Jeff’s 2021 AR Shad Reports

[Jay Murakoshi]

Studs won't work. I don't have felts

[Jeff C.]

Fished this morning and got 6 and LDRed 6. Had to bail around noon because the raft hatch got too thick. Almost got speared by a kayak padding straight at me. I hand to fend him off by pushing his bow away from me. Then I almost got run over by a raft because the Dad up front was facing backwards taking a pic of his kids.

[Pvillarr]

Fished this morning and got 6 and LDRed 6. Had to bail around noon because the raft hatch got too thick. Almost got speared by a kayak padding straight at me. I hand to fend him off by pushing his bow away from me. Then I almost got run over by a raft because the Dad up front was facing backwards taking a pic of his kids.

That does not sound fun.

[Smitty Fish]

Sounds like a typical “Splash and Giggle “ day on the A!

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Most retired folks don't fish on weekends.

[Ed Wahl]

The run aint over yet. Went over 2 dozen this afternoon. It was a challenge dealing with all the peeps. Had a couple just come wading downstream directly through the run I was fishing. Luckily the shad came right back after they were gone. Lot of fresh looking fish came up with the higher flows, even caught a small striper.

[Jeff C.]

Fished this morning for a couple of hour and got several. 3 drift boats (Bruce Porter, Joe Vasquez, and Ethan Bush) and 2 bankies were fishing the stretch that I was fishing. Went to another run upriver in the afternoon and got into double digits using a yellow PT. Met Neal Pultz (Pultz Poppers) who gave me a small silver spoon fly. He told me that if I use it for steelhead to use at least 16 lb flouro tippet. Nice to meet you Neal and thanks for the fly!

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Neal and his son Brian make extremely nice poppers.

https://www.facebook.com/PultzPoppers/

[Jeff C.]

Fished mid-day and it was slow probably because of the increase in flow. Had to work for it and ended up with 7. Fair hooked a swallow that drowned because I didn’t know she was hooked (probably grabbed my PT just as it was hitting the water). I tried chest compressions but couldn’t revive her. Sorry my fly looked good enough to eat Ms Swallow.

[Jeff C.]

Fished mid-day again today. There wasn’t much pressure during the middle of the day but the shad are not very grabby. Ended up in double digits trying a lot of different flies. I caught shad with the following flies:

Frenchie Ronald
Yellow PT
Green PT
Soft hackle caddis pupu
Wet Pinky