores. I also picked up a Scientific Anglers uniform sink in 5wt. It seems like the fast sink tip with intermediate body would be the way to go, though.

 

On Thursday, March 7, 2013 11:04:12 AM UTC-5, Danny Barrett wrote:

Personaly i like a 6wt for shad. Mibes ine handed tho. You get to feel the full fight. I have depth charge line for shad and my 'flies' arent weighted. But i also toss 1/4" bass spoons on my fly rod for shad. They are amazing cheap at Walmart and provide plenty of fish for me. I know its not conventional, but they seem to like shiny stuff.

Dan Barrett

On Mar 7, 2013 11:00 AM, "Eric Y." <theeri...@gmail.com> wrote:

I'm planning on whipping up some shad flies over the next week or so, and I got to thinking about the best rod (which will also influence fly weight). Current possibilities in the stable are a 5wt with a fast/full sink line, 6wt switch with a floating line and full sink tip, and an 8wt with floating line and full sink tip. Thoughts? Should I still weight the flies if using a full sink line? Less weight, more weight, for each rod? I presume a fast action 5wt is up to the task... maybe not?

On Monday, March 4, 2013 3:10:11 PM UTC-5, Alex Binsted wrote:

It's always a good idea to have some of each in your fly box.  I usually fish from a boat and almost always use a fly weighted with lead eyes.  Fishing deeper and in more current with increase your chances for American shad.  Unweighted flies fished in lighter current will be effective for Hickory shad but will have almost no chance at an American.  A lot depends on where you fish, tide and flow.

On Sunday, March 3, 2013 9:02:42 PM UTC-5, Joe Walther wrote:

Hi everybody.  

Im new to the area and new to the forum, but have been tracking things closely the past couple of weeks.  I think its great that this group exists to share knowledge, make friends, etc...

Anyways, I am starting to tie up some flies for the upcoming shad run and was wondering about whether or not to weight the flies (ie wrap the shank with lead wire).  I will be fishing a sinking line, so the flies I have tied to date have not been weighted.  Any thoughts?

Thanks,

Joe

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[Dalton Terrell]

I always reach for the 7 wt and full sink line when shad fishing, and always use the same shad flies Rob Snowhite mentioned, AKA the Grizzly Specials (size 6 hook, colored conehead, chenille body, and fish hair tail). A 5wt is certainly serviceable, but these are hard fighting saltwater fish, and some are quite large, a bit more fight than I want on a 5wt personally.

What I do to control depth is change the angle of my cast relative to the current and by dumping line after the cast is made. I will start out casting perpendicular to the current and letting the slack line drop behind the boat. On subsequent casts I will add more slack by casting upstream and dumping more line to get deeper. Once I snag, I know the optimal casting angle and amount of line out to be almost on the bottom but not lose flies. 

Fishing from shore, you are at a real disadvantage. There are only few choice spots to fish, and getting to the right depth and the casting distance required to reach the current is tough (but easier during high water events). You also have to contend with other anglers that may not be tolerant of the amount of space it requires to swing your shad flies. As Rob mentioned, you are also more likely to snag flies in the shallow rocks by shore.

[Gmail]

From my experience,

Initially an 8wt with depth charge 300 grain full sinking line is preferred choice at beginning of shad run.  When things heat up, 6wt with 250 grain 

depth charged full sinking line is fine.  

The depth charged line is worth the investment, and will be an absolutely must if you plan venture into the Bay or Saltwater.

I used large bead chain eyes for my flies.  No need for expensive cone heads (lead or tungsten).  

Sent from my iPhone

[Terry C]

9ft. 6 wt. is my go to rod for the Potomac.  I have used an 8th wt. but casting that all day is a workout and I haven't cought a fish that my 6 wt didn't handle. Can't wait to get out there with the shad.  Last yr was " epic"   hope the weather cooperates and we don't get blown out with too much rain like 2 yrs ago.