Taking a spinning rod with me to Fletcher's

[Bob Smith]

......this year. I had a day last year where the wind was blowing so hard it was pushing an outgoing tide back up the river. I just sat there watching as spin fishermen kept on casting and catching. Mike Bailey was in the boat next to me and at one point I looked over and just shrugged. So Mike, who has only ever seen me with a fly rod, shouts out to me "hey Bob, nobody's holding a gun to your head making you use just a fly rod".

I now have a nice St. Croix rod and Pfluger reel (wanted a Stradic but the damn bail whacked my knuckles), now I need some darts.

What sizes are good for Fletcher's? I'll be setting up a tandem rig like I've seem the masters using.

Thanks, Bob (who is now only 90% pure but looking forward to feeling like a kid again tackle-wise)

[Danny Barrett]

Personally id get your self some small spoons from walmart.  Not sure the price this year, few years back i found then for 15 spoons for 5 bucks and i stocked up.  they are so small, i cast them with my 6 weight fly rod for shad.  for a spin rod, might need a bigger spoon since you lack the sinking line.

Thanks,

Dan Barrett

dannyt...@gmail.com

(540)-222-8064

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[Bob Smith]

Hi Dan, I do have some spoons small enough to cast on a spinning rod in tandem with a dart. I guess, rephrased, my question on darts is: is there a weight that is too heavy even when the river is high with fast flows, and is there a weight that is just too light even with good levels and a meidium to slow (doubtful) flow.
Once I know that I can have fun gauge the the rest.

Thanks

Bob

[Alex Binsted]

Bob,

I rarely use anything other than a 3/8oz dart on my short leader, my trailer dart is usually around an 1/8oz.  Short leader is usually around 18" and the long leader is up to 36".

[Bob Smith]

Thanks Alex. That simplifies things.

[Zach on the Hill]

Hey Bob,

Here is a video I made last night to go with an article I am about to publish about Shad fishing.  

This is a step-by-step informational video on how to rig spinning gear for shad.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJqkDm-Mh5I 

I promise it works...  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBwBAghDwFA 

Feel free to shoot me a personal message if you have any questions.

All the best -

Zach

[Vic Velasco]

Zach -

The first link comes up "Private".

Vic

[Bob Smith]

As stated, the first video comes up unavailable/private.

The second video wets the appetite!

Where is your article being published?

[Zach on the Hill]

Sorry guys.  Forgot to change the setting when I published it.   it should be good to go now.

 

All the best -

Zach

[Bob Smith]

Video plays now.
One question for you. How often do you change darts? It looks like you'd have to make a new rig after you switched colors or weights after a a few changes.

[Danny Barrett]

Not sure how it can relate to spin rigs, but I know I change leaders a ton when casting flies at shad.  For the majority of my flies are a size 6 or bigger I use mono line from any large distributor and can get 300 yards for a cheap price.  Few extra bucks is worth not loosing that big one at the end of the day.

Thanks,

Dan Barrett

dannyt...@gmail.com

(540)-222-8064

On Fri, Mar 21, 2014 at 5:27 AM, Bob Smith <plane...@aol.com> wrote:

Video plays now.
One question for you. How often do you change darts? It looks like you'd have to make a new rig after you switched colors or weights after a a few changes.

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[Barracuda]

Hey Alex,

If you mostly using a combo of 3/8 oz. plus 1/8 oz. darts, do you fish different depths by just changing retrieve speed?

[Zach on the Hill]

God question Bob,

I don't change darts too often.  Basically if they are not hitting the color I am throwing or if they get really banged up.  If you want to tie the leader a little longer on each tag you can have more room for change without replacing the leader.  This is just the way I do it to avoid additional terminal tackle and keep it quick and simple.  The dropper rig can be tied a variety of ways provided that the principle of about a 12" drop on the back dart is the same.  10lb test mono is pretty strong line for these fish.  They will bang up the leader pretty good, but you shouldn't have to re-rig more than once or twice a trip.  If they are active and the fishing is consistent, the dart will get way jacked up.  The hooks will break and all the paint will get busted off of them.  So you will need to replace them when that happens.

All the best -

Zach

On Friday, March 14, 2014 5:57:27 PM UTC-4, Bob Smith wrote:

[Terry C]

Over the years I haver found that getting it deep early in the season is very important. As the water warms up I have found the shad will move up in the water column. My set up which has been very successful for me is a 250 grain sink tip with 3 ft of 6lb. fluorocarbon . I also use lead eyes on my flies. Cast across let it swing, and strip. Some days they like it slow other days they like it fast. Keep varying the speed of the strip until you feel you are onto a pattern. Looking forward to another shad season.

[Bob Smith]

This time of year I start with a 300 grain line. Through the season I'll fish 150 through 350 depending on river flow, level, sky and river location. Looking at the gauge level and water temps next week ought to see some fish.

[Bob Smith]

On Friday, March 21, 2014 8:45:01 AM UTC-4, Danny Barrett wrote:
> Not sure how it can relate to spin rigs, but I know I change leaders a ton when casting flies at shad.  For the majority of my flies are a size 6 or bigger I use mono line from any large distributor and can get 300 yards for a cheap price.  Few extra bucks is worth not loosing that big one at the end of the day.
>
>
> Thanks,
>
> Dan Barrett
> dannyt...@gmail.com
>
> (540)-222-8064
>
>

Same here on changing flies. I use 6lb. Maxima and go through a couple of spools during the shad run. And I cast a lot of tandem rigs. A double on a six weight is interesting.

[Alex Binsted]

I use a very slow retrieve and am often hitting bottom with my darts.  In the early season a slow retrieve is important for the sluggish fish in the colder water and later on it's a great tactic for American shad as they hang close to the bottom.  If you are specifically targeting Hickories you can use quicker retrieve and keep your darts off the bottom. You won't lose as much tackle doing this but you also won't catch as many American shad.  It takes some practice but it is possible to fish close to the bottom without getting hung up every cast. 

[Bob Smith]

I'll let use a sinking line, let it sink and hang straight behind the boat and raise the (fly) rod tip every several seconds. Works good for the cold water and Ashad.

[Bob Smith]

I want to thank " Little Joe" Binsted for helping me relearn how to cast a spinning rod using braided line, something that didn't even exist the last time I used spinning tackle. I got to experience many of the bad things that can happen with braided line before I was in a boat actually trying to cast for running shad. And how to cast the stuff with a reasonable degree of accuracy and distance.

Five important lessons learned:
Keep an eye on the spool for bird nests and loopd
A bird nest can generally be undone with patience
A hang up on a rock is very easily freed with a move I still need to practice, but isn't anywhere near as fatal as a hang up with a fly rod
Buy a line in a color that easily visible (green is invisible)
A spinning rod is fun, can't wait to actually hook a shad with one

One week to go until boats in the water!