Jeff's 2016 AR Shad Reports

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

The Shad lay in very exacting spots so you need to be standing in just the right place and cast the right amount of line to swing through a school.

You also need to be at the right depth..

They are usually shallow morning and evening moving around some.

In the day time they usually go deeper and stay in one place until they are spooked.


It is more like salmon fishing than steelhead fishing.

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One night I was fishing just above the famous Shad Adict, Dave Howard.

He was casting maybe 30 to 40 feet across and down swinging with a Cortland QD 225 sink tip to an exact spot.

He was hooking a fish on almost every cast.


Below him where two top shooting head casters, Frank Pullen and Jeff Hubbard.

They were casting all the way across the river , maybe 100 feet, but not catching much.

I think they were showing off their wonderful casting skills.

.

[Jeff C.]

Earle and I almost got 90 on a float this evening. I got almost 70 for the day because I fished this morning. Badder Maria was good this am!

[Mr.Matt]

Earle and I almost got 90 on a float this evening. I got almost 70 for the day because I fished this morning. Badder Maria was good this am!

Beast mode! Very nice Jeff!

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Just because Jeff C and Earl get 90 fish yesterday doesn't mean that I would go out and do the same.

They are real experts.....

I can tell you that the river is loaded with Shad and it probably doesn't get any better than it is right now.

Oh, hell, I could go out and get skunked if I was in the wrong run that had no fish.

I guess floating is the ultimate because you will find the fish that way and get away from the crowds.


I think it would be cool if Jeff shot some video........wild.

.

[itsbenlong]

Yesterday (Saturday) my 10 year old daughter and I went out and caught just over 40 shad. My daughter caught 11 of them by herself. She is catching up quickly! Pretty soon, all I will be carrying to the river is a net.

[Pinch the barb]

Lots of shad today. They are seriously addicting! Unfortunately will probably be my last trip out there, have had two broken windows within the last two weeks. This time luckily nothing was stolen because I left nothing in the car.

[Jeff C.]

20+ today. Kinda of a let down after yesterday. John got 60+ fishing all afternoon going deep with T17. A dozen or so anglers this evening and several boats.

[Mr.Matt]

Lots of shad today. They are seriously addicting! Unfortunately will probably be my last trip out there, have had two broken windows within the last two weeks. This time luckily nothing was stolen because I left nothing in the car.

Where were you parked? That sucks so bad!

[STEELIES/26c3]

I recognize that lot....

That would be the lower parking lot on south side of the Upper Sailor Bar access (downriver from Nimbus Hatchery).

Vehicles commonly get broken in to there.

Lots of homeless live in the forest between Gold River residential area and the AR Parkway there and since they can see you and your long fly rod, in the river, from far, far away, from their watchtower (the picnic benches along the bike trail) they pretty much own your ass and your vehicle...

Park in the hatchery parking lot and walk the extra half mile.

[STEELIES/26c3]

Another option is to leave all of your windows down and the hatch open on your car.

As crazy as that sounds... it does two things:

1) It suggests that you have absolutely nothing in your car worth stealing

Or

2) it makes your vehicle appear to have already been compromised.

In the latter case, would-be douche bags will either A) Say to themselves, SHIT someone already beat me to the looty! and walk away in disgust...

Or

B) Be too paranoid to hang around the scene because

1) It may have happened long ago and the owner may be returning soon or

2) Someone may have already alerted the authorities and they may fear reprisal of getting caught by said authorities

Having been broken into several times at various river accesses, I now leave nothing in my truck, leave it open and choose to park in low-risk areas.