Gizzard Shad are filter-feeders. But I’d heard that larger Gizzard Shad will eat nymphs. I found out that rumor is true! I probably could have caught more using a smaller nymph, but I was floating a #8 or #6 under an indicator trying to tempt a carp. Anyway, I caught 4 Shad, and missed other strikes. These shad were probably 10"-12" range. Apparently they can get up to 22"!
Oh…and I DID finally get a carp, and had another bigger one break my line.
Pretty cool. Was the nymph near bottom or the surface?
Sweet I wish I could catch some around here(Texas) but not sure where I could find some. Nice pics.
@ okflyfisher - the nymph was suspended mid-depth…about 18" down in 3’ of water.
Thanks Dave. I have never head of mid depth carping. It seems like you would have a better hook up ratio because the carp turn back down after taking the nymph
Well…yes at certain times. I’ve run into situations on both the lake and river where the carp seem to be feeding on the floating “foam”. They won’t actually take a fly off the surface except by accident it seems, and you can’t really present anything very well in the thick foam. But something suspended a bit below the foam can get strikes. That was the situation I encountered this particular day. It doesn’t always work, but sometimes it does. Turns out there was some big shad hanging out in the area too.