I usually catch them when stripping or adding action to the flies. Try ditching the strike indicator and give swinging a try. I use just a standard floating line, then a 7-inch-per-second sinking polyleader, down to 3 or 4x tippet. Kiene’s sells them. Also the bite is 20x hotter during sun up or sundown.
The boat footage was hilarious! That's a long push/pull down to what looked Gristmill? 🤣. I'm new to fly fishing and am really enjoying your videos! Makes me feel better to see others learning and sometimes getting skunked. If you ever want to cruise out to Rancho Murieta - hit me up! We've got 5 private lakes + cosumnes access. I'd love to fish with you someday 🤙
wf5 fs3 or better yet wf6fs3... 9 foot rods, the 6 will work better..more distance... look for walking pace water.. be on the inside of the river curve.. cast directly in front of you let drift.. they will bite just a the drift stops.. let fly hang there for a min or so before next cast....use one fly only.. no strike /bobber needed you have a better feel for what the line/ fly is doing with out it...barbless hooks on the american river... been catching shad here from when i was a kid.. my way of fly fishing works great.. the last hour and half before sundown 10 to 15 each evening..... some times me and my freind will fish untill we cannot see our lines. nd catch a few more..lots of fun
You walked that boat all the way to the Grist Mill launch! You are in much better cardio shape than I! Lose the indicator and swing one fly at a time, Give the fly line a tug to get the fly twitching as it swings down. You'll catch them! Shad like to chase, and they're probably pretty spooked in that shallow, clear water. Good luck.
Most of the fly fishermen use a fly called the “BLOODY MARIA” or any small flies with a bright pink with a lil glitter & use a one inch pink curly tail grub on a weighted jig head for a spinning outfit. Good luck & tight lines🎣
Grist Mill is the spot for shad. I live nearby. Looks like we may be neighbors based on your walking the boat to launch there. Where there is a will, there is a way...
Also, don’t set the hook! Just keep the line tight, then when they hit it, clench the line down in your hand against your rod and give the tip a slow lift up. You keep breaking off because when shad take the fly and feel it’s not right they have a tendency to instantly bolt down the current so it’s important not to pull against that force anymore than is needed to put the hook in their mouth
