Shad lines

[jawil...@knights.ucf.edu]

Quick question about shad gear. Last year I fished a few times around Chain Bridge during the run, but really seemed to struggle. I was using a 8wt, with a sink tip line, and I hooked a couple shad, but no real luck. With the current being so strong around that area, do you need a full sink to fish it properly?

[Tom Steeley]

I tried full sink from the bank and got hung up alot on submerged rock.  The sink tip I thought was better as the floating section of my line could ride over those rocks.

That said I had trouble myself.  Primary issue was foul hooking fish.  Any advice would be appreciated.

On Fri, Mar 6, 2020, 4:10 PM jawil...@knights.ucf.edu <jawil...@knights.ucf.edu> wrote:

Quick question about shad gear. Last year I fished a few times around Chain Bridge during the run, but really seemed to struggle. I was using a 8wt, with a sink tip line, and I hooked a couple shad, but no real luck. With the current being so strong around that area, do you need a full sink to fish it properly?

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[Gregg Rockett]

Sinking line is best to produce good results.

[arthur noglak]

I echo Gregg’s sentiments. Full sink has always works best for me in a boat and/or out on the rocks. At the very least, I would have a 15ft class V sink tip.

The foul hooking is most likely Gizzard shad that are seeking refuge against rocks in high water events. The Gizzards probably aren't your target quarry.

I find, that when I'm fishing a full sink I get less foul hooks that than sink tips. This might all be In my head and like most fishing info, Largely anecdotal and unsubstantiated at best. HA HA

Art Noglak

[Andrew Sarcinello]

Last year wasn't great around the bridge due to high water. Look for flows around 10-15,000 cfs on the Little Falls gage. When flows are right and you have some cloud cover, you'll do well there...otherwise it can be really inconsistent action.

On Friday, March 6, 2020 at 4:10:34 PM UTC-5, jawil...@knights.ucf.edu wrote:

[Carl Z.]

Last year I was out for one good day on a boat and the Sinking line was worse than my friends floating line.  I had T-14 or T-17 full sink.  The flies got down well, but the hookups were rough.  And when the fish were jumping, the belly of the line was still 10ft underwater (u shaped) so it made fighting the fish a lot more difficult.  

It really depends on the day.  If they are down deep and you can't get to them any other way, Sinking line.  If they are active, floating or intermediate sink tips will be better (and cast better).

If you have to resort to a sinking line, you might want to move over to spinning gear :)

Carl

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Carl Zmola

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[Tom Steeley]

"If you have to resort to a sinking line, you might want to move over to spinning gear :)"

You might want to go into witness protection.  Just sayin'

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[arthur noglak]

When do the shad run exactly? Its my favorite question I get at work. Some say its the dogwoods, others say its the water temps, Ive even herd the cheery blossoms signal the run.

For me , the run begins around the time someone on the TPFR forum is suggesting to the general public that floating lines are effectively used in Tidal Potomac River to catch Shad.

My second favorite question is: “Art, how come everyone around me is catching a fish on every other cast and I'm not getting a bite” My response: Are you using a floating line? “Yes”

There endith the lesson!

#shadrun2020

Art

[Yambag Nelson]

You can catch hickory shad pretty well on an intermediate type line, but if you want to catch americans you want a full sink.  Not a sink tip. Full sink.

[HeaveToo]

Depends on the river you are fishing and where you are fishing it.

I started shad fishing on the Rappahannock River.  There we use sink tip as it is a bit shallower than if you are fishing at Fletchers.  I had plenty of hook ups with Americans and all of the other shad species.

[Terry C]

The shad run was cancelled due to COVID 19. Can’t be in groups of more than 5.