Shad Darts -- What are you tying?

[Mark]

February has not been kind to us with below normal temperatures and round after round of snow and ice. Perhaps this is how it was for our parents who grew up in the area but I've become accustomed to our mild Mid-Atlantic winters of recent years. I don't like this.

Fortunately, miserable weather has no impact on my tying bench other than to drive me to it. Some of my friends have been getting ready for shad season by tying flies. I joined the effort this morning with a very simple pattern I found online yesterday.

The originator called it a shad dart.

Shad darts (2).jpg

It's super easy and fast to complete, two pre-requisites for a fly that got my attention immediately. I tied 6 in about 30 minutes.

Mustad 3366 hook, #6

Bead chain eyes. You can use lead eyes too. I prefer lightweight flies.

Kip tail

Chenille

Crystal flash

I like how the chenille makes a "jig-like" head.

I hope to try them on shad but if not, I'm certain that bluegills will bite them.

So...what flies or lures are you tying, or pouring or making while the weather prevents us from fishing?

Please post your photos here.

Stay safe,

[clm]

Those look very fishable. Quick and easy. Nice job. I've been doing some quick and easy too...weighted hooks for swim tails and quite a few streamers for picks...even an articulated one (the gold copper one). I used mono to connect it...no fish on it yet, but it had nice action when I tested it. No pics of the streamers, they are packed away and I was being lazy.

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[brianisoutside]

Shad Darts -- What are you tying?

In the last few weeks Ive tied up some grass shrimp for perch and some little Clouser like flies too.


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[clm]

I like the grass shrimp....I plan to hit the Pax at Benedict hard this year with the fly rod. I usually start out by soaking bait for catfish, but have way more fun skirting the edges with ultra light tackle for perch and the occassional surprise catfish and striper. I have way more luck and numbers with catfish in the Potomac, as the crabs aren't where I fish. But for pure fun, Benedict and perch are hard to beat.

[Mark]

Looks good guys.

Catching fish on lures and flies you've made or modified adds something extra to our hobby.

ACB12.jpg Millsboro2 (2).jpg

Articulated crystal bugger.

Let's see what others have created.

[J. Rentch]

Here are some of my Shad Flies I tied recently. They are similar to Marks, I used plastic beads on the chartreuse and red flies. For weight, I used chain bead eyes that I put a coat of red acrylic paint to stand out some. Very easy and quick to tie. Now to get on the water and use them. Never tried Shad fishing, hope to get up by the Susquehanna when they start running.

shad darts.jpg

[clm]

Here are some of my Shad Flies I tied recently. They are similar to Marks, I used plastic beads on the chartreuse and red flies. For weight, I used chain bead eyes that I put a coat of red acrylic paint to stand out some. Very easy and quick to tie. Now to get on the water and use them. Never tried Shad fishing, hope to get up by the Susquehanna when they start running.

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Those will work for many species....love the tails...that flash is killer.

[J. Rentch]

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[Mark]

They look nice John.

Let's hope we get to use them.

Something else to look forward to -- big cicada hatch is due this year.

I made this guy today:

Cicada2 (2).jpg

It might fool a few fish.

[clm]

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The sparkle flash tufts for the tails....

[brianisoutside]

They look nice John.

Let's hope we get to use them.

Something else to look forward to -- big cicada hatch is due this year.

I made this guy today:

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It might fool a few fish.

I picked up some deer hair and orange legs just to try making some cicadas too.
Thinking I might do a spun deer hair body with a foam top to help it float


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[Mark]

That will surely work, Brian.

Maryland is going to be visited this spring by "Brood X", one of 15 regional cicada hatches in the Eastern US.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brood_X

Any surface fly that approximates cicada size and colors (black, orange, brown and red) will be effective.

[brianisoutside]

Tried tying one up. Definately need more practice spinning and packing the deer hair.




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[Mark]

Brian,

I've never mastered spinning deer hair.

What you did looks much better than I could have done.

It's the profile from underneath that counts and that looks pretty good to me.

[bignose]

Brian,
That's a nice looking fly. It'll be a bear to cast, but the bass will slurp that down. Carp, too!

Here are some shad darts and flies I put together a while ago.
I thought that along with my spinner jigs, I'd sell some darts as well. I don't think I sold 10 of them.