How to Use a Shad Dart
- 1). Fish in the spring on the East Coast rivers, between March and May. Fish for shad in the summer months, between June and Labor Day, on western rivers like the Columbia. Water temperature controls when the shad "run" so you have to go at an appropriate time of year.
- 2). Attach a weight to your line. Shad run near the bottom -- use a weight like a metallic eye or a lure wrapped with lead wire.
- 3). Use brightly colored darts. Colors like yellow, red, chartreuse, purple and pink with gold, silver or white tinsel are popular choices.
- 4). Cast the dart on the upstream part of the flowing river near the shore. If the hook is not getting snagged occasionally you are not fishing deep enough.
- 5). Wait 20 to 30 seconds between re-castings.
- 6). Do not set the hook; shad hook themselves. A shad strike is so strong that a fisherman can overreact and pull the hook through the shad's mouth. Just reel in the hooked shad.
- 7). Use your net when the shad reaches the surface.
Source...