Shads

[Kartonkel]

Do any of you lads keep a note of what colour shads fish best each month as the season goes on. We starting in april on Catch22 and got 3 more booked with JFK

I think its all down to visibility and a bit the way you fish

Visibility: sometimes hard to judge from the surface. When scuba diving it could be crystal clear at the surface and dirty at the wreck or vice versa.
The rule would be: bad visibilty= bright colours or white and good visibility=blue or sardine green etc

Rule of thumb: the further out and the further away from rivers the clearer the water

Fishing technique: close to the wreck/bottom = white or bright

Higher up ( so that the fish takes it looking towards surface) black, blue or green

Time of day and weather: the more light, lesser colour

Best tip remains to looknat the others. If one catches on white, put a white on
Thats my experience

[garry36]

Is it best to use booms or a Portland rig with shads as last year I used a basic 3way swivel and had my fair share of tangles thanks garry

[The Jester]

I just use a basic 3 way swivell, i tried the booms and had tangles with them as well. I think if you give the boat time to start drifting and you control the speed of the drop, the shad should stay clear of your mainline...

[KeithB]

I just use a basic 3 way swivell, i tried the booms and had tangles with them as well. I think if you give the boat time to start drifting and you control the speed of the drop, the shad should stay clear of your mainline...

Same here, I think a lot also depends on the quality of the line you use as well, I had a large spool of Tuna Tuff Stuff line 60lb bought from Jims of Cornwall that was great, sadly it's gone and is no longer available. I just use 60lb shock leader between the shad and 3-way now, any old line for the short sinker length.

[The Great Wallsendo]

Just think of the cost when it snags

Keep things simple - 3 way swivel is as simple a paternoster you'll ever get