How to Tie Shad Darts

Wherever you find anglers fly fishing for shad, you will find them using shad darts. Shad darts are an easy and fast fly to tie and they catch fish. If you have never tried tying your own flies, this is a good one to start with. Many anglers add their own flourishes to better meet local conditions and match locally found forage fish.

Things You'll Need

  • Fly-tying vise clamped to a bench or table.
  • Hook, size 4 to 8
  • Fly-tying bobbin
  • Thread
  • Marabou
  • Chenille
  • Mylar tinsel
  • Bead chain or dumbbell eyes
  • Glue
  • Whip finisher
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Instructions

  1. Eyes

    • 1

      Clamp the hook in the vise so the shank is horizontal and the point down. The shank of the hook is the straight part of the hook between the eye and the bend of the hook.

    • 2

      Create a base for the eyes by wrapping the thread around the hook shank just behind the eye. Make several wraps covering an area slightly larger than the eyes.

    • 3

      Hold the eyes in place on the top of the hook shank just past the hook eye. Wrap thread between the beads working in one direction. Make several wraps to hold the eyes securely. If you are wrapping tightly enough, the beads will cock sideways.

    • 4

      Use your finger to push the eyes so they are perpendicular to the hook. Wrap thread between the beads crossing the first wraps.

    • 5

      Wrap the thread around the base of the beads to lock them in place.

    Tail

    • 6

      Wrap the thread around the shank, working back toward the bend.

    • 7

      Take a clump of marabou about as long as the hook shank. Hold it on the hook just in front of the bend on top of the shank.

    • 8

      Wrap the thread around the marabou several times to hold it in place. Work toward the bend then back toward the eye stopping at the end of the marabou.

    Back 2/3 of Body

    • 9

      Wrap the thread back and forth from the marabou to just behind the eyes to give a base for the tinsel.

    • 10

      Tie the tinsel on the shank with a few wraps of thread.

    • 11

      Wrap the tinsel around the shank starting 2/3 of the way toward the bend. Wrap to the tail, then back again. Hold it tight with your free hand.

    • 12

      Wrap the thread around the length of the tinsel. Trim any excess tinsel.

    Front 1/3

    • 13

      Tie the chenille onto the shank at the end of the tinsel with several wraps of thread.

    • 14

      Wrap the chenille around the shank, working to the back of the eyes.

    • 15

      Wrap the thread around the chenille by working toward the eyes.

    • 16

      Trim the chenille and give several additional wraps of thread.

    • 17

      Use the whip finisher to tie off the thread. Cut the thread so it is neat.

    • 18

      Apply a drop of glue to the end of the thread.