It's time for this year's shad thread. Finally.

I've been out twice so far. My first trip was last Monday, it was too nice not to try but I really didn't expect anything. I stopped by Bissell about 4:30 pm. It was not fishable, the water was too high, dirty, and cold, and the wind was whipping. The handful of regulars were standing or sitting around a picnic table jawing, nobody was even trying down there, and they reported no shad sightings. So I headed over to Bart's after catching up with old friends.

At Bart's another half dozen regulars were standing around the parking lot talking. Not one line in the water, and no reports of shad. After catching up with them, I had to at least wet a line. I headed upstream above the RR Bridge, the water clear and flowing. Surface temp was 42ºF. I made a few casts over about 45 minutes or so. No Fish Today.

Important stuff, the tackle: one-piece UglyStick U/L rod, Penn 4200 SS reel spooled with 10# Power Pro. Terminal tackle: 5/8 oz drail, ~3 1/2' leader of 8# Flouro, over a chartreuse hammered silver leaf w/black dot, and an orange/red/white hammered silver leaf w/black dot.

Today I skipped Bissell all together, the water was just too high and muddy. When I arrived at Bart's about 4:30 pm, there was one regular sitting in his vehicle in the parking lot. We chatted for a bit, he had wet a line earlier but nothing was doing, and no rumors of shad. Once again, I headed upstream of the RR bridge. The water was up over 4' from last week, and looked like it had dropped a couple of feet very recently. The water was clear, and flowing well. Surface temp was 48º F! I didn't see any scales on the bank, so I didn't expect much today. After about an hour, another regular joined me on the bank. We cast for another hour when we pulled up stakes to head out, as a young regular walked up to ask how we were doing. No fish today we reported. But with the warmer temps this week, we expect to see shad, if not tomorrow, then maybe Wednesday.

Terminal tackle: 5/8 oz drail, a scant 3' leader of 8# flouro, over an orange hammered silver leaf with a black dot, and a chartreuse/red smooth silver leaf with an eye decal.

Good luck, and tight lines!

I fished above the RR bridge behind Bart's from about 4:15 pm to 7:pm. I'm pretty sure the water is still rising! It was about 2'+ higher than it was on Tuesday. Water was clear, but the flow was rather languid; moving so slowly as not to raise a riffle or wake around the bridge abutments. Surface water temp was ~52-53º F.

A couple of regulars were on the boat ramp, only one was fishing. Neither reported any action. Above the RR bridge there were a few regulars sitting on the guardrail making chin music. They, also had nothing to report. A buddy of mine met me there, and we decided the shad wouldn't land themselves, so we started casting. About 5:50 pm I had a good hit, fairly close to the bank. I was able to land a healthy shad with nice bright, shiny scales, and good coloration, about 2#. It was fat enough that my buddy, and another regular who had just showed up asked if it was a roe. No, I could see it leaking a little milt, for a buck. After a Kodak moment, I sent it back home to the river. And that One-a-Day vitamin shad was it for the day, nobody else had so much as a bump. It feels good to get the skunk off.

Terminal tackle: 5/8 oz drail, over a 2-1/2' flouro leader (8#), and a smooth silver willow painted red/chartreuse/white w/black dot.

Tight lines!

Nice!!!!!

Late updates:

I was able to sneak out to Bart's for about 1-1/2 hours Saturday, mid-afternoon. Nothing happening, not one report of shad from any of the regular suspects. Surface water temp was about 55º, high and clear but it wasn't moving much. Terminal Tackle: 3/8 oz drail (no problem finding the bottom in spite of the high water-there just wasn't much current), over an 18" flouro leader, hammered gold painted red/white w/black dot.

Yesterday after work, I fished about 2-1/2 hours. The water was down about 2' from Saturday, clear and moving a little. Surface temp ~59º F. The wind was ripping down the river towards Bart's, but it was manageable. Initially I was alone above the RR bridge but was joined by a guy with a meat pole, and a shad tail chunk. After he left a few of the usual suspects joined me on the rocks. About 6:30, one of them hooked up, and landed a nice roe. Not too big but a nice fattie. The rest of us got skunked. C'est la guerre.

