Shad_shad_shad

**Carl Blackledge** · 05-22-2023, 07:06 PM

Hey guys,

The fellows at the local fly shop were screaming for SHAD flies today when I went in, They claim there are SHAD in at The Russian River. After looking at all the empty bins at the fly shop somebody is having a good time, Just thought I would spread the word

Carl

**Bill Kiene semi-retired** · 05-23-2023, 06:06 AM

Carl, thanks.............what shop is over there?

Would be fun to catch Shad in as many rivers as possible.

**Carl Blackledge** · 05-23-2023, 07:36 AM

Originally Posted by Bill Kiene semi-retired

Carl, thanks.............what shop is over there?

Would be fun to catch Shad in as many rivers as possible.

Outdoor pro in Ronert park

**JohnS** · 05-23-2023, 10:50 AM

In 2hr 15 min last night, the flows went from 12,600 cfs to 15,600 cfs. It's gonna be a long time before there's any wading for shad. I'm ticked...I started fishing the AR last year at the end of shad season. I spent a year exploring the river, anticipating this shad season and now it looks like I'm not going to get much of a chance to fish for them. Oh well I had a good time exploring the river and fishing all it's access points. Maybe next year the flows will be reasonable and I'll get my shad then!

**Carl Blackledge** · 05-23-2023, 12:54 PM

Johns, I think lots of people feel like you do--after all it's fishing-my 2 cents

**STEELIES/26c3** · 05-23-2023, 01:46 PM

Originally Posted by JohnS

In 2hr 15 min last night, the flows went from 12,600 cfs to 15,600 cfs. It's gonna be a long time before there's any wading for shad. I'm ticked...I started fishing the AR last year at the end of shad season. I spent a year exploring the river, anticipating this shad season and now it looks like I'm not going to get much of a chance to fish for them. Oh well I had a good time exploring the river and fishing all it's access points. Maybe next year the flows will be reasonable and I'll get my shad then!

There is always soft enough water somewhere... you just need to scout new spots. I don't shad fish but I've been catching quite a few striped bass for the last month and 90% have been caught in places I would never fish at flows under 5,000 cfs.

**tcorfey** · 05-23-2023, 11:48 PM

I fished the lower Russian today Guerneville to the mouth, morning until dark. It was very slow but did manage one fish. Other people I spoke to were about the same. There are fish there but they are not abundant. Flows are much easier to wade than the Central Valley rivers around Sac that's for sure.

**Carl Blackledge** · 05-24-2023, 07:54 AM

Tcorfey

One of my favorite spots was to fish right in town at Johnson's beach right in front of the refreshment stand, cast right into the willows let it hang after the swing then retrieve as fast as you can, that really worked good for me. I did write an story in California fly fisherman about 20 years ago. Carl Blackledge