Let's talk about SHAD !

[surfrod]

I never knew there was much of a shad run on the Raritan!

Yes I read there will be a moratorium next year.

[ReelErIn]

I've never Shad fished think I might give it a try this Spring.
I've got the boat maybe I see if anyone here wants to get out on a weekday.
Last yr I spoke with a guy that wanted to get out on the Salt side but we never were able to hook up.
I'll give it a try again this yr.

[bunker dunker]

if you have never done it,please do it this year.they are a blast on light gear.
all ya need is a hand full of darts,ultra light and a spool of 4lb test and your set.they fight like no other fish in the sweet water.if any one has questions
please pm me.

[JerryC]

Try it if you havent yet.. trust me when i tell you, its now a yearly routine for me and my friends.

[urbnimports]

i use 6lb or 8lb test, and on the big D they are plentyful!! i have not had a run yet that didn't get us at least 20 to 40 fish!

[kickstart]

I do a float trip on the BigD every spring and target shad and trout. I Spin with 4lb test on a light set up and throw a fly with 5-6 wt rod with sinking wt. foreward line. I start in Narrowsburg NY and am able to wade fish for shad right there in the pool with great results before and after the float trip.
Does anyone have a fly pattern they could share. I tie my own and am now using a chartruese or hot pink bodied fly with flash a boo tail and dumb bell or chain bead eyes. They work very well for me but I woud like some more choices.

[JerryC]

I try to use my lightest setups using 4-6lb test.. all u need is a shad dart and spoon..

[NJ219bands]

Many years ago I caught a tagged shad in the Delaware River. When I reported it to the biologist, he didn't believe me. I had to send him the tag. It was tagged near Lambertville, NJ, the previous spring. In the olden days, the biologists thought that shad did not return to the river each year and most of them died after spawning. My shad was in the river on 2 consecutive years.