shad attack

fishing4fun · 05-01-2003, 08:24 AM

Its almost here , for those people who watch the fish counts over bonniville , in the next 2 to 3 weeks we should start seeing the shad numbers start to return to the CR and for those that haven't had the chance to try this fishery start asking questions because its alot of fun and it makes great oversize gater bait to , for those who eat them theres food on the table also so lets get ready to have some fun so enjoy and be safe. good luck

Sore Back · 05-01-2003, 08:27 AM

The crabs are getting anxious. The best crab bait I have ever used.

greenbuttskunk · 05-01-2003, 12:00 PM

on a sinking line I'd try the willammette near
OC. Not the most practical way to hook them but I bet you'd get into some.
Yes, they rock for crab bait and gators. I like to fillet one side and toss it out. I personally seem to do better on oversize that way.
Shad fishing it just a kick with the ladies and kids to. Everybody gets into the action.
Have fun! :grin:

[ 05-01-2003, 01:01 PM: Message edited by: greenbuttskunk ]

redfish89 · 05-01-2003, 12:09 PM

A total of 9 shad have been counted over The Dalles dam. This is interesting because at Bonneville Dam they are still at 0 shad.. I guess they must go through the locks.

Lured In · 05-01-2003, 12:12 PM

I wouldn't be surprised if you could catch a few this weekend in OC. Try about 100 yards above the Clack on the OC side in about 21 feet of water. In the past we have gotten into them this early. Keep in mind, it is a shorter run to OC than to Bonneville.

I am ready!

Cast'n'Blast · 05-01-2003, 12:20 PM

I would agree w/ Lured In; looking over the fishing journal we've gotten them as early as April 22 in years past. With some full sun and a greener, warmer Willy, you ought be able to catch enough to take up to Bonny or crabbing for that matter. Since not many people are targeting them yet, it will be key to keep moving them until you find them.

McDuck85 · 05-01-2003, 12:27 PM

I hear that the Shad fishing is pretty good near Camas. How long do the runs usually last? [img]graemlins/1zhelp.gif[/img]

brshooter · 05-01-2003, 01:04 PM

I have fished shad at the mouth of the Washougal. Seems like it is a hit and miss thing there. Some times it is hot, others stink. I have been there at times and sat for a couple of hours with only one or two only to have it turn on and catch 20 in the next hour.

Usually mid May to mid June. You will know when they are in. Everyone will be talking shad.

fishing4fun · 05-01-2003, 09:48 PM

well it seems like this fishery lasts up to 2 months if not longer ive cought them into july. the peak is about a month after they come in.

fishing4fun · 05-01-2003, 09:49 PM

well it seems like this fishery lasts up to 2 months if not longer ive cought them into july. the peak is about a month after they come in.

fishing4fun · 05-01-2003, 09:51 PM

oooops

TillamookChinook · 05-01-2003, 11:55 PM

Where should a flyfisher go to get into shad in the Portland area?

greenbuttskunk · 05-02-2003, 08:02 AM

Love the little buggers, except when they make a "deposit" on you when you land them. It's just SO pleasant!! A new chinese soup: Cream of sum yung shad.

[ 05-02-2003, 09:03 AM: Message edited by: greenbuttskunk ]

Pilar · 05-02-2003, 08:15 AM

greenbuttskunk .. try just the gills from a quivering shad. You can use much less lead and fish in faster water. This is an old bank maggot trick.

sunfish · 05-02-2003, 08:27 AM

What's everyone using for shad bait?. This weekend is the only weekend I will ever have a chance to fish. I am fishing from the bank, anything on the other end of the line that will fight is good enough for me. I will be heading to Benson Lake and try some trout fishing, hopefully make it out to the Boneville Dam and do some fishing. thanks

Mr. Carp · 05-02-2003, 10:44 AM

Red tipped hildebrants seem to work well. Shad fishing is such a kick in the pants. I'd rather do that sometimes then going to cathc sturgeon afterwards

BUGLEMAN · 05-02-2003, 12:31 PM

You callin' me a bank maggot :grin:

I love those gills from a quivering shad.l

Tanner · 05-02-2003, 12:51 PM

Quote:

for those who eat them theres food on the table

You have got to be kidding, there is actually people that eat them???????? Someone gave me two cans of it last year and I could not even get my cat to eat it. Seriously

Quote:

Where should a flyfisher go to get into shad in the Portland area?

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helvetica">Do you have a boat? We flyfish for them up by the falls and do just as good if not better than the guys casting hardware at them.

