Double up for shad

It’s not unusual for American shad to reach several pounds in size before they head up the Cooper River on their spring spawning run.

Two jigs is better than one

Shad fishing in the early spring along the eastern seaboard is a “must do” for any angler within driving distance of a spawning river. For anglers really wanting to put a strain on their fishing rods, a tandem rig is the way to go.

Females and males are actively discharging their reproductive packages at night in the Cooper River. And they spend the entire day defending their brood stock by attacking anything that appears to be feasting in their nursery area.

Anything small and flashy that mimics a minnow is a prime target. A tandem rig just doubles the possibility of being noticed by shad prowling their nursery grounds.

Tandem rigs can be made by tying two jigheads 12 to 16 inches apart on the main line or by using a three-way swivel with two different lengths of leader.   In order to improve the chances of a hookup, anglers can tie on different colors and sizes at the same time. This improves their chances of finding the right color and size combination.

About Jeff Burleson 1316 Articles
Jeff Burleson is a native of Lumberton, N.C., who lives in Myrtle Beach, S.C. He graduated from N.C. State University with a degree in fisheries and wildlife sciences and is a certified biologist and professional forester for Southern Palmetto Environmental Consulting.

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