No Fish Today
Member
Registered: 09/04/03
Posts: 1413
3.May: Arrived at the Wall ~10:30. About 20 shadaholics, who need a 12-step program, were plying the river. A couple of shad were caught as I set up. The water was clear, and flowing well. Shad, and a few alewives were caught, and most released in the time I was down there. Bill had his scale set up and most of the shad were in the 2#-3# range. I hooked 2 shad, but was only able to land 1, a 2.75# roe. I think they caught a couple heavier before I got there. Scuttlebutt was that a lot of decent roes were caught yesterday. Radio reported increasing numbers and size being caught at Bissell over the past week. I left about 1:30 to let the animals out, and feed them.
Tackle: Rod: 7' one-piece Ugly Stik GX2, med-heavy action Reel: Penn 4400SS spooled with 15# hi-viz yellow Power Pro.
Terminal tackle: 1-1/2 oz drail over a 4'+ 12# flouro leader, and hammered silver leaves. I threw the rainbow at them, but Bill's Spotty pattern (white /w4 red dots) caught the roe. My vitamin shad.
No Fish Today
Member
Registered: 09/04/03
Posts: 1413
Cinco de Mayo: I slabbed down to the Wall to catch the 5:00 run. A half-dozen people had their arms in a cast, the tide was slack but turning. The water was choppy from the South wind blustering up from Middletown. But, shad were being caught alongside alewives, although the alewives outnumbered the shad almost 2:1. The wind was brutal, even with braid it was difficult to feel the bottom, or a hit. I quit at 6:pm tired and hungry. I only had 3 alewives to show for the effort. Eh, they kept the off.
Tackle: Rod: 7' one-piece Ugly Stik GX2, med-heavy action Reel: Penn 4400SS spooled with 15# hi-viz yellow Power Pro.
Terminal tackle: 1-1/2 oz drail over a 4'+ 12# flouro leader, and hammered silver leaf with chartreuse and pink w/glitter separated by a black line.
cat_in_the_hat
Member
Registered: 04/16/04
Posts: 2329
Loc: Tolland CT
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