Just found this thread and I enjoy reading the posts!

I have not fished Shad since 1985 so this brings back some nice memories. Thanks for the reports!

Are you casting the drail-willow leaf set up and letting it swing drift or are you fishing it from a boat?

It sounds like an effective method.

The only method I had used was swinging shad darts in the current but that was up by the old broken Enfield Dam a long time ago.