Terminal tackle: 5/8 oz drail over a 2' flouro leader, and hammered gold red/white, and orange chartreuse w/black dot, and a hammered silver green/chartreuse w/black dot. All for naught.

Tight lines!

Hoop, that's an excellent question. Thanks for asking! Flouro isn't necessary from the shad's visual standpoint. I like the superior abrasion resistance it possesses over standard mono, it just holds up better, and lasts longer as leader material, hence my preference for flouro.

As an aside, I prefer to throw the longest leader I can get away with tossing out of a back cast. When I can, I'll throw up to a ~4' leader. IME I get more frequent hits/hook sets with a longer leader, than with a short one.


Today's report:
I fished above the RR bridge from about 4:30 to 6:30 pm. On arrival, a boater and his buddy was loading his trailer, and they had 7 shad on a stringer between them. Scuttlebutt from the parking lot was that several shad had been caught from shore around the noontime hours. Water temp was about 58º F, same level as yesterday, clear and but little current. I started out alone but was soon joined by "Radio", who reported several shad caught earlier in the day, including a nice roe. He C&R a small buck as he filled me in, shortly after he put his arm in a cast. Before I left, three other rogues joined me. Shortly after 6:pm, there was a hit, after a couple of head shakes, it was gone. A few minutes later I C&R a small buck, after a Kodak moment. Just after I released my vitamin shad, a usual suspect landed a middlin' buck. By this time, the wind had picked up, and was blowing up cold, and getting colder, from Bart's. At that point, I beat feet for home. It seems the action, while scattered, is picking up.

Terminal tackle: 5/8 oz drail over a 2' flouro leader, and a hammered silver willow in blue/white w/chartreuse dot.

Tight lines!

Today was a beautiful day to be out, and the shad didn't disappoint. I spent from 4:30-7:30 pm above the RR bridge behind Bart's. The water was clear, flowing well, and smooth as glass. Surface temp was a nice 57-58º F, and the water had dropped about a foot from yesterday.

There was one person already fishing there when I arrived, and he had 2 shad in his bucket. Within 5 minutes of arriving, I C&R 2 alewives. About 4:50, I hooked up hard, and Mr. Shad jumped once, then made a mad dash for the deeper water. He stripped some line, and made the drag sing, I thought it might be a decent roe. Nope, a skinny middlin' buck with a lot of fight!

By 6:pm 3 other anglers joined us. And a little while later, 2 of them hooked up one after the other, and landed middlin' bucks almost simultaneously. About 6:20, I landed another buck, a little fatter than the first. A few more shad, and alewives were caught but after 7 pm things got quiet. I fought one last shad to my feet, got a good look at it, but the leader parted at the leaf and it was gone. C'est la guerre... The few remaining rogues and I cleared out at 7:30. We were still in shirtsleeves, it was so mild, even then.

Terminal tackle: I started with the same set I've been using the last few days. I did replace the leader, finally, as it was showing wear and tear. I finished the day with a 2-1/2' flouro leader under the 5/8 oz drail, and a chartreuse/orange hammered silver leaf w/black dot.

Tight lines!

I was behind Bart's today from 4:30-7 PM. When I arrived, there were 4 others fishing but no shad on the bank. The water was down about 2' from Saturday, clear, and flowing well. I forgot to grab a surface temp today, shame on me... A few more folx joined us on the bank later on.

A little before 5 PM, one of the usual suspects landed a small buck. A little after 5 PM, I had a solid hook-up, and a great fight with several long, drag screaming runs as Ms. Shad tried to run deep. She was long, fat, and heavy, about 4#+. I don't keep many but I kept her for my table. M-m-m, fresh shad! A few more shad were caught, all bucks, but by 630 or so, that was all she wrote.

Terminal tackle: 3/8 oz drail, changed out to 1/2 oz as 3/8 wasn't holding bottom with the current today, over 2' flouro leader, and a green/white silver willow w/black dot.

Tight lines!

I stopped by the pile of rocks behind the RR bridge behind Bart's from about 4:30-6:45 pm. The water was clear, flowing well, and down about foot from the other day. Surface water temp was 60º F. Hot and sunny on the bank but it sure felt good! When I first set up, there was only one other fella there, and he had nothing to show or report. However, it wasn't long before we were joined by 5 other people.

