Shad Darts

[Hawnjigs]

Just got a combo sizes mold, and was wondering if anyone has any suggestions how to tie & fish shad darts for what species? Noticed that Stump had some rather garish heads hanging from his rack.

 

[quivira kid]

I have tied a few as thread necks with mallard flank for winter crappie.

 

[Hawnjigs]

QK, are you fishing em thru the ice? Do the heads have any performance advantage over other styles?

 

[quivira kid]

Not through the ice, but vertical fishing a brush pile.... similar to ice. They do fall a little different than a ball head, which I think can make a difference. I think flipping them in the same scenario could be great, too. They move around a little as that flat nose is falling.

 

[StumpHunter]

I have found that tying the jigs with thread necks are best because of the lack of room on the shank. I also use them jigging, spider rigging and longlining. The 1/4oz works great for deeper water brush and deeper holding fish suspended in deep water. I use a lot of 1/32 and 1/16oz too. And don't forget the great boolie jigs tied with the shad darts Awesome jig to use for crappie.

 

[Fatman]

Great info all!!!!!!

 

[redman]

Keith threadnecks are the best I personally like the Flash Duck patterns. They do fall faster than the ball heads. I like them in the sprig to fish the cypress trees. Drop the right by the roots if there is a crappie you will have um. In fishing salt water I haven't a clue. I have flipper them with success last fall.

Redman

 

[plateboater]

1/32 is killer for gills!

 

[Baxter1]

Have a 1/32,1/64 oz mold.I use the 1/64 oz size the most.I use the longer shank Mustad hooks in mine usually size 8,they work great with small soft plastics twisters or splitttails or Southern Pro Tiny Worms.If I tie them it's usually kiptail or some Flash Ducks.I think I have some pics somewhere.

 

[CrappieHappy]

Keith, I have done good with Just thread necks, and with chenille....

 

[Fatman]

For those that fish them is there a big difference between the short and long headed ones?? The ones Happy has posted are what I call the long headed ones. The other mold has a lot less lead at the top it think it's the 3032 model.

 

[StumpHunter]

Here is some of the ones I like to use. Doug I only have the long head mold and like them find using thread-necks.

 

[Fatman]

Thanks Stump

 

[Hawnjigs]

Thanks guys, I had no idea darts were so useful for other species besides shad.

Fatman, I think, maybe in my mind only, that the wide mouth version of the dart head should enhance the performance attributes of the design? Dunno, haven't personally tried any yet, and won't be able to for awhile. You shoulda jumped on the eBay auction - that vintage mold looked like new and I waited a long time for my identical one to become available just a few weeks earlier.

 

[Fatman]

I know but I had to choose between the mold and the group buy that was shaping up. There will always be another mold!!! Have my brother back home looking for them to and the HUGH superflea markets there.

 

[jiggerjohn]

My son Sean is a HARD sell on any new (to him) jig design. Yet on the mon/tues Pymatuning trip the huge take of big crappies made him a believr, using the wide mouth darthead that Hawnjigs now has. We compared side by side to 1/16 oz roundheads and the big slabs seemed to prefer darts. Even Red was using a dart jig (his tail dressing ,of course!) for a time!

 

[jig-guy]

The Shad Dart Assorted sizes 1/32 to 3/4 oz. mold that was on eBay a couple of weeks ago is a Do-It Model JD-3031A and it has blue painted handles and is in new condition. I was here at home recovering from shoulder surgery and bored and bid on it and won, I needed this mold real bad:dodgy:. Now I have to learn what to do with the jigs after I learn to make them.
I do not know the difference between the old darts and the new darts. I am glad you guys are talking about this subject now I can learn something about Shad Darts:icon14:.
Bill / Jig-Guy

 

[Hawnjigs]

Ah, so you dah guy won that wide mouth dart mold. Nice one at a good price. Not sure how the short & long versions differ in performance. Since I have both versions in 1/8 & 1/4 sizes guess I could find out.

The big sizes could prob be adaptable for inland striper jigs. I think I'm going to modify my 3/8 size for 1/0 and 1/2 size for 2/0 Mustad 32833 2x hooks to dance in the ocean.

I think certain CA rivers still have shad runs?

 

[Hawnjigs]

I know but I had to choose between the mold and the group buy that was shaping up. There will always be another mold!!! Have my brother back home looking for them to and the HUGH superflea markets there.

Yup, you was right. When it rains it pours.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Do-It-Shad-...ps=63&clkid=7588463631023007042&_qi=RTM759774

 

[Baxter1]

Saw a video on youtube awhile back,I think it was called tying a redhead jig.You used one of the insider tube heads rubber legs,chenille body and red thread wrapped over part of the head leaving just the tip exposed.I tied some with dart heads,thought they looked pretty neat.