I have some

left over ones, probably 1/4oz, any ideas?

What are Shad Darts?  My guess is they aren't meant to catch shad.

Shad darts are like slightly modified bucktail jigs, yes they are meant to catch shad.

 Shad darts are a style of head that mimics a darting shad when you jig it. They are not meant to catch shad, as most shad feed on micro organisms and bugs. They do catch herring pretty well (as does anything that moves quick and looks like a minnow) and most people confuse these with shad. 

 

Shad darts were originally made for fishing striped bass I believe, but have since been downsized for everything from panfish to walleye to bass. 

All I can tell you is that before people started using this deadly jig style for shad, folks like Bill Binkleman and Al Lindner were using them on smallies and walleye as well. Caught one of my largest river smallies many years ago on a shad dart. Caught some nice rainbow and brown trout on them as well. My son even caught a 12 lb. Atlantic salmon on one.

 

I believe most people DON'T use them simply because of their adopted name.

They will catch smallies for sure.  Also just so people know these are not the shad baitfish but a anadromous species of fish that I know is present on the East coast (not sure about the west but i don't believe they are there) each spring where they come up rivers to spawn.

They will catch smallies for sure.  Also just so people know these are not the shad baitfish but a anadromous species of fish that I know is present on the East coast (not sure about the west but i don't believe they are there) each spring where they come up rivers to spawn.

So they are meant to catch shad, just not Threadfin or Gizzard like most of us are thinking?

So they are meant to catch shad, just not Threadfin or Gizzard like most of us are thinking?

That is correct.  Here are the two species I am aware of, not sure if there are more.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_shad

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hickory_shad

Shad run in the Delaware River. I have seen this jig used several years ago near Downsville, NY to catch Shad. By the time these shad get that far north they are pretty much spent, much like salmon at the end of the run. I have read that shad are sought after in the southern part of the Delaware River. Read a book once, I think it was called Patriot Fish or something similar (a very tedious read),which detailed more than anyone would ever want to know about shad. Back in the Revolutionary War times, these were an important food source for the settlers.

Shad run in the Delaware River. I have seen this jig used several years ago near Downsville, NY to catch Shad. By the time these shad get that far north they are pretty much spent, much like salmon at the end of the run. I have read that shad are sought after in the southern part of the Delaware River. Read a book once, I think it was called Patriot Fish or something similar (a very tedious read),which detailed more than anyone would ever want to know about shad. Back in the Revolutionary War times, these were an important food source for the settlers.

you are absolutely correct.  I grew up near the delaware near philly and would go to the lambertvile shad festival every year.  I also read that book and it is pretty fascinating to me at least but that may be due to the geographic proximity with which i lived to the details i was reading.

Shad are a form of herring, I live 20 minutes from the Connecticut river. We see the largest migration arguably in the U.S.   Everyone I have ever consulted has recommended shad darts. Herring is a whole family of fish. The mist common being silver herring, what me and you see for cut bait sometimes.

Learn something new everyday.  Here in TX, the shad ARE the bait.

Shad are a form of herring, I live 20 minutes from the Connecticut river. We see the largest migration arguably in the U.S.   Everyone I have ever consulted has recommended shad darts. Herring is a whole family of fish. The mist common being silver herring, what me and you see for cut bait sometimes.

 

Two major forage fish around here... They are not the same family. 

Gizzard shad- Dorosoma cepedianum

Skipjack Herring- Alosa chrysochloris

I'm talking about big shad, American shad. Shad  here after they reach adulthood grow to a average of about 3 pounds. Defitnetly bigger than a average shiner, sizes up to 8 pounds aren't that rare. Ma state record is 11pounds 4oz.

1/4 shad dart with hair or no hair tipped with a Killie minnow and jigged very fast just on the bottom is absolutely deadly on summer flounder in the shallow bays in delmarva