How many different rivers?

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

How many different rivers have you caught a Shad on?

We have only White or American Shad on the West Coast which were planted around 1877 along with the Stripped Bass from the East Coast.

I have caught them in:

American
Sacramento
Feather
Yuba
Saint Johns - FL

They are in the Klamath and Umpqua up north.

[sculpin]

I have only caught them in the Umpqua River. The only placve I have fished for them. Fun fish.

Mark

[Tony Buzolich]

Don't forget the Russian, at Cassini Ranch and Johnson's Beach in Guernville.
TONY

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Tony,

What rivers have you caught shad in so far?

[Tony Buzolich]

Bill,
I've taken shad in all of the California rivers mentioned, the American, Feather, Yuba, Sac, and the Russian.

Gotta love'm. They're just like baby tarpon only a bit smaller.
TONY

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

I think it would be fun to catch them in lots of different rivers all over the country.

I see where they are trying to 'rebuild' some of the eastern streams now too.

[Tony Buzolich]

A couple of years ago my wife and I were fishing shad at Verona when her pole really bent over. She immediately yelled she had a good one as it took off accross the river. All of the other boats pulled in their lines so as to not tangle her and I pulled anchor to follow the fish.
With a lot of coaxing and a big net, she was able to land a bright 12lb king salmon.
Caught it on all sixes,,,,6 weight Sage that I had just bought from Bill, number 6 hook, and 6 pound test leader.
TONY

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

We have seen and heard of people catching spring salmon, stripers and smaller steelhead while shad fishing over the years.

Our friend Ron Hayashi caught a 44 pound Striper at the mouth of the Feather River from an anchored pram on 8 pound test with a Shad fly.

Sadly it pushed out Al Perryman's world record of 26 pounds caught on 8 pound in December on the Lower American River on a striper fly in the '70s.

I am not sure if Ron's record is still there or not?

[MSP]

I remember catching Shad on Coos River with my grand parents. That was a while ago, maybe in the late 50's or early 60's, hell I don't know. I can't believe I can remember things from that long ago.

[sculpin]

Carl
It's interesting you mention the Rogue having Shad. I have heard this before but have always discounted it. It makes sense because they are in river systems above and below it. They must hang out in the lower river, because I have never caught or heard of one being caught in the upper river.

Mark