Conference wahoo::fishing-v2

    The Shawsheen River will within the next 24 months!

    	From what I've heard, the optimal water temp for the main shad run
    is approx. 50 degrees. I have caught shad as early as the second week
    in April but the main run (if there is one) doesn't usually start until
    the first week in May in the Merrimack.
    
    re: eating shad
    
    	Shad are supposed to be very good eating. There is however, a
    specific method you need to use to be able to fillet them (something
    like 17 steps involved ???). They supposedly have 2 sets of "Y" shaped
    bones on either side.
    
    	What some people do is cut the spawn sacks out of the females
    because shad roe can be sold for decent money. Between the people that 
    do that with hook and line, and the gill netters at the mouth, it's a
    wonder that there are any shad left in the Merrimack.
    
    	I suspect as the economy stays depressed, this situation will get 
    worse instead of better. It's too bad, because a shad fresh from the
    ocean fights like a cross between a tuna and a smallmouth. Average 
    size is usually around just over 5 lbs.
    
    	RAYJ

Never fished for these fish. Does it require a license? Are they usually 
caught far enough up the river, or can they be caught near the mouth, where 
it could still be considered salt water fishing? 

What kind of lures/ bait do they go for?

tanx
leo

    	re:-1
    	
    	You can fish for them far enough down where a license in not
    required, however, there is some specific structure that seems to
    attract/hold them much better than other spots.
    
    	I know of one spot but it is elbow to elbow fishing and you can
    just about walk across the boats in this spot. It's not bad if you get
    some considerate people next to you, but this isn't always the case.
    
    	A shad fresh in from the ocean is a completely different fish than
    one that's been in the river a while. When talking to some others that
    fish for them further up river (Lawrence/Lowell), they said it was rare
    to see one jump out of the water. Further down river, it's rare to see
    one that doesn't jump, at least 1/2 dozen times.
    
    	There is not a big lure selection for shad. Most people either use
    shad darts, or they use shad darts, and yet others use shad darts. Not
    meaning to poke fun, but that is basically the thing that everyone uses.
    It is a single hooked, tapered head, lead jig. I think I usually use
    1/8 oz., but don't quote me on that. 
    
    	They typically come in red/white, orange, chartruse, or some other
    nuclear color. Buy LOTS of them because you will usually lose LOTS of
    them. Also, unless the run is going really strong, be prepared to cast
    literally hundreds of times for a single fish, if you're lucky.
    
    	I've heard the run in Holyoke is much more concentrated so you can
    get quite a few with a lot less casting when they're running. Someone else
    can likely speak about this better than I can.
    
    	RAYJ

Having grown up in Springfield, I've fished the Holyoke section of the CT for
many years.  I've had 100 fish days, one on every other cast.  I've never got
one fresh from the ocean, but I might try it this year.  A tip: I use the dart,
put put a tiny splitshot about 18-24" above it.  The split shot bonks them on
the head and then the dart is right in front of their eyes, so they wack it.


Tim

    re: .4
    
    Yeah, I'd love to know of a spot closer to the ocean. I fish the Lowell
    area and have never seen one jump, just fight like hell.
    
    			Robert.

    Robert ---
    Try West Newbury near the Rocks Bridge. They were jumping there last 
    Saturday. Only problem I can foresee is that you might not have enough
    personal space to safely cast. The anglers were shoulder to shoulder on
    both Saturday and Sunday.
    
    John H-C

    Thanks John!
    
    	Could you give me directions? I'm not familiar with the area...
    
    	Sounds like the best bet is to go on a weekday.
    
    			Robert.

    
    	I usually fish for shad in Holyoke below the dam.  It has been
    becoming a ritual to go there every May.  We usually stay away from
    weekends since it is wall-to-wall anglers.  Around mid-May most of us
    catch the 24 hour flu on a Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday when the pressure
    is not so bad.  
    
