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Good shad action tonight

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JackHarris

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Fished from shore and finally broke the 2016 ice North of the Gap after going 0-3 trips so far while reading so many good reports all over. I got there at 3:45 but really started from 4:45 after the storm passed and fished to about 7:15PM. Landed 20 out of 25 hooked and a few missed bumps along the way. 1/32 ounce darts behind 30" 8lb floro leader on a 1/4 ounce sinker did the trick. 70% of the hits were closer to the farther end of my cast. Chartreuse was working good for about 6 bucks and 1 roe, then switched to pink/white on the other rod and the fish got bigger and more frequent. 4 Roe total out of the 20... River low and clear, had to be at least 53 degrees.

I missed my first ever March shad in 40 years by one freakin' day. I should have gone to this spot last night instead of trying my just south of Dingman's shad/catfish spot...
 
#5 ·
those green ones were my favorite before spoons came out. btw my grand pop would of kicked my a*s if I nicked the egg sack a little like the bottom pic. lol
 
Discussion starter · #7 ·
longbow said:
Nice, will have to try this week. I do good putting a tiny green mister twister tail on the darts also.
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This week coming could be a wash, based on the chilly forecast for Sunday.... The water warmed a lot between yesterday and today, that's the only way someone with my waning skills can even catch one :) Damn that fresh shad roe was delicious... And I got 4 scaled filets in the freezer for catfish baits (cut in strips).
 
Discussion starter · #9 ·
I had one fish absolutely rip 10lb braid off like very few I have seen... Saw it roll, it was a very nice fish, and of course that was one of the few that spit the hook. Probably north of 6lbs, which historically don't show up until end of April... Everything is early this year, the Forsythia bushes are in full bloom up by me 3 weeks ahead of schedule.
 
#12 ·
JackHarris said:
I had one fish absolutely rip 10lb braid off like very few I have seen... Saw it roll, it was a very nice fish, and of course that was one of the few that spit the hook. Probably north of 6lbs, which historically don't show up until end of April... Everything is early this year, the Forsythia bushes are in full bloom up by me 3 weeks ahead of schedule.
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could i get away with suffix 832 20 lb braid of better off with 4 lb test mono
 
Discussion starter · #13 ·
Troutslayer said:
could i get away with suffix 832 20 lb braid of better off with 4 lb test mono
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I don't like more than 10lb braid for shad (shore fishing) or more than 6lb mono... From boat - 8lb mono is ok, and I am sure 20lb braid would be ok too...
 
Discussion starter · #15 ·
Troutslayer said:
are they anywhere in the Delaware whats a place i could try (not your secret spot) but somewhere to start
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Anywhere between Lambertville to Port Jervis NY would be a great place to start... Figure out where the main flow is running closest to shore, find a spot where you can wade way out and get lure to drift through the main channels, and make sure the water temps aren't plummeting below 50... I look at Sunday weather and say "no way" and that will kill it for several days, just like a major flood would.
 
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