A California old-timer once told me his earliest ever shad was April 5. That would just be a couple weeks away!

Last year, I'd swear I was hooking them around Verona by April 15th. That seemed early. If this year is the same, it could be happening again within a month, which would be great.

Any thoughts on how the scarcity of water might affect this year's run?

And definitely, if you catch one or see one being caught, let us know it has begun for 2014