    	As noted in previous notes bring lots of darts.  You can get them
    in 1/4, 1/8 and 1/16 oz. of various colors.  I like the note a few back
    about using a small split shot. Some people I know don't use darts but
    what are called willows.  They literally look like a small willow leaf
    and come in gold and silver.  I tried them one year and didn't get as
    many as with a dart.  I did catch more herring with the willow though,
    they spawn about the same time as the shad.  One combination I found
    productive was to use a 1/8 oz. dart on a small swivel.  Tie about
    18-24 inches of mono to the swivel and then tie the other end to a
    1/16 oz. dart.  You are allowed to use two hooks in Mass. at one time
    (might want to check the rules for this year though).  I found this
    combo to be better because you can cast a tad further, the first dart
    acted as a teaser/arrgravator to the shad and they would hit the
    second, and you are literally getting two casts for the price of one. 
    
    	Expect to do a lot of casting, I usually munch on Tylenol most of
    the day since it feels like my elbow is coming out its socket.
    Therefore bring your most lightest tackle you have which you think you
    can handle a 5lb fish in a 5-8mph current. Even with this, by the end
    of the day the rod is going to feel like a 13' surf rod with 50 lb
    mono and a 1lb sinker.  We found the most productive type casting if
    you are standing on the bank is that if the current is going from left
    to right then cast out at about 11 o'clock. Take up the slack as it
    drifts down and when the dart is at 2 to 3 o'clock you usually get the
    hit.  You don't have to set hard since they have a soft mouth - just
    lift the rod tip up firmly and hang on. They are a great fighting fish
    especially in the current.  Expect some to run up river, turn around
    and head back down.  And don't forget to yell "Fish on!" so other guys
    can reel in their lines to get them out of the way. 
    
    	Some days we got skunked, like when the river is up high as it was
    a couple of years ago.  Some days it was like every other cast we would
    hit one.  I think cloudy days were more productive than sunny but I am
    sure other people may think differently.  You are allowed to keep 5
    fish (check the book on this one though for this year) but we usually
    chuck them back since they are tough to fillet and are bony.  
    
    	Finally, if you fish Holyoke make sure you save some time to go
    over to the fish lift at the dam.  They have tours and you can see them
    haul up tons of herring, shad, eels and sometimes salmon up the lift.
    They even have a glass lined channel on the top where you can see them
    run through.  This way you get to see all the ones you missed.  Also
    they post how many fish they have hauled up so you can get a feel if
    you hit the peak or not.  I think they do about 750K year but that
    number is kind of fuzzy.  Peak usually occurs 200-300K but you might
    want to ask. 
    
    	Maybe I will see you there. Just look for a beer guzzlin', Tylenol
    chewin' guy with a big stupid grin on his face yellin' "Fish on!"
    
    
    	Ken
    

    
    
    	To date they have lifted only a couple hundred shad at the Holyoke
    Dam.  The run is just starting.  Should be peaking in a few weeks. Keep
    you posted.
    
    Ken

        I drove by Holyoke at lunch time and the river is still way to
    high, it will probably be a couple of weeks before it gets low enough
    to fish from the bank. The lift is picking up around 300 to 400 a day
    already.
    
    Joe
    

    
    If anyone catches any shad that they don't want, I'd be glad to get
    some.  These are among my favorite eating fish.  Just write me over
    Vaxmail at WMOIS::LECLAIR_S and I'd be glad to travel a bit to go pick
    them up.  I live in Gardner, Ma.  Thanks in advance.
    
    Susan
    

    re. 12
    
    	Susan,
    
    		I have caught quite a few shad but have never eaten one. 
    They look like heck to filet.  Do you filet yours or cook them whole?
    Also do you have a favorite recipe for them?  Any tips would be
    appreciated.  I will be glad to give you the ones I catch - do you mind
    traveling to Holyoke to pick them up though? 
    
    	Ken

    I manage to get out to the Merrimack in Lawrence yesterday for an hour
    or so. The shad were running good! In that hour my wife and I picked up
    7 fish.
    
    	Get em' while they're hot!
    
    			Robert.

    re: .14
    
    Robert,
    		I have never fished the Merrimack for shad, only in
    Holyoke.  Can you give directions where to go.  Do you fish from the
    shore or use a boat?  (Seven fish in 1 hour - fantastic!) 
    
