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Thread: Shad on floating line

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Sacramento, CA
    Posts
    251

    Default Shad on floating line

    This week is probably the best opportunity, so far this season, to catch a shad on a floating line. Its nice to feel the fight of a shad without the intrusive weight of a sinking line or tip weighing 120 to 300 grains, taking away from the feeling of every head shake and tail pump they have to offer.
    The temps are warming up and the shad are becoming more active (from 56/58 to 60 degrees)... this evening at Rossmore Access a few shad were on the surface around 7pm. This behavior should continue as the temps warm up this week. I'd hit the river around 7:45pm-8pm and watch for shad rising in slow moving water (moving as fast as you can walk, no riffles) about 3-6 feet deep. Their rise form can be very subtle so watch and observe closely. Tie on a #12 olive caddis pupa or comparable (stout, strong hook) to a 9' 8-10lb tapered mono leader. Position yourself at a 45 degree angle above the fish/rise form and aim your cast slightly upstream (approximately 5 feet) from where you saw the rise form on the water, then keep your rod tip low, let the fly slowly swing and hold on. How great is it to have the American River in our backyard? Good luck-JP
    Jeff Putnam
    JP Flyfishing Schools
    http://jpflyfishing.com

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    Sacramento/Redding
    Posts
    258

    Default

    It’s definitely that time! Got a few to eat a skated hopper pattern the other night, all takes on top came after 8:45

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Location
    Petaluma Ca
    Posts
    686

    Default

    I like a very small (#10) surf-candie type bug for this application.....
    ....lee s.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    May 2005
    Location
    Citrus Heights
    Posts
    2,142

    Default

    Andy told use Prince nymphs years ago. Now I use Nitro caddis!

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Oct 2015
    Location
    Santa Rosa, Calif
    Posts
    1,015

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Jeff Putnam View Post
    This week is probably the best opportunity, so far this season, to catch a shad on a floating line. Its nice to feel the fight of a shad without the intrusive weight of a sinking line or tip weighing 120 to 300 grains, taking away from the feeling of every head shake and tail pump they have to offer.
    The temps are warming up and the shad are becoming more active (from 56/58 to 60 degrees)... this evening at Rossmore Access a few shad were on the surface around 7pm. This behavior should continue as the temps warm up this week. I'd hit the river around 7:45pm-8pm and watch for shad rising in slow moving water (moving as fast as you can walk, no riffles) about 3-6 feet deep. Their rise form can be very subtle so watch and observe closely. Tie on a #12 olive caddis pupa or comparable (stout, strong hook) to a 9' 8-10lb tapered mono leader. Position yourself at a 45 degree angle above the fish/rise form and aim your cast slightly upstream (approximately 5 feet) from where you saw the rise form on the water, then keep your rod tip low, let the fly slowly swing and hold on. How great is it to have the American River in our backyard? Good luck-JP
    Hey Jeff,

    A floating line and a sinking line weight the same, the floating line is on top and the sinking line is just deeper.

    CB

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Sebastian, FL, USA, Earth
    Posts
    23,837

    Default

    Some years ago we were out with Jeff Putnam at Gristmill and he was showing us how he skates dry flies in the tail outs for Shad.

    ________________________________

    Probably 40 years ago I was out with Jimmy Potter, one of the top lower American river fly fishers back in the day.

    He was using a floating line or a really slow sinking line with an unweighted black fly right at sunset when the Shad came up off the

    bottom and swirled around on the surface.
    Bill Kiene (Boca Grande)

    567 Barber Street
    Sebastian, Florida 32958

    Fly Fishing Travel Consultant
    Certified FFF Casting Instructor

    Email: billkiene63@gmail.com
    Cell: 530/753-5267
    Web: www.billkiene.com

    Contact me for any reason........
    ______________________________________

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Feb 2015
    Location
    Sacramento, Driggs
    Posts
    1,204

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Bill Kiene semi-retired View Post
    Some years ago we were out with Jeff Putnam at Gristmill and he was showing us how he skates dry flies in the tail outs for Shad.

    ________________________________

    Probably 40 years ago I was out with Jimmy Potter, one of the top lower American river fly fishers back in the day.

    He was using a floating line or a really slow sinking line with an unweighted black fly right at sunset when the Shad came up off the

    bottom and swirled around on the surface.
    Also a good way to have a fun half pounder encounter

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