Still climb over the wall every now and then in Holyoke for the spring shad run. Those fish are the stones, especially the fish up near six pounds. My buddy Dave LaPorte used to run a "shad festival" there every year. Lots of guys, drunk awards, kill your neighbor awards, golden hour and of course largest fish of the day. We would be all set and lined up at six am looking east across the river waiting for the start signal which was usually the sound of VanHalen's "everybody wants some" blaring out over the river. It was a ball. Best part was watching the drunks get helped back over the wall on ladders at the end of the day. It was a bonus if your car didn't get broken into while parked there.
Shad are "real" fish and fight like mini-tarpon, I love them. Occasionally we get a run in Scorton Creek and B-Harbor of Hickory shad as well. Jump tweo feet in the air when hooked.
