Klamath Shad

[TahoeJoe]

We caught some babies while steelhead fishing last year and I was wondering if, and when, there might be a run worth fishing.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

April/May/June is when I would look for them......but a long river.

Al Perryman, in Southern Oregon, fishes Shad in the Umpqua.

[TahoeJoe]

Thanks Bill.

My kid lives in Humboldt County and was wondering if he should go fishing for them. He'd probably just go to Klamath Glen and swing some flies off the gravel bars there. Too far for me to go to try, but maybe he can go up there and hit it just right. It might be too late in the year already for down low in the river?

[DPLee]

Historically the Klamath has supported a good shad run. Water temperatures at Klamath Glen are in the low 60’s F. right now, just a little late for the first migrations. American shad on the West Coast seem to begin to enter freshwater rivers when water temperatures are in the mid to upper 50's. I suspect the Klamath is comparable. The lower Klamath River provides many miles of possible shad holding water making finding fish somewhat difficult. Nonetheless, swinging a fly at Blake’s Riffle in the evening might be productive.

Dennis
www.dennisplee.com

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Thanks Dennis.....

[TahoeJoe]

Thanks Dennis. I passed on the information. He might just give it a go.

--Joe