    Ken

    Ken,
    
    	I was fishing from shore right behind Spyro's restaraunt in
    Lawrence. Perhaps someone else can give you directions - I sort of
    punt every time I go there. I can tell you that it is just to the
    east of the first 495 bridge over the Merrimack when your going north
    on 495. I had to go up 495 about 2 miles then trace my way back from
    the next exit. I'm sure there is a quicker way to get there.
    
    1 thing about this spot - last year there was brush lining most of
    the shore so casting areas were hard to come by - this year, they have
    cut all the brush out of the way - makes life much easier! There were
    2 boat sitting out in the river and about 10 people fishing the shore
    yesterday.
    
    			Robert.
    

    re:smaller shad
    
    	From what I've been told, mostly all males are being caught. I've
    caught females in the Merrimack that have gone over 7lbs.
    
    	RAYJ

    re: .last
    
    could be. How do you determine what sex a shad is?
    
    			Robert.

    What are the current water conditions like in Conn. River at Holyoke?  
    Has the water receeded enough to make the shore fishing reasonable?
    
    Greg

    	Re:sex of shad
    
    	Like a lot of other fish, it's really hard to tell for sure without
    opening them up. The shad roe seems to sit in the fish in such a way as
    to not be obvious from just looking at the fish.
    
    	Although you can probably get a large male, something in the 7 lb.
    range seems to typically be a female. I don't keep them but I have seen
    people strip the egg sacks out of them and the one's I've seen have all
    been  greater than 4 lbs. I'm sure you can have large males and small 
    females though, so to answer your question, it's just a guess.
    
    	Smelt (which I do eat) tend to be like that. I have seen both
    large male smelt and small female ones, but the majority of the larger 
    ones I've cleaned have been females.
    
    	RAYJ

    Rep: .19
    
    	The Conn. river is still a little high, but people are pulling them
    in left and right, a couple of guy's that I know have been going there
    after work and they're pulling in 7 to 10 fish on average, most
    people are fishing on the South Hadley side of the river right next
    to the boat launching because the channel leading to the fish lift is 
    moving way too fast.
    	There is a story on the local newspaper about some guy who came up
    from Rhode Island and hooked into a 13 pound 31 inch Atlantic salmon,
    there is also reports of some stripers being taken.
    
    Joe
    

    My son and I have been fishing just below the Holyoke dam this week.
    3 on monday, 7 on tuesday acouple yesterday. This is only a couple
    hours each time. The guys inthe boats are really whacking them! The
    water is not too high either. We were fishing from the east side of
    the river. Someone had taken about 7 large females at the spot I was
    fishing. I wondered why they just gutted and then dropped them! seems
    a shame to kill such a battling, brawlin fish just to take an eggsack!
    Kinda like shootin a buffalo just for its tongue!! Creeps like that 
    seem to be around whatever the century, eh? 
     Anyway, it's good fishin' NOW already!!
    							Jim

    
    Thanks for the offer, Ken but Holyoke is a little far for me.  However,
    you asked how I cook them.  Well I don't filet them.  That would be 
    a piece of work.  All I do is gut them and scrape the scales off and
    cut them into steaks and roll them in a bit of flour and fry 'em up.
    Yes, they are very bony but the meat is sweet and delicious.  The only
    way I know of to eat them is with your fingers because of all the
    bones.
    
    Incidently, I did find a source closer to home that will bring me a few
    when he's able to get up there and fish.  So thanks again.
    
    Susan
    

    
    	Fished in Holyoke this past friday (May 22).  One word to describe
    it: "excellent".  We got there around 5am and fished until 4pm. 
    Stopped counting the number of fish I caught after 9am, too hard to
    keep track. Best guess estimate for the day was +50 fish.  The run was 
    definitely at peak.  We fished along the shore right at the beginning
    of the channel that goes to the fish lift. There were a lot of people
    but not too crowded. Most of the fish were holding tight to the shore
    along the channel, less than 30 ft out.  In some cases the water was
    black with them, you could see hundreds of them right at your feet
    making the run up.  The average weight was around 3 - 3.5 lbs.  Biggest
    one I caught was around 5 lbs.  It petered out around 2:30 pm, it was
    a hot day so maybe that had something to do with it.  Can't wait to
    get out there again. 
    
