The American Shad, was brought to the Russian River in the 1800′s from the east coast. A fish that migrate from the ocean up rivers to spawn, on the east coast they are considered a delicacy(especially the Roe) and perhaps had a similar “totem” relationship to the native/indigenous as the atlantic salmon… blah (interesting info) blah.
These Fish ROCK, no I mean they Led Zeplin the River! Catching them on fly or gear fishing don’t Freakin’ matter!!! Pound for pound I rather catch a 3 lb shad then a 8-10lbs steelhead. Yes I rather eat a hatchery steelhead but for the FIGHT, oh my GAWD!!!! Shad fishing on relative light gear is addictive.
Last year I didn’t catch one Shad. It was sooo disappointing. I tried to make up techniques; I tried dropshotting the most well used flies, I dart fished, I used some little Cleo spoons. But nothing. This year I did some research and found ‘Shad Spoons’ which are a kind of flutter spoon.
Specifically I found ‘Woo’s Shadspoons’ with a flat sinker system, he makes and paints them hisself. I was kinda worried that I was falling for the con but then again anyone who spends time making lures by hand should be supported as artwork, just like anyone else who creates art you’re interested in it should be supported. So I bought them… AND THEY WORKED!!!!!!
First Shad of the Season 2lbs 9oz
Articles I read online basically said that Shad spoons are really only good for active fish and that shad darts are better… A system of both using a shad dart as the weight/sinker, and the shad spoon is also used… Interesting but I hadn’t needed it. (tip I do use a clear glitter nail polish on each lure. Make sure you let them dry and air. Chartreuse and silver spoons have worked best so far).
Another problem I face on my location along the Russian River is Shad are known to key off of any kind of man-made pillars or structure — here they will school in large groups, during the full run it’s not uncommon to catch 25 shad. Only my stretch of the river doesn’t have structure like that. Yes I could stand shoulder to shoulder with other fisherman at places like Johnson’s Beach in Guerneville (tempting to see how my gear fishing shad spoon would compete with the fly fisherman) or the Summer Crossing or even at Monte Rio Bridge but shoulder to shoulder ignores my fundamental loves of fishing. So I have had to find areas that Shad come through, perhaps deeper runs down river before ripples. And when that’s failed, I have done well drifting runs.
Here’s the truth. I have caught one or two Shad a day. I have had days where I have lost shad too and I’m not fishing on the weekend. Rain and varying current seem to catch me off guard as I’m still learning, which is why drifting has been good for me. I still would love a School of shad experience (I pray it will happen with my bro) but the THRILL of one shad is intense. They can hit like a baseball bat or like a log sitting in the current thumping their tail as you wait for them to move. They run forever. And as my wife says they look like the kind of fish that children would draw — they are the archetypical Sports Fish!
Did I snag on a redwood stump? No a 3lbs2ozer
