I need only the rumor that someone’s smelled one to pack the truck, it’s a byproduct of months of tying drab earth-tone flies that resemble insects, suddenly the artist busts loose and your tying bench is a riot of forgotten fluorescence, shiny tinsels, bead chain, and chrome hooks.
The Shad are at the mouth of the American – I have to drive by daily, cursing all the guys that called in sick and were miraculously cured when they donned their waders. Too many bait and spin fishermen to make a fly angler anything other than unpopular – but the fish will move up river as soon as they’re able.
Fish were caught at the Howe Avenue access Saturday, but the river flows are quite low, which may impede their march upstream to Folsom Dam.
I tried the Watt Avenue access for a couple hours yesterday with little success. Using an 8 weight shooting head (type IV) I caught enough streambed to lighten my fly box by a couple dozen – so you’ll want to use lighter gear or slower sinking heads.
Mustad no longer makes the 3908C (silver) hook and I had a hell of a time finding the venerable Eagle Claw 1197N (Nickel) hook. Only Cabela’s still stocks them in quantity, ($7.79 per 100, good price) none of the fly shops I searched has silver hooks outside of the standard Mustad 3407/34007 saltwater styles. I’m not quite sure what everyone else is using as a replacement.
The “traditional” shad darts are shown in the foreground above, simple floss bodies, streamlined profile, and bead chain eyes to add weight and flip the hook over. Shad have paper thin jaws and there’s better purchase on the upper lip than the lower. The balance are what I’m using this season, I call them red and green “Tomato’s.”
Next month the run will be in full swing, and likely I’ll be in the thick of things, as shad fishing is a “drinking Man’s” thoughtful sport – warm temperatures, balmy weather, half nekkid rafters and “silver bullets” that don’t ask for quarter – and don’t give any.
Keep an eye on your backcast – the urban setting always means some interested onlooker is behind you unannounced. Fish barbless, they’re easier to extract from a screaming jogger.
Technorati Tags: american shad, watt avenue, sacramento, american river, rafters, jogging
I liked the Targus 800S hooks, but they are extremely hard to find. I’ve been using the Mustad 34007 hooks as the replacement, and they are much easier to find. The nice thing is that they come in smaller sizes down to size 8, great for tying nymphs for larger fish like carp, buffalo, and redhorse.
I’ll see if I can find some, Togen lacks anything – likewise for the Japanese mainstream manufacturers.
Good point on Carp, 34007 is stainless and sturdy – would hold well against a large fish.
Another hook I tried tying on this season was the Mustad Signature R90, a brass 4X heavy nymph/salmon hook. It is a stout hook for sure, great for carp, but distribution is somewhat limited and I could only get it via mail order. I like how it fishes; if you need a heavy hook with a down turned eye, this is the one. But if you don’t mind using stainless/silver colored hooks, I’d stick with the 34007.
They often put up one heck of a fight too. I just wish they wouldn’t scream so much.
Hi:
I like your blog. May I add a link on my site?
Keep up the good work
RP
Surely, but when your readership starts hunting you with torches and pitchforks, remember “..it was by accident, honest!”
Thanks,KBarton10
I have posted a link to your site and alerted the guys over at Steve Dobson’s Fisherman’s Blog
that you have a post about flyfishing for shad.
Regards
RP
Finally, someone else who appreciates the not so humble shad on a fly rod. Great article.
cheers,
Steve
I appreciate Shad plenty, the hard part is getting them silver screamers on my rod..
So far this season, it’s Me 0 Shad 2, I’m struggling mightily and they’re thumbing their nose at me.
Well, I’m doing a bit better than that so far. Hope I have not jinxed myself by saying that.
I’ve written a fair amount about shad and fly-rodding for them. There may be a tip or two on my blog worth trying.
I think your article covers it all pretty well, especially the importance of the upward facing hook, not just to keep from fouling on the bottom but in hooking in the upper, rather than lower jaw.
Playing them to hand can be a challenge. My favourite advice came from an old guide. He said, “When he pulls you don’t, when he don’t you do”.
If you’d like to exchange links, just drop me a line I’d be pleased to recommend your site.