For those up for a drive to Slimshad point or South Hadley boat launch, shad have arrived in good numbers below the Holyoke dam. Me, still waiting for medical clearance to hit the water.

2026 Upstream Fish Passage Counts
Updated: 5/5/2026 Species Total 4/27-5/4 Year to Date
American Shad 26,033 26,712
Blueback Herring 0 0
Gizzard Shad 0 0
Striped Bass 0 0
Sea Lamprey 0 0



Date Daily Count YTD
4/15 2 (First fish passed) 2
4/16 1 3
4/17 17 20
4/18 7 27
4/19 32 59
4/20 79 138
4/21 - -
4/22 - -
4/23 20 158
4/24 11 169
4/25 98 267
4/26 60 327
4/27 352 679
4/28 2,356 3,035
4/29 3,127 6,162
4/30 1,957 8,119
5/1 5,016 13,135
5/2 3,226 16,361
5/3 4,334 20,695
5/4 6,017 26,712