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Thread: Evolution of Shad flys?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
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    San Jose, CA
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    Default Evolution of Shad flys?

    As recent as 5 years ago it seems like most Shad flies were bigger and more towards, chartreuse, green, pink... etc... and now the flies fished with greater success are smaller with a bead head with an emphasis on red along the lines of the Mahalo or Albino Wino used at Pyramid Lake (Credit/Tip of the hat to Jeff C.!) Why the change? Shad diets or "just" innovation by Jeff c. or ?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Nov 2012
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    Sunnyvale
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    Obviously I cannot speak to Jeff's intent, but when i searched for the foods that Shad eat, I found Mysida; a shrimp-like crustaceans on the list. These are small 0.2 - 1 inches and their general shape is much closer to Jeff's flies than other common shad patterns.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mysida#Distribution

  3. #3
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    May 2005
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    Citrus Heights
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    The Maria style flies were cooked up by me mashing up a whole lots of different flies. Serendipitously, they turned out to be in the shape of Mysis shrimp which is part of shad diet. It was not my intent to tie a mysis shrimp pattern. Dumb luck I guess!

  4. #4
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    Sebastian, FL, USA, Earth
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    My brother Dick and I started fly fishing for Shad in the 1960s at upper Goethe Park / River Bend Park way before the bridge was built.

    Shad flies then were huge by today's standards......tied in size 4 and 6 on a 1x long nickel platted Eagle Claw 1197 hook.

    I think they worked pretty well because there will "trillions" of Shad back then. Maybe thousands?


    Over the years they started getting smaller and smaller.
    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........
    ______________________________________

  5. #5
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    I found the rough comparison of these images interesting.

    Click image for larger version. 

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  6. #6
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    Every river you go to on the East Coast or West Coast the popular Shad flies or jigs are slightly different.
    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
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    Jan 2005
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    Sacramento
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    Yep, those flies that we used 30 years ago couldn’t possibly work today. ��

  8. #8
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    Mar 2005
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    Tejas !!
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    Quote Originally Posted by Terry Thomas View Post
    Yep, those flies that we used 30 years ago couldn’t possibly work today. ��
    Well crap then Guess I need to throw em out then! I hate when my fly box becomes obsolete.

  9. #9
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    Fair Oaks , California
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    I recall that a shiny , bare hook was a go-to back in the 1940's and 50's . Not sure what size ?

    D.~

  10. #10
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    Yuba City, Ca.
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    You're not that old David.

    In the fifties my dad and I would stop at the Saving Center on the corner of Arden and Howe. We'd pick lead bodied shad darts about a size #2. It was nothing more than a single white hackle wrapped around the neck above the lead. I've even had them eat a 3/0 Clouser while striper fishing in the Yuba.
    Tony
    TONY BUZOLICH
    Feather River Fly
    Yuba City, CA.
    (530) 790-7180

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