SHAD SPOTS AT CASCADE LOCKS OR BONNEVILLE?

[FISHFINDER]

I would like to take in some shad fishing at either Bonneville or Cascade Locks on Sunday from the bank. I've never been to either place and would appreciate any tips on where to go and what to use. Need some sturgeon bait to use out of my new boat!

Thanks,
FF

[SandySteel]

I am heading up to Bonneville on Sunday myself. The key to shad if you are fishing from the bank is to find current. If you aren't in any current then you won't find the shad. Two spots at Bonneville come to mind. The first to check when you drive in is the Robin's island recreation area. It is a steep; walk down but reasonable.
However, if the turbines aren't being run at the time you won't have any current in that stretch. If you can see any seam lines in the water than give it a whirl.
Another spot to go is bradford island. Drive past where all of the sturgeon anglers set up just after the bridge. Find a trail and head down.
A week or two ago I found a nice little spot that had current but was broken up with some larger rocks to create some slower water closer to shore.
You don't need to cast out far and if you have about 1/4 ounce weight and a shad dart cast it out about 20-30 feet, let it swing, retrieve slow and they will hit it. I often catch them almost at my feet.
A former favorite spot of mine at Tanner creek seems to have dried up as far as shad goes with this low water year.

[SandyRiverFisher]

Bonneville can be really good for shad, but the crowds can be unbearable. One way I have found to escape the crowds is to ask permission and then fish under the sturgeon fishermen on Robbins Island. These guys hug the deadline right there next to the big round "silo" next to the bank. Although this seems like slack water it does hold shad, and lots of em"! I generally use different gear than other guys. I take a trout rod with ten pound test, and a small leadhead jig with a GOLD hook. Thats all, no fancy shad darts, no spinners, no spoons. Just a bare gold hook on a jig. Cast out next to the "silo", count to seven slowly as the jig sinks, and begin a patient slow retrieve. When a shad hits it feels like your jig just got stuck on a rock. Set the hook, and reel em' in. Funny thing, if you walk a hundred feet downstream and fish the current you wont catch anything on this rig. Down further guys use the darts, or they paint a yellow eye on the bare jig. Good luck, and remember, dont fish under the sturgeon fishermen unless they say its OK, and even then be carefull, you dont want to get a six ounce lead in the back of your head!

P.S. There is a similar good spot at tanner creek, just a few hundered feet upstream of the creek itself. Oh yeah, and does anyone know what the hell those "silos" are? Ive always been curious, but have never figured it out.

Good Luck!

[TheRogue]

Ok, so is this boat new to you, or brand new??

By the way, you need to post those Hood River reports here, so everyone can be jealous of you.

T.R.

[FISHFINDER]

Thanks for the tips. We went today and ended up fishing below Tanner Creek for a while with no luck. Then went to Bradford Island and watched two guys do really good. Tried every thing in the tackle box and thought I would go down in history as the only person to ever go home without a shad when the counts are around 100K. Finally figured it out and hooked 4. Green headed tube jig with white tail and green bead slid down the line to the jig. It was a nice day and even saw some sturgeon caught.

Thanks to the two that posted, and yes, The Rogue is right, I have gotten lucky a few times on the Hood recently. images/icons/smile.gif