Large shad jigs

[dblevens]

Caught some good crappie yesterday and noticed they'd been feeding on large gizzard shad.(3" long) got me to thinking about tying something like this. Any ideas?

 

[Jig Man]

white.....

 

[dblevens]

But how would I get the profile?

 

[ARjigger]

I have seen some of the members tying wool that gives a shad type profile. Maybe one of the fella's will chine in soon with their shad type replica(s). I fish water in OK/AR and commonly clean crappie with shad in the belly the size you describe. I personally fish jigs rarely using live stuff. I use a jig tied with silicone or buck tail tails and a chenille body. My jigs are up to 3" in length but typically I settle in between 2 and 2.5". I tie stuff that mimics a shad color but rarely throw it. Go to colors for me are white/chartruese, orange/chartruese, black/pink etc. My findings support presentation over profile and color relative to water turbidity and/or feeding activity. What region are you in?

ARjigger

 

[ARjigger]

To give an idea of what I discussed see pic...

 

[Pup]

Natural mallard flank feathers. Tie onto each side of the jig's collar. This is a basic float-n-fly tie for wintertime fishing. Though, should work at many other times too.

 

[ARjigger]

Pup has many other nice shad type examples on his site...see his link at bottom of his post "Pups Jig Works".

 

[dblevens]

Thanks pup. I just happen to have some feathers laying around from duck season. Thats an awesome idea, and that jig looks good. ARjigger, I'm over in Greene Co. so when you find a spot with fish big enough to eat the shad we're talking about, you spend day and night trying to figure out how to catch em. lol

 

[AtticaFish]

If you want the profile to be bigger, top to bottom, you can use bucktail as a wing material on top and bottom similar to the old Rock-a-roo style jigs. Something like this....

The Arkansas Bucktail fly pattern is another that can be tied on jigs. I have some tied up, but can't seem to find the picture at the moment... all i can find is my fly versions. Check out the link above for the step-by-step instructions.

 

[Jigmaker0421]

When I'm tyin shad I use craft hair it gives a great shape and retains its shape even when it gets wet. I usually use white and spice it up with some sharpie markers to match wherever I'm fishin

 

[chill49]

Try Polar Fibre it works better for me than craft fur it tapers real good.
In NW Ark gray or white always works are a combo of the two with mallard tied on each side.

 

[toadfrog]

Tee Heee I shoot mine in a mold . Don't beat ,please not in the head . It'll make me crazy .