Not Jeff's 2020 shad reports

[amoeba]

I'm at river park and there's one guy picking up a few fish. Some russians on the other side. Not lights out but I see silver.

[amoeba]

A bakers dozen fishermen are catching a bunch of shad tonight at River Park, some larger fish...not a fly rod to be seen.

[Twowheelsonecamera]

Been having a good time at gristmill the last few nights. watched a few schools make their way up river as well. big schools. got my first few on the spey rod too.
didnt mean to beach the one female. snapped a pic and sent her off quick as I could.
15668

[amoeba]

Wide effing open shad bite tonight. Everyone catching fish, and many heavy whoppers and jumps among them. Big school musta moved up.

[amoeba]

Another 10 shad...more people...but plenty of fish, especially on Kiene's bloody maria.

[amoeba]

I didn't fish tonight...but looked out there and the Russians are stringing up a half dozen...fewer people and fish, but looks like steady action.

[amoeba]

Still fresh bright fish, caught tonight in the rain amongst bleach white caddis emerging and birds working on them.

[amoeba]

3 more fish in windy, chilly, conditions, with 30 anglers at Paradise Beach, 7 with fly rods...fish were less aggressive, but still there...many smaller fish, but some larger.

[amoeba]

Far less people, calm, raining, and still fish to be had tonight.

[halfpounder]

I was in town last night helping some family move and got out for a few hours in the evening. Ended the night with a bakers dozen in one hole mid-river. Just FYI, I pulled into Gristmill around 7:30pm just as a few anglers were getting back to their cars and realizing they all had smashed windows. They said 5 cars total were broken into. Sucks

[Randy Lee]

The broken windows seem to migrate at the same time as the shad. Most curious.

[Mr T]

The broken windows seem to migrate at the same time as the shad. Most curious.

Coincidence? Not likely ....

[Scott V]

I was in town last night helping some family move and got out for a few hours in the evening. Ended the night with a bakers dozen in one hole mid-river. Just FYI, I pulled into Gristmill around 7:30pm just as a few anglers were getting back to their cars and realizing they all had smashed windows. They said 5 cars total were broken into. Sucks

20 bucks say they had items laying out in the open. Most thieves will not break a window unless they see something inside the car. I have never once had my car broken into because I leave nothing in site and I have been fishing the American for over 15 years.

[Mr T]

20 bucks say they had items laying out in the open. Most thieves will not break a window unless they see something inside the car. I have never once had my car broken into because I leave nothing in site and I have been fishing the American for over 15 years.

good point and by nothing it literally has to be NOTHING visible

[amoeba]

Bankers with a string of over 20 shad seen leaving around 5pm...bite musta been earlier today.

[Mr T]

Fished in the rain for a couple hours for nada. Nice to have river crowd thinned out.

[Jcolin]

20 bucks say they had items laying out in the open. Most thieves will not break a window unless they see something inside the car. I have never once had my car broken into because I leave nothing in site and I have been fishing the American for over 15 years.
Definitley good advice about leaving nothing visible. That said tweakers can be pretty unfathomable, the ones up in clear lake will break your window for a few quarters in the cupholder or a cheap pair of sunglasses...needless to say their minds arent working right with staying awake for days at a time and will risk jail for no real financial gain. I used to just leave the doors unlocked when id go bass fishing so i wouldnt have to pay for a new window.

[amoeba]

Very good late action Friday night. 11 fish to hand for me and friend in 2 hrs, 10 other hookups/long distance releases. Some footballs.

[amoeba]

Friday fatty...several fish had what looked like seal scratches.

[MHeuch]

I fished a new to me Pure Skagit Commando Groove Intermediate Skagit Head on my 5wt switch rod. It worked will in the wind, which was quite gusty last evening. The intermediate section, did seem to slow down the swing and allow the poly leader to sink more.

No shad for me, and I did not see anyone in the area catching them either. A drift boat that floated by said they say a large school up toward the dam.

Mark H.

[amoeba]

Skunked today...and lost a fly. Getting on in the season...tiny tides too.

[LE0]

2 of us Fished for Shad from a boat on the American River from 6:30 pm – 9 pm these past 2 weeks with the following results:
6/15 = 40 fish (Chartreuse Maria w/Silver Bead best fly, Bloody Maria w/Gold Bead was a close 2nd when sun up. Firecracker kept up with Chartreuse Maria when sun down. Color did not matter much with the good bite.

6/17 = 25 fish (Chartreuse Maria w/Silver Bead best when sun up, Firecracker best when sun down)
*If we caught a big female, up to 10 fish would swirl around her as we landed her!

6/22 = 20 fish (Bloody Maria w/Gold Bead best fly. Pink w/White Bead & Chartreuse Maria did not fish nearly as well this day)
*If we caught a big female, up to 8 fish would swirl around her as we landed her.

6/23 = 30 fish (Chartreuse Maria w/Silver Bead best fly, Ronald McDonald was a close 2nd. My first time trying RM. Will hit the vise this Winter and line the box with them. Both were good flies when sun up, Firecracker killed it when sun down, and we both had to switch to it).
*They had bummed up the flows from 2,750 to 3,000 in the morning. Based on my past experience a 250 cfs bump may or might not affect the fishing. Lucky for us, it did not this time.
*If we caught a big female, up to 6 fish would swirl around her as we landed her.
Our overall numbers per day were down this year from last. BUT the size of the fish for us was not! Caught a lot bigger fish this year. Loved it.

Things seem to be finishing up, guessing bite could last about another week. Either way, I am tossing in the towel and switching over to Trout in the Sierras.

I would like to give Special thanks to Jeff C for the all the reports and sharing the flies!