Shad fishing - Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

hq2 · 05-07-2021, 04:56 PM

Well, it's early May. In the old days, maybe more than 10 years
ago, we would already be reading posts about some stripers being
caught. Haven't seen any yet, so thought I'd try something else
I've done more of in recent years-fish for shad!

Hit the Holyoke dam and Chicopee yesterday and today; saw some
folks catching a few yesterday evening at Chicopee, not much at
Holyoke. Didn't get one myself, but actually caught a nice two
pound smallmouth by accident. Anyone else interested in the shad
run these days? Supposedly stripers run up there too, but I've never
seen anyone catch any; maybe the boat guys at Holyoke do.

wdmso · 05-08-2021, 07:08 AM

Only caught a shad in Plymouth near the bridge that you use to get on the jetty not sure why they are their might use the same run as the herring that’s not far , fun to catch they love throwing hooks . I know some like those little shad darts but small gold Kastmaster seemed to work better for me..
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piemma · 05-08-2021, 02:36 PM

We'd Shad fish in the Fall at the Great Island Bridge in Galilee RI.

I never did in the spring as I was on Striper hunt immediately.

Hell, we once fished in the surf on New Years Day in front of P. Jude Light. That would start us so the Shad was a late Nov, early Dec pursuit.

I knew at least one guy who would liveline Shad in the Channel at Georges.

bloocrab · 05-09-2021, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by piemma

We'd Shad fish in the Fall at the Great Island Bridge in Galilee RI.

I knew at least one guy who would liveline Shad in the Channel at Georges.

I used to frequent those docks often...the bridge was good, but I could cover more water walking the docks and it put me at a more level playing field. The way some of those XL shad would shake their heads as they tail-walked across the water always made me feel like I was catching schoolie Tarpon. I often tried live-lining them (the smaller ones), I'd watch Bass come out from the shadows and harass my offerings, but never got a taker...I don't doubt they'd work, I just never got lucky. I'd fish for mackerel at night under the lights and lost many sabiki rigs due to shad, they'd rip the hook right off the rig...used to be a good squid spot. Gotta be 30 years since I waked those docks...where does the time go.

piemma · 05-10-2021, 01:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bloocrab

I used to frequent those docks often...the bridge was good, but I could cover more water walking the docks and it put me at a more level playing field. The way some of those XL shad would shake their heads as they tail-walked across the water always made me feel like I was catching schoolie Tarpon. I often tried live-lining them (the smaller ones), I'd watch Bass come out from the shadows and harass my offerings, but never got a taker...I don't doubt they'd work, I just never got lucky. I'd fish for mackerel at night under the lights and lost many sabiki rigs due to shad, they'd rip the hook right off the rig...used to be a good squid spot. Gotta be 30 years since I waked those docks...where does the time go.

Great post. Probably 30 years for me also.

Clammer · 05-10-2021, 05:00 PM

Paul what you caught & there are still plenty around were Hichory shad

I think hes talking about American shad ............its been years since I fished for them ..I caught one in April maybe 20 years ago outside Collier Park ..it was either going up the runs in Prov or the seekonk river ..

RIROCKHOUND · 05-10-2021, 06:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by piemma

We'd Shad fish in the Fall at the Great Island Bridge in Galilee RI.

I never did in the spring as I was on Striper hunt immediately.

Hell, we once fished in the surf on New Years Day in front of P. Jude Light. That would start us so the Shad was a late Nov, early Dec pursuit.

I knew at least one guy who would liveline Shad in the Channel at Georges.

Not at Georges for me, but I did from the docks up the road a bit on both sides of the channel. That was a hiding spot for me when I lived in Gansett and it was snapping wind on an incoming. Walk out with the trout rod and the 8ft conventional meat stick. First shad got a 9/0 on the nose and then kept shad fishing. Never had a taker on a live shad either but scooped a few up drifting chunks of an expired shad.

DZ · 05-10-2021, 06:51 AM

Once upon a time we had an American Shad fishery in the Pawcatuck River in Westerly. State was trying to reestablish the run about 30 years ago. It was fun while it lasted.

RIROCKHOUND · 05-10-2021, 06:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DZ

Once upon a time we had an American Shad fishery in the Pawcatuck River in Westerly. State was trying to reestablish the run about 30 years ago. It was fun while it lasted.

Yeah you don’t hear about that much. Perhaps with the dam removals things will improve for anadromous fish....
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Got Stripers · 05-08-2021, 03:38 PM

Used to love starting the season shad fishing in the Indian Head River in Pembroke, fun fishing at night with shad bumping against your waders all night.

hq2 · 05-08-2021, 03:46 PM

Yeah, that’s a good spot. They won’t let you take any home from there any more. Too bad!
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zimmy · 05-09-2021, 10:26 AM

Grew up fishing the spring run on the Delaware. One of my favorites. Gave it a shot a few times in CT last year for the first time. Sure would like one for the smoker.
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Jim in CT · 05-09-2021, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zimmy

Grew up fishing the spring run on the Delaware. One of my favorites. Gave it a shot a few times in CT last year for the first time. Sure would like one for the smoker.
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The Derby dam in the housatonic used to be a good spot his time of year. i think that run has fallen off.

that was american shad.
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numbskull · 05-09-2021, 05:57 PM

Plenty of small bass around. Hickory shad as well.

spence · 05-12-2021, 04:20 PM

I can’t even remember my kids names most days but I remember that time Nebe caught a Hickory Shad right in front of the Ocean Mist. He was very excited.

Mike P · 05-12-2021, 04:34 PM

Hickory shad are a blast on light tackle. Some refer to them as "poor man's tarpon" and they'll jump and spin just like a tarpon. We caught them from Wasque and East Beach back in the day, on small Deadly #^&#^&#^&#^&s.

I call them slime darts, though.

Steve K · 05-13-2021, 11:33 AM

Used to catch American shad at the mouth of the Merrimack mixed in with the schoolies in May during the late 90’s. Used to catch 100 plus fish with a dropper and a storm wildeye jig. My thumb would be raw. I miss that.
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hq2 · 05-13-2021, 07:48 PM

Got back out to Holyoke. Guy in a boat was cranking ‘em. I got one on about 3 pounds, but he got off. Some other guys caught a few on chartreuse darts. Not as good as a few years ago. Guys said they do still catch some stripers there, more from the east shore. May ‘yak it next year; looks promising.
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