About a half hour after I put my arm in a cast, I had a solid hook set. After a nice little scrap, I released a 2# buck after his Kodak moment. And then everybody started catching shad, and a couple of alewives. It wasn't all at once but one or two shad, intermittently through about 6:pm or a little later. I wound up C & R one other buck, and all the other fish were also, C & R. All in all, it was a nice productive afternoon on the water.

I stopped by Bissell in Wilson to see what was happening. There were a half dozen taking casting practice, and another 7 or 8 jawing in the parking lot. They reported catching a few shad over the last couple of days. The water is still a bit high on the ramp there, but the water looks clear, and there was a stiff current. Still there isn't much room to work the bank with the high water.

Terminal tackle: 1/2 oz drail over 2-1/2' flouro leader, and a chartreuse hammered silver willow w/pink dot.

Tight lines!

I stopped by the Farm'y above the RR bridge from 4:30-6:30 pm. The wind was whipping down the river but at least the water was clear, and flowing. It was also up almost 2' from yesterday, they must have opened the dam. Surface temp was down a little, a hair shy of 60º F. Nobody was fishing the launch, and there were only a few above the bridge, probably due to the cold wind. By all reports, fishing was slow and scattered, it seems to be the theme for this week.

I landed a small buck about 5:45 after a little tussle in the current. Unfortunately it had inhaled the willow, and raked its gills. As it was bleeding out PDQ, I gave it to somebody who was going to smoke it (hope I get a sample). By 6:30 I was too cold in a light sweatshirt, so I hit the road. I saw only 4 other shad landed, and a couple or three alewives. This. Week. Has. Been. Slow.

Terminal tackle: 1/2 oz drail over 2-1/2' flouro leader, and a yellow/red hammered silver w/black dot, switched to a green/white hammered silver w/black dot and scored my vitamin shad.

I don't "do" the Derby, but for those who do, good luck and tight lines!

I stopped behind the RR Bridge in back of Bart's tonight from 4:30-7 pm. The water was high, but not as high as I thought it would be, flowing well, nice and clear, and with a surface temp at about 56º F. There was one fishing at the boat launch, and a couple of kids tossing rocks when I arrived. Above the bridge, there were four guys fishing. One of whom reported that he caught a few shad before I got there.

About 10 mins to 5 pm, I hooked a nice heavy shad. It made several good runs, and jumped once before I netted her, a fat 4# roe. I put her on my stringer, I'm having fresh shad this week! :drool: Since I'm the only one in the family who eats it, I only keep a couple for the table each year; this is number 3. Before I left, I had landed 3 bucks, and lost one at my feet as I reached for the net. I saw 2 other roes caught, one C&R, one for somebody's table, and both larger than mine. The action was fairly consistent, I don't think a 1/2 hour went by without somebody playing a shad. Today was a very good day!

Terminal tackle: 1/2 oz drail over a an 8# flouro leader, which I had to shorten to about 2'+/-. The willow du jour for me was an red relective tape/orange paint silver leaf w/black dot. I also saw a green/white leaf somebody else used to good effect.

Tomorrow should be another very good day. Tight lines!

I fished behind Bart's from about 5-7:30 pm. There was a decent group of about 9 fishing when I got there, with reports of shad caught. For every body that called it a night, another body showed up to replace them, so the crowd persisted. The water was down about a foot from yesterday, clear, and flowing with a surface temp about 53º F.

A little before 6 pm I C&R a middlin' buck, shortly thereafter, a nice 3+# roe was landed, and a while later another middlin' buck was C&R. A few more shad were subject to a short-lived fight before performing a long distance "self" release. And, more than a few alewives provided added value entertainment, too.

The fishing should continue to be good through Friday, and into Saturday. We'll see how much rain we get Saturday into Sunday AM. If it's anything like last Saturday, it will keep the water temps from warming too much, and recharging the river level, and current. Will it be good for the shad run next week? It could, but the accuracy of the forecast is always a crap shoot, so I'll reserve judgement. YMMV, and invariably will...

Terminal tackle: 1/2 oz drail over 2-1/2' flouro leader, and a red/white hammered silver w/black dot willow leaf.

