Shad Fishing?

[theokieangler]

I was fishing a golf course pond over the weekend and caught my first shad...



I had seen a monster dead shad floating around in the pond a couple months earlier, but figured it was a fluke and had never really considered targeting shad. From what I can tell from a little google research, the one I caught really isn't even on the "big" side for shad (surprise to me), but it still put up a fun fight on a 2wt. I'd like to try and get into some of the truly big shad, any of you have experience/tips?

-ward

[NorcalBob]

Many different types of shad. Some eat flies, some don't. Some are used for bait, some are actually fished for. This is the shad that I target in NorCal, American Shad that run up the central valley rivers (and other places) in May/June/July on the fly. Don't know which kind you caught, but our shad are caught on bright flashy flies.

[theokieangler]

Nice shots... and thanks for the info. Didn't even realize there were multiple species of shad, never thought much about 'em before. Did a little more google research and I'm guessing the one I caught was a gizzard shad and not one of the American shad. Evidently they are filter feeders, but the one I caught was a pretty strong/definite strike on a crawfish imitation.. a little surprising.

[briansII]

Nice shots... and thanks for the info. Didn't even realize there were multiple species of shad, never thought much about 'em before. Did a little more google research and I'm guessing the one I caught was a gizzard shad and not one of the American shad. Evidently they are filter feeders, but the one I caught was a pretty strong/definite strike on a crawfish imitation.. a little surprising.

I agree. I think it's a gizzard shad. I have no clue how you would fish for them in a pond, but it looks like you're on to something. Since they are filter feeders, maybe tying up some zoo plankton patterns will work. The local shad flies i've seen, are typically small(size #6), beadchain eyes, sparse, flashy and bright. Bob probably knows why shad will take flies and lures. It's all a mystery to me, but i'm glade they do. They are a great game fish. Once they turn sideways in current, they can really put a bend in a 8wt.

Note the tip is almost doubled over.



briansII