Bill Kiene semi-retired
09-04-2005, 11:51 AM
Mostly trout and some other gamefish will be chasing the Threadfin Shad on many California reservoirs this Fall.
The CA D of F & G planted Threadfin Shad ~30 years ago as a forage fish in many of our CA reservoirs. This has created a surface fishery on many of these lakes that runs in cycles from year to year. Fall and Winter is the timing for this type of fishing. It is great to see the gamefish 'busting' the surface chasing schools of tiny (1" to 4") Shad.
Here are just some of the many reservoirs this can be seen on:
Folsom, Berryessa, Merel Collins, Oroville, Shasta, Amador
This is not even 5% of the CA lakes with Threadfin Shad.
Now after 30 plus years these tiny Shad (and Asian Pond Smelt) have worked their way down the rivers to the Delta taking up residence in many large shallow pieces of water like the Port of Sacramento (Lake Washington), the Port of Stockton, Franks' Tract and Mildred Island. This has inhanced the Striper and Black Bass fisheries in the Delta.
New Hogan has Stripers chasing Threadfin in the warmer months for some reason? July through September is best there and very exciting to see.
October on a still day can be wild on Mildred Island (big flooded island) in the Delta for top water Stripers pushing Threadfin to the top. Diving Terns will be keeping you abreast of the location of the onslaught. All you need is a 14' skiff with a decent outboard motor and a day off. I have hit this several time now and it is very special.
The CA D of F & G planted Threadfin Shad ~30 years ago as a forage fish in many of our CA reservoirs. This has created a surface fishery on many of these lakes that runs in cycles from year to year. Fall and Winter is the timing for this type of fishing. It is great to see the gamefish 'busting' the surface chasing schools of tiny (1" to 4") Shad.
Here are just some of the many reservoirs this can be seen on:
Folsom, Berryessa, Merel Collins, Oroville, Shasta, Amador
This is not even 5% of the CA lakes with Threadfin Shad.
Now after 30 plus years these tiny Shad (and Asian Pond Smelt) have worked their way down the rivers to the Delta taking up residence in many large shallow pieces of water like the Port of Sacramento (Lake Washington), the Port of Stockton, Franks' Tract and Mildred Island. This has inhanced the Striper and Black Bass fisheries in the Delta.
New Hogan has Stripers chasing Threadfin in the warmer months for some reason? July through September is best there and very exciting to see.
October on a still day can be wild on Mildred Island (big flooded island) in the Delta for top water Stripers pushing Threadfin to the top. Diving Terns will be keeping you abreast of the location of the onslaught. All you need is a 14' skiff with a decent outboard motor and a day off. I have hit this several time now and it is very special.