Tight lines!

Hey Now, Sweetchuck! I did ok down there earlier today, my report follows. Good luck tonight, and tight lines! Please post a follow up trip report.

I fished in the usual spot near Bart's on the Farm'y from about 4:30-6:45 pm. When I arrived there were only 2 other folx fishing the bank. By the time I left, there were 7 of us, and a few others had come and gone. The water was down about 18" from yesterday, clear, and flowing well. Surface temp was down to 52º F.

I saw a little cotton drifting on the water, and in the breeze, requiring an eye on the line, and guides to keep the stray clump from getting into the spool. It looks like it's coming in a little early this year. After the rain, and the air temp spikes up this weekend, the cotton should just pop, and clog up the works by next week.

I saw 4 shad C&R before the 6:oo run kicked in but didn't get my 1st until just before 6. It was a nice 3# buck, he put on a little show with a few strong runs, and a couple of acrobatics for good measure. About 6:30 I C&R a middlin' 2# buck after a brief but spirited tussle. The action cooled off after 6:30, and the skeeters were a real PIA by then, so I beat feet to clear out of there.

Terminal tackle: 1/2 oz drail over 2' to 2-1/2' 8# flouro leader, my trusty red reflective taped/orange painted hammered silver w/black dot was my productive leaf (again--surprise, surprise). I threw a couple of other colors in silver, gold, and copper, but for naught.

Tomorrow should be another good day, and probably Saturday morning for a few hours into the rain. We'll see how much we get, and play it by ear next week. Good luck, and tight lines!

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.

After work I headed over to Bart's to work the rock pile above the RR bridge. I arrived about 4:30 pm to find only 2 folx fishing the bank but one of them had a stringer with a couple of shad on it. The water was up a couple of feet from last week, clear, moving well, and with a surface temp ~53º F. The wind was gusting out of the west, coming straight down the river, at least it wasn't a continuous blow...

By 6 pm 2 more folx had joined us, and I had a couple of hits. They only stayed on long enough for a few head-shakes, and a couple of cranks before they parted ways. Stringer man added a couple of more shad to his creel in the same period, but after 6, it got busy. By 6:15, I had landed 2 thick bucks, back-to-back, and the fellas on either side of me landed a shad each as I released my #2. Stringer man also landed another shad; he should play the lottery...

By the time I left a little after 7:30 pm, I had landed 2 more bucks, the last one another nice fat one just as an ENCON Officer came around to check licenses. I had a pleasant chat with Officer Heath (if I recall his name correctly). I'm glad to see the ENCON Officers come around, and appreciate their work, a tip of my CTF hat to them.

Terminal tackle: 5/8 oz drail over a 3' leader (that had winnowed down to about 18" by the time I left), and a couple of different willow leaves, but the winning willow caught all the action tonight, and it was orange/yellow on hammered silver w/black dot.

This week should be prime time for shad, see you on the bank, and tight lines!

After work today, I stopped by the Bissell boat launch about 4:30 pm. There were a half dozen regulars plying the water but no shad to be seen. The water was down below the second cleat, and flowing well. But, there was plenty of "cotton" on the water, and it was sticking to everything: line, guides, reels, it was a mess. I didn't hang around, I went straight to Bart's.

On the rocks above the RR bridge, the water was as low as I've seen it this year. The bridge's footings were still under water, which was a good sign. The water was flowing pretty well, and while there was some cotton on the water, it wasn't as thick or sticky as that at Bissell; surface temp was 64-65º F. There were four anglers casting about, but only two were fishing for shad, and no shad were on the bank. Just before 6 pm a shad was C & R, up to then, I only had a couple of alewives, and a dinky little bronze back. A little after 6 pm, another regular had arrived, by 6:30 he had a couple of hard hits that didn't stick, and I C & R a middlin' buck shad after a brief, one sided tussle. Other than another alewife, that was all she wrote, and I left a little after 7 pm.

Terminal tackle: I started with a 5/8 oz drail, and 3' leader, but switched over to a 3/8 oz drail, and a 2' flouro leader. I threw several willows, but both shad caught tonight liked hammered sliver in green/chartreuse w/black dot over anything else.

Tight lines!