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Thread: Threadfin Shad come to the surface in many mid-elevation CA reservoirs.

  1. #1
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    Default Threadfin Shad come to the surface in many mid-elevation CA reservoirs.

    Around October 22 every year Lake Berryessa "turns over" bringing the deep cold water to the top and this brings the big schools of

    Threadfin Shad to the top where game fish and birds feed on them.

    https://www.sfchronicle.com/travel/a...p?t=04a9983024



    About 20 to 40 years ago it seemed like lots of fly fishers chased trout feeding on Threadfin Shad in our many mid-elevation

    reservoirs in CA the Fall.

    About 50 years ago? the CA D of F & G planted Threadfin Shad in many reservoirs. These fish made their way down stream all the

    way to the big lakey areas in the Sacramento Delta. Stripers and Largemouth feed on them in the Delta. We first heard of these

    Threadfin down in the Delta at locations the Port of Stockton, Port of Sacramento/Lake Washington, Mildred Island and Franks Tract.


    Andy Puyans and Bob Quigley would drive up to Shasta Lake for this exciting fishing.

    Milt Jensen chased these busting schools at Lake Almanor.

    Al Perryman told me about the activity at Collins reservoir in the Fall.

    Many of us chased them on Folsom Lake back in the day.

    Some from the Davis fly club chased them on Berryessa.

    Al Perryman took me up to Lake Oroville where there were Threadfin Shad and Asian Pond Smelt that came down from Lake

    Almanor.

    About 40 years ago Leo Gutterres found Stripers feeding on Threadfin at the Port of Stockton fishing in a round float tube.


    In early November I would go to some of these reservoirs I mentioned on a calm day and look for schools of game fish busting theses

    tiny 1 to 2 inch Shad. Having some overcast might help too.


    I am sure veteran fisheries biologist Denis Lee knows tons about these fisheries.
    Bill Kiene (Boca Grande)

    567 Barber Street
    Sebastian, Florida 32958

    Fly Fishing Travel Consultant
    Certified FFF Casting Instructor

    Email: billkiene63@gmail.com
    Cell: 530/753-5267
    Web: www.billkiene.com

    Contact me for any reason........
    ______________________________________

  2. #2
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Bill Kiene semi-retired View Post
    Around October 22 every year Lake Berryessa "turns over" bringing the deep cold water to the top and this bring the big schools of

    Threadfin Shad to the top where game fish and birds feed on them.

    https://www.sfchronicle.com/travel/a...p?t=04a9983024



    About 20 to 40 years ago it seemed like lots of fly fishers chased trout feeding on Threadfin Shad in our many mid-elevation

    reservoirs in CA the Fall.

    About 50 years ago? the CA D of F & G planted Threadfin Shad in many reservoirs. These fish made their way down stream all the

    way to the big lakey areas in the Sacramento Delta. Stripers and Largemouth feed on them in the Delta. We first heard of these

    Threadfin down in the Delta at locations the Port of Stockton, Port of Sacramento/Lake Washington, Mildred Island and Franks Tract.


    Andy Puyans and Bob Quigley would drive up to Shasta Lake for this exciting fishing.

    Milt Jensen chased these busting schools at Lake Almanor.

    Al Perryman told me about the activity at Collins reservoir in the Fall.

    Many of us chased them on Folsom Lake back in the day.

    Some from the Davis fly club chased them on Berryessa.

    Al Perryman took me up to Lake Oroville where there were Threadfin Shad and Asian Pond Smelt that came down from Lake

    Almanor.

    About 40 years ago Leo Gutterres found Stripers feeding on Threadfin at the Port of Stockton fishing in a round float tube.


    In early November I would go to some of these reservoirs I mentioned on a calm day and look for schools of game fish busting theses

    tiny 1 to 2 inch Shad. Having some overcast might help too.


    I am sure veteran fisheries biologist Denis Lee knows tons about these fisheries.
    Fond memories of this fishery on Folsom, Collins, Oroville and Berryessa. Many who did this include Bob Rawstron, Herb Hagen, Chuck Von Geldern, Al Perryman, Bob Long, Lew Palmer, Larry Cullin, Jimmy Potter, Neil Hansen and myself. A very exciting fishery to see pods of fish boiling.
    Gordon Langenbeck
    Grants Pass, OR

  3. #3
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    I guess they got pretty nice fish in Shasta Lake back then......
    Bill Kiene (Boca Grande)

    567 Barber Street
    Sebastian, Florida 32958

    Fly Fishing Travel Consultant
    Certified FFF Casting Instructor

    Email: billkiene63@gmail.com
    Cell: 530/753-5267
    Web: www.billkiene.com

    Contact me for any reason........
    ______________________________________

  4. #4
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    How long do these conditions typically last?

    This would be nice to try but if it does not last for more than a day or two then it might be tough to work the phenomenon this weekend. The trout at Berryessa tend to be deep.
    Last edited by loose_shoes; 10-22-2019 at 11:27 AM.
    “Behind mountains, more mountains.” - Haitian proverb

  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by loose_shoes View Post
    How long do these conditions typically last?

    This would be nice to try but if it does not last for more than a day or two then it might be tough to work the phenomenon this weekend. The trout at Berryessa tend to be deep.
    Its been a few years since I chased boils at Berryessa, but from what I recall it went a few weeks after the lake turned over.

    We used a floating line and 9-12 ft leaders, when they went down, we switched to a sinking line, usually you could get a fish or two that way before they ran off.

  6. #6
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    Typically starts about the 7th of October and lasts until about the first week of November. Collins is first and then the rest.
    Gordon Langenbeck
    Grants Pass, OR

  7. #7
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    Gordon has this huge hand written database of fishing reports from all kinds of fly fishers starting back in the 1970s?
    Bill Kiene (Boca Grande)

    567 Barber Street
    Sebastian, Florida 32958

    Fly Fishing Travel Consultant
    Certified FFF Casting Instructor

    Email: billkiene63@gmail.com
    Cell: 530/753-5267
    Web: www.billkiene.com

    Contact me for any reason........
    ______________________________________

  8. #8
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    This pattern works very well as a thread fin imitation. Big eyes are a must
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Click image for larger version. 

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    Gordon Langenbeck
    Grants Pass, OR

  9. #9
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    We forgot to mention the Fly Hutch owner Mike Monroe in Sacramento.....

    When the Threadfin Shad are very small he used a little grey nymph he developed.


    Guide Milt Jensen at Lake Almanor developed a Mylar tubing over spun and clipped deer hair minnow imitation.


    World class fly fisher Hal Janssen tied a pattern that was Mylar tubing pulled over a Styrofoam under body.

    .
    Bill Kiene (Boca Grande)

    567 Barber Street
    Sebastian, Florida 32958

    Fly Fishing Travel Consultant
    Certified FFF Casting Instructor

    Email: billkiene63@gmail.com
    Cell: 530/753-5267
    Web: www.billkiene.com

    Contact me for any reason........
    ______________________________________

  10. #10
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    Video from the Southeast US about stocking Threadfin Shad in private bass lakes and ponds.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-ijgnoSxfY


    Picture of adult Threadfin Shad:
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Click image for larger version. 

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    Bill Kiene (Boca Grande)

    567 Barber Street
    Sebastian, Florida 32958

    Fly Fishing Travel Consultant
    Certified FFF Casting Instructor

    Email: billkiene63@gmail.com
    Cell: 530/753-5267
    Web: www.billkiene.com

    Contact me for any reason........
    ______________________________________

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