Size 6-8 hook (sometimes lead wrap body)
small dumbell "Clouser style"
Marabou tail w/crystal flash
Silver tinsel wrap body
Finish the head with crystal chenille over the dumbell
Tie in any color combo you'd like
I like Chartreuse & White; Orange & White, and Hot Pink & White, but many others work.
I'm tying a bunch this week for a trip to FL next week.
haha, just had a conversation with Lestrout on this. "Shadfly" is a common name, and not used consistently. In some places it means one type of critter, in others a different type of critter.
In my lexicon, "shadfly" = Green Drake. But in other places they can describe streamers, a type of caddis, and a type of stonefly!
My go to shad flies are an olive over white fishair/ super hair surf candy in #6 - tye it short , about 2" max on a wide gape hook - I use a Gami SC15 for the short shank n wide gape.
And on the same hook a Ray's fly.
Tye both with and without Krystal flash.
I'm not sure which shad you're after but for me hooking is easy, it's keeping them on which is tough - strike hard, keep the line tight and use a soft or medium rod tip in 5-7.
Let's see, shad fly = green Drake, Hexagenia, some species of large caddis, etc. It's as others have said a common name for several flies. Try to narrow it down to a name of a fly that's less well used.
Then there are flies used to catch shad.
I have been chasin shad on the fly since 1970. These are all I ever needed for them. Last one is for herring in bucks county, tied in several colors with the sequin on hook bend.