Good Shad Year?

[matt johnson]

Just curious about how you hardcore shad people out there would rate this year so far?

I have been getting continued reports from my DFG creel contact that people are catching LOTS of shad on the Sacramento River.

Simply based on anecdotal fishing statistics, do you think we seeing a larger population than the last couple years?

Thanks, Matt.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

I think they are in good numbers in the Lower American and Lower Yuba Rivers too.

Have not heard on the Lower Feather yet?

[Tony Buzolich]

After fishing for stripers in the Sac on most "early" morning trips I've been taking some of my guests over to the Feather for some late morning shad fishing to finish out the day.

The shad have been going good for over a month at Shanghai Bend falls and after this past heavy snow melt on the Yuba they shot up there as well. Now that the water has dropped the shad are piled up again below the falls. The run doesn't seem to be slowing down and last year we had shad clear in to August and September.

Here's a picture taken this morning on the Feather of Scott Hawkins and Rex White(Sturmer's son) after we fished the SAC.

[Finsane]

I can't remember any bad years for Shad on the American.

[Jeff C.]

Yep, I think this year is one of those epic ones. I keep a log of my shad fishing and here's my numbers up to the end of May:

2006

[Jeff C.]

2006 43
2007 45
2008 135
2009 195

[Mrs.Finsallaround]

I keep a log of my shad fishing and here's my numbers up to the end of May:

2006

I guess you got your 300 mark....

[Jeff C.]

Hi Robin,

Last year just I couldn't crack the 300 barrier. After a week of skunks, I gave up at 296. It looks like this year I'm going to have to shoot for 400.

Jeff

[wasatch]

I don't fish for shad with any consistency. I normally catch a couple a year, and lose interest when I see lines of people all fishing the same run.

Took the boat up the lower A friday afternoon looking for stripers, and saw lots of fish on the fishfinder. Grabbed my ten year old supply of shad flies and tied one on. Within an hour, I had 15 to the boat, with probably 15 ldr'd. By twenty, I was bored so headed upstream looking for stripers (landed 5).

Best shad season I have seen so far. There were some really big shad in the river! Heading out tomorrow afternoon with a friend to try it again...

[ALAN MAX]

Great report, congrats.