Matthewc
05-12-2008, 12:32 PM
I just wanted to chime in a few ideas about shad fishing this season. There is concern that incidental catch may have a negative effect on chinook salmon passing through. The problem is that the salmon will hit the small spoons we use for shad. It has been suggested they close the season to curb this effect. I personaly want the shad season to remain open in the wake of everything else being closed. I want to have 20 fish days this month near home : )
Here are a few ideas [your all welcom to add to] to make your shad fishing low impact so that ODFW can leave it open with confidence.
Use only a small siwash hook with a 1/4 inch gap or less, prefferably lighter wire. This hook can bend out if a larger then shad fish makes the connection.
If your using trebles use only very small light wire again so it will bend out if a nooker is connected.
Scale down your leader size to 6 or 8 lb test and set your hook lighter with your braids. You can also loosen your drag for braid hookets with lighter hooks. Shad often hook themselfs anyways. No need for 20 lb flourocarbon as a barrel swivle and bead do not cost much if lost on lighter leader.
Last resort......You have hooked a chinook and the hook is not bending out but you do have lighter leader.......lock the drag and break it off. Your tiny shad lure will cause no harm left in if the fish is free to travel onward.
Spread the word if you would like it left open. There is no need to close.
A regulation change of 1/4 inch gap or less for all shad fishing hooks will end 98% of any problems associated with shad season effecting wild chinook salmon.
http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/DSC_0138.jpg
I want to edit in this idea from the other public thread. I agree with this as well as long as the hooks are a type that can bend out with that effort. Thanks for the idea
Idea:idea:
I use very light rods (my old glass noodle rod is a blast) BUT I use 30# braid or 20 - 25# mono and 20# leader. If you hook a springer, sturg or something else that is going to pull real hard, just thumb down or grab the spool on the spinning rod and the hook straightens!!! The entire battle can be over in SECONDS if you choose. Plus you can swing Shad into the cooler with no mess (or at least minimal mess:D)
:twocents:
Here are a few ideas [your all welcom to add to] to make your shad fishing low impact so that ODFW can leave it open with confidence.
Use only a small siwash hook with a 1/4 inch gap or less, prefferably lighter wire. This hook can bend out if a larger then shad fish makes the connection.
If your using trebles use only very small light wire again so it will bend out if a nooker is connected.
Scale down your leader size to 6 or 8 lb test and set your hook lighter with your braids. You can also loosen your drag for braid hookets with lighter hooks. Shad often hook themselfs anyways. No need for 20 lb flourocarbon as a barrel swivle and bead do not cost much if lost on lighter leader.
Last resort......You have hooked a chinook and the hook is not bending out but you do have lighter leader.......lock the drag and break it off. Your tiny shad lure will cause no harm left in if the fish is free to travel onward.
Spread the word if you would like it left open. There is no need to close.
A regulation change of 1/4 inch gap or less for all shad fishing hooks will end 98% of any problems associated with shad season effecting wild chinook salmon.
http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/DSC_0138.jpg
I want to edit in this idea from the other public thread. I agree with this as well as long as the hooks are a type that can bend out with that effort. Thanks for the idea
Idea:idea:
I use very light rods (my old glass noodle rod is a blast) BUT I use 30# braid or 20 - 25# mono and 20# leader. If you hook a springer, sturg or something else that is going to pull real hard, just thumb down or grab the spool on the spinning rod and the hook straightens!!! The entire battle can be over in SECONDS if you choose. Plus you can swing Shad into the cooler with no mess (or at least minimal mess:D)
:twocents: