Mid-March trip to the James River in downtown Richmond to fish for shad.

It was a great bite, with at least a dozen doubles and at least 50 singles.

There are a few times more appropriate for a “Double Tackle” than in the spring when huge schools of small, immature bait pods are rolling up the creeks off the ICW, in the shallow bays, and up the rivers trying to find a place to hide from all the predators. The double tackle of two identical baits makes it much more irresistible and confusing at the same time to the predator fish. I think the fish look at this tackle with baits zigging and zagging and say, not if I’m going to eat one, but WHICH ONE am I going to eat? As seen in the video attached, there is always the possibility of catching two fish at a time using this tackle.

Speckled trout, striped bass, and American shad are a few of the most likely candidates for this tackle. Spring trout will sometimes key on juvenile shrimp, and this tackle is a dead ringer for the job. American and hickory shad are complete idiots for this tackle as they stage in tight schools, and you often have doubles. For the speckled trout, I like a 3” DOA Shrimp, and for the shad, I prefer small soft plastic worms. Depending on water clarity, I like fluorocarbon: 20-30 lb. for the trout and 8-12 lb. for the shad. There is a fine line between using a floro light enough to get the bite and heavy enough to withstand the force of two fish at a time yanking against each other. The knot that connects everything is pretty simple, but it requires doing it a few times to get it right. It is a MUST to moisten the fluoro when tightening the knot, as it will cut itself if not wet. Test your knots, pulling hard on them, before tying them on to use.

I will get sporty this year and make a double (squid) tackle for the blackfins. I may get two at once, but that’s just a gamble I’m willing to take. Stay in touch with my YouTube channel for video(s) featuring the blackfins. I will make the blackfin tackle with 50 lb. fluoro.

Regardless of what kind of bait you use, I use the jig heads that make the baits walk the dog underwater like a “Gotcha Plug.” The trailing bait zigs and zags with the same cadence as the jig head/bait below and has no jig head, just a hook, and often will be the one that gets the bite.

I’m not going into a lengthy explanation in writing about how to make this tackle but will show an up-close detailed video that explains this simple knot and rigging thoroughly.

Both videos above can be viewed in their entirety by visiting Tim Barefoot’s Youtube channel. Or, view these title’s “Using Double Tackle to fish for Shad“and “How to Make Double Tackle.”

For smaller freshwater fish try:

Size #6: Target fish include Panfish including Bluegill (Bream), Sunfish, and Crappie. Also great for Trout, Carp, White Perch, and more.

For larger freshwater fish try:

Size 1/0: Target fish include Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Larger Trout, Carp, Walleye, and more.

Barefoot Jig: Target fish include Trout (speckled and gray), Drum (red and black), Flounder, Striped and Hybrid Bass, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye and more!

For larger catfish fish try:

7/0 Catfish Circle Hook: Target fish include Blue, Bullhead, Channel, Flathead, and White Catfish.

SALTWATER TACKLE YOU MAY WANT TO TRY:

7/0 and 11/0 J-Hook Chin Weights: Target fish include Tuna, Wahoo, Mahi or Common Dolphin, King Mackerel, Wahoo, and more. Easy to rig!

4 oz. Crab Decoy Jig: Target fish for Striped Bass, nearshore Drum, Snook, Grouper, west coast bottom fish, and more.

4 oz. Tuna Squid Decoy Jig: From the eastern, western, Alaskan, and gulf coasts, target fish include: Tuna, Dolphin, Wahoo, Fluke, Flounder, Striped Bass, Seabass, Amberjack (east coast), Yellow Tail (west coast), California White Sea Bass (west coast), Grouper, Snapper, Halibut, Ling cod, and all Alaskan bottom fish.

8 oz. - 12 oz. 10/0 Squid Decoy Jig: Catch BIG Grouper, Amberjack, Giant Stripers, and more.