Shad fishing?

Allen, i've used 8 before and they work fine, never a super fast sink rate line though unless in fast deep water, which it doesn't seem to be this year. If i fish out of the yak and not SUP my 2nd rod is gonna be a 6wt w/sinking on it, not sure what the sink rate is, got it 20+ years ago LOL!

ScottV or some other SAC fly guys would have a better knowledge of appropriate gear than me

I got a 5 weight with intermediate on it (I think).  Can I use that?  Although I still would likely bring the 8 wt. rigged for stripers, but I'll still need to reline it I think.

-Allen

First one I got this year was on a 5wt. It came in, was on the small side and took a long time. If hate to hook a 24 inch 4-5 pound female on it. Wouldn't have been able to land it. But I'm pretty new to fly fishing so could be newby.

First one I got this year was on a 5wt. It came in, was on the small side and took a long time. If hate to hook a 24 inch 4-5 pound female on it. Wouldn't have been able to land it. But I'm pretty new to fly fishing so could be newby.

I dunno.  In the other thread you mentioned 6# spinning equipment.  If you can land one on that, you should be able to land one on a 5 wt.

-Allen

I use 4 pound mono on my 8-6 Clarus. It has more backbone than my 5 fly rod. I have a lot more confidence in spinning gear than fly gear, only been doing it for about 5 months. My 5 fly rod just seems tiny.

I just looked at my smaller fly rod, sorry I was wrong. It's a 4wt. I just got it a few weeks ago.

Allen, i've used 8 before and they work fine, never a super fast sink rate line though unless in fast deep water, which it doesn't seem to be this year. If i fish out of the yak and not SUP my 2nd rod is gonna be a 6wt w/sinking on it, not sure what the sink rate is, got it 20+ years ago LOL!

ScottV or some other SAC fly guys would have a better knowledge of appropriate gear than me

I got a 5 weight with intermediate on it (I think).  Can I use that?  Although I still would likely bring the 8 wt. rigged for stripers, but I'll still need to reline it I think.

-Allen

i would, they are darn good fighters and will test a 5wt but it would be fun.
besides the super big ones seem the exception

It will work minus the weight on the AR. All you need to do is get the jig to where the shad are. They are in the bottom two feet of the water.
So on the AR with these flows that can be accomplished with a split shit about 12-16 inches up from your jig. A small split shot. If the small split shot isn't getting you down, add another.

And try scent if you aren't fly fishing. That stuff really works well.

Cool, I will be looking for the scent tomorrow. Should I have one or two jigs on the main line? At Verona, I was told evening time is most productive, is it the same at AR?

Yes. And early. It's about the light with those fish. They have these huge eyes. You can catch them all day though. I just put one on, reason being is hate to try to fight two at a time. They are such strong fish!

If you are keeping them scale them at the river. Worst scales I've ever seen! And tons of them on each fish!

A few big ones from last year

Yes. And early. It's about the light with those fish. They have these huge eyes. You can catch them all day though. I just put one on, reason being is hate to try to fight two at a time. They are such strong fish!

If you are keeping them scale them at the river. Worst scales I've ever seen! And tons of them on each fish!

Why didnt I think of this?  I hold them in a paper bag and scale them with a butter knife.  I also use chicken shears to cut off the keel tail and fins before I pull the guts and steak them, makes it fast and easy and the keel is all bone anyway.


Wetbehindthe ears got some tonight and I got 2, lots of missed strikes too...

 Has anyone ever tried a pressure washer on one of these to knock the scales off? Ive never tried but ive seen it done on other fish with excellent results. Start at the tail and work your way up?

Now that is an excellent idea!

And for you guys with cats, fillets off the last inch or two of the tail and wedges from the head make for immensely happy kitties.  Its all crunch crunch crunch, beg beg beg and a good dose of snuggles afterwards. 

You scored Rockfish!
Plus, Lucas got some too!
I'll can be there next week lmk.

I just looked at my smaller fly rod, sorry I was wrong. It's a 4wt. I just got it a few weeks ago.

Hah!  And I just looked at my rod.  I was wrong too, it's a 6wt.  And I confirmed it has intermediate line on it.  Sounds like I'm in business.

Looking through my flies, these look about right, right?  A bunch of bonefish flies I had left over ...

-Allen