24 on/ 48 off · 05-02-2003, 04:12 PM

Fished the MC today. I swear I was marking a bunch of 'em. Seemed like a lot more small fish passing by.

Oh, and the springers just passed by too :depressed:

--spud-- :smile:

brshooter · 05-02-2003, 06:36 PM

Sunfish,
I am into the high end lures for shad. Here is the lure I became a believer in. Take a brass barrel swivel (#5 or #7) and attach a Gami #6 siwash hook to it. Tie it on to a 3-4 foot leader and slide a 5mm or 6mm chartruese bead down the leader. Fish it behind a hot-n-tot diver or on a 2 foot lead dropper.

steelhead22 · 05-02-2003, 11:34 PM

brshooter WHAT ARE YOU DOING!!!! You've let the secret out. You don't just post those kinda things on the public forum. Just kiddin. Seriously though, the deadliest lure out there for shad is the bare hook. I haven't found anything that comes close. Gold or silver barrel swivel, split ring, and a #8 siwash gami. Put 'em together in that order and you're in business, nothing comes close. Oh yeah, don't tell anyone, it's top secret. :grin:

cully · 05-03-2003, 10:42 AM

Steelhead22, will you show me or diagram that rigging for me when I pop in for prep today? You know I can't see rigging on a page. Call me dumb or an old timer with A.D.D. but don't call me late for shad fishing. By the way, got my anchor, rope and caribeanier out of the North yesterday. It wasn't an easy task either. 4th pass. Saved me a ton of money.

redfish89 · 05-03-2003, 04:26 PM

I can't wait for those little buggers...

bait boy · 05-03-2003, 05:34 PM

The reason that there are fish showing up at the Dalles and not at Bonnie may be due to the shad entering the locks and going up that way.

McDuck85 · 05-03-2003, 09:23 PM

Hey redfish89,
Give me a holler when you're ready to go after these little buggers...

Dipnet · 05-03-2003, 10:05 PM

How deep of water do you fish for shad, and are they closer to the bottom or are they more shallow? As you can probably tell, we've never fished for them before!! [img]graemlins/1zhelp.gif[/img] Thanks!!

Dipnet :grin:

PayDay · 05-04-2003, 06:08 PM

Fish just off the bottom with about a 2 foot dropper in fairly good current, your favorite lure on about 3 or 4 feet of leader. I love to use trout rods. Fish on, and on, and on.

[ 05-04-2003, 07:12 PM: Message edited by: adiboy ]

steelhead22 · 05-04-2003, 09:56 PM

Dipnet- I always use a 2'-3' dropper on the bottom. Sometimes they'll be running right off the bank in 6' of water, others they'll be in the middle in 25'. Sometimes it takes me 5-10 moves to get in "the seam" that they're using to go upriver. If i'm only getting a hit every 5-10 minutes or so, I'll move. Look around and see who's catching, most likely you'll be able to identify the path they are using. Find an open spot in they're path upriver and you're looking at 100 fish in a few hours. Good luck!

Dipnet · 05-04-2003, 10:04 PM

Thanks for the tips adiboy and steelhead22. Looking forward to trying for them!!

Dipnet :grin:

fishing4fun · 05-05-2003, 07:12 AM

well i dont know about the rest of you but those shad darts you buy in the store work just fine.I even went out and got me a dart mold and made up some of my own.This way i was able to try different colors and found one that was HOT,HOT,HOT its a chartruse green with a floresant orange head no feathers i rig these just like i would if i were drift fishing for iron heads on the clackamas.when these fish are in good ive cought these fish in every cast.using a eagle claw feather lite trout rod and 4lb test what a blast

fishchaser · 05-05-2003, 08:16 AM

I use the "Wee Dick Nites" in charchruse or red and white. But of course the one I use the most and catch the most shad with is a brass barrell swivel and a small sywash hook. I have a freezer to prove it works. (It's full of Shad from last year)

Vandal · 05-06-2003, 09:00 AM

After just looking at the dam counts...I have a big question how can the shad count over The Dalles Dam be in the seventies and the Bonneville count still be at Zero?

Through the locks?
Super Shad? able to leap Bonneville in a single jump?
[img]graemlins/stupid.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/dork.gif[/img]

Hoosier Daddy · 05-06-2003, 09:10 AM

Look at the other counts too. For some reason related to how they count and how the fish use the ladders The Dalles is often higher than Bonneville, even though the fish have to go past B. to get to TD