It is that time of year again! Who is ready to catch some shad? The water levels on the St. Johns River are shaping up nicely, and it’s time to kick off our contest. Who wants to join the ranks of our three champions? Cas Summers has won it 4 times, Suede Langston two times, and Steele Doxtater two times. Do you have what it takes to add your name to the list of champions, or will these three legends continue to dominate? Only time will tell, but if you want to beat them, it is time to start fishing!
This year’s winner will receive their choice of a $100 gift certificate to Orlando Outfitters, or a box of shad flies tied by yours truly, AND you will receive a limited-edition Shad on the Fly long sleeved PFG jersey!
First Shad of the Season Contest 2025/2026 Rules:
- The contest begins December 6, 2025 and ends once I have confirmed a winner
- This is a catch, photograph and release contest
- To be eligible you must:
- Be a member of the Shad on the Fly Facebook Group. Membership is free, but the Facebook group is a closed group so you must request to be added as a member
- Download the Shad on the Fly 2025/ 2026 Official Token image above and print it out. You may trim it down to size.
Alternatively, you can save it to your cell phone and use your phone to display the token as long as it is CLEARLY visible (just don’t drop it in the water!)
- To win you must:
- Catch a shad (American or Hickory) in a river or tributary, using a fly rod and fly
- Be the first person to upload a picture (or alternatively a brief video) of the fish, fly reel, and fly with the Official Token clearly visible in the image to the Shad on the Fly Facebook Group
- Must share the general location you caught the fish (e.g. downstream of Mullet Lake, Upstream of Lake Harney, C.S. Lee near the Econ, etc.)
- I reserve the sole right to select the winner and will message them in Facebook to get their address and mail the prize, or setup a meetup on the water if possible. Whatever works best for the winner
Official Facebook Stuff:
The Shad on the Fly- First Shad of the Season Contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Facebook. Participants understand that they are providing their information to the owner of the Shad on the Fly Facebook Group, and not to Facebook.