Shad Patterns

[AtticaFish]

Does anyone have a pattern they use to imitate shad? I have been still playing with the Arkansas Bucktail fly pattern but on larger jig heads. The top one is a 1/4 oz. with a 3/0 hook and the other 2 are 1/8 oz with a 2/0 hook, both gamakatsu.



These are not meant for crappie..... I am hoping I can get me some walleye as the shad die off up here on Erie. Around Thanksgiving is the prime time to fish for them from the docks. Most people use husky jerks, shad raps or rattle traps. I plan on using some cheater floats pegged on the line above these to slow them down and keep them off the rocky bottom.... and soaking in some fish oil as well. :D

My favorite so far is the bottom one with the silver chennile collar. The middle one is the last one I made and I think I finally got the pattern down. Do you just use gray/black color to get the shad look or does anyone know of a different pattern? Thanks - AF

[PawPaw Gene]

AF those are skilfully tied and look great. I don't know anything about catching wallleyes but they sure look fishy.

"gene"

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[LedHed]

Absolutely phenomenal – fantastic proportion – and well balanced.

[sticksteer]

How you do that ?! Those look great Attica , best looking shad immatation Ive seen.

[Pup]

Great looking jigs AF.

I've tied some "shad" jigs that are made of craft fur, neck and saddle hackles. They were tied for a largemouth bass fisherman. One characteristic, he mentions frequently, is that they be large and bulky. He's a "big bass" chaser and has a web site devoted to his passion.

These are some of the other jigs I've tied for use in shad-fishing situations. All are tied on 1/4-oz. ball heads with either 1 or 1/0 hooks.

[AtticaFish]

Thanks guys... I figured not all of you fish walleye, but alot of you may have shad in your home lakes and try to match the hatch when the crappie are chasing them.

Pup - I have gotta get me some craft hair and give that a shot. I really like the ones with the tinsel. That on a 3/8 oz. or 1/2 oz. in purple would nail some walleye on the western reefs of Erie in the spring!!
Do you swim those or fish them "Float & Fly" style?

Sticksteer - Not the easiest or quickest thing to tie. lol These big ones took a little over 30 mins each. I tied and cut down probably 6 before I could get it to look anything close. I think the key is less bucktail per clump or your thread builds up way too much on the shank when you bend it back over and cover it up. Here's the info if your interested - Arkansas Bucktail

[Pup]

AF,

The 1/4-ounce jigs I'll swim or hop them along the bottom.

[fish_4_all]

Very nice pattern and very well done. I have done similar things with marabou on my forever to tie jigs so I know how long they take to tie. Those would be excellent jigs for salt water fishing here also. Look a lot like Anchovies and Candle fish.

[OKSTATEjiggy]

Attica,

heck of a job. I really like the one on top- the belly hair was trimmed perfectly round. When I tie shad, I usually stick with mostly gray and a little white on bottom, and try to use a lot of silver krystal flash. Yours look awesome and they will whack some 'eyes. Not to steal your thunder but here are some shad patterns I've tied recently, and the marabous worked well at a dock a few weeks ago:



and these were tied with Puglisi Fibers, a popular saltwater fly synthetic (I still haven't tired them out):



I really like shad patterns. Shad form a large part of the crappie's (and most gamefish's) diet. I've stripped shad fly patterns and nailed some big trout, tied Deceivers in shad colors and caught bass, we hammer catfish with dead shad, and slam stripers at Texoma with live shad.

I think one of the upcoming Swapmeisters should consider premising their swap on shad patterns- tie your best shad-looking jig.

["G"]

OKSTATEjiggy...........Those look good...I really like the ones in the top picture. I sure wish I would have had some of them a few days ago when I was up in TN fishing. They look like they would wear some crappie out.