    Ken
    

    	Went fishing this past Saturday in the lower part of the Merrimack.
    Looks like it was either an off day or the peak has already passed. Saw
    one or two hooked by people in boats (may have been stripers) but not
    much else.
    
    	Suspect the better fishing was further up river. The water was very
    warm.
    
    	RAYJ

    I was in the Ct river this weekend.  I never saw so many dead fish,
    Shad I believe.  Do they die after the spawn?  Seems to me they were
    comitting suicide.  I swear I'd see them swim full speed into rocks
    head first, lots of the fish I saw still alive had big gashes on there
    heads.  UGLY SITE
    
    Les

    
    
         Well the shad should be in soon! So who's going shad fishing this
    year????
    
    Gus
    

    Any speculation on the shad run being late this year? If the run
    happens normally - things should be hopping in a few weeks.
    
    		Robert.

    I'll speculate that they're running right now.
    <g>

    
    The shad are a good 3 weeks behind in the Connecticut River. I went
    scooping Saturday night with a few friends and we did not raise a
    single fish where as last year we took all the herring we wanted to
    at this time, the shad, we would throw back. On Sundat I took a ride
    to Old Saybrook to see a friend, fish dealer, and he had not hired
    anyone yet to clean for him. Three of his Gill nets were damaged by
    floating debre,trees,boats, etc so he hauled them out, He will put
    them in this weekend and hope for the best.
    The water is still high and muddy and I didn't see anyone fishing the
    Connecticut this past weekend.

    A few replies back, there was discussion that people were taking the 
    eggsacks out of the Shad and discarding the fish.
    
    Does anyone know what do they do with the eggsacks??
    
    
    Thanks,
    George
    

    
    I and most people eat the roe. Extreemly good in a cream sauce and
    fried in butter and onions. I also smoke the roe and put it in
    sandwiches or just eat with crackers and beer. I do not discard the
    fish, I, pickle,smoke ,broil and poach it.
    

    I poach the roe in lightly salted water, then brush it with melted
    better and broil for a minute or two until golden brown.  To
    me, at least, it tastes like a mixture of walnuts and shrimp.
    ...
    The fish, itself, is not a favorite of mine.  I do keep one per year
    which I smoke and then nibble on from time-to-time.  Smoked, I like
    it a lot but there still are LOTS of bones.

    This morning the Worcester Telegram reported that there is light shad
    activity below the dam in Holyoke. I'm suppose to go shad fishing 
    on the Connecticut river the week-end of May 22. Should this be the
    peak in the Holyoke area ? This will be my first time fishing for shad.
    I hate crowds, so...what can I expect ?

     Jim 

    re: last
    
    	What can you expect?
    
    	CROWDS!! (But, hopefully a lot of good fishing too!)
    
    			Robert.
    
    P.S. - I'm going to scout the Merrimack for shad on Friday.

    Where in the Merrimack will you scout for Shad?
    
    I've never fished for them but did have marks on my Fishfinder
    Monday in the river by Badgers rocks and the flats up to the mouth.
    I only traveled in as far as the Rt-1 bridge but didn't try fishing
    in that area.
    
    I assumed my markings were bait fish or sand eels whateva.
    I was using sea worms but no luck.
    There were 20 or so harbour seals at Badgers Rocks.
    
    -< Tuna Tail >-

    I'll probably try (from shore) in Lawrence and then the Groveland
    area. If I find fish, I'll report back here.
    
    		Robert.

    As I was paddling to shore to pull my kayak out of the water on the
    Merrimack two days ago in Lawrence, I saw a guy casting a little orange
    jig.
    
    "Shad?" I asked him.
    "Just one," he said. "Right now I'll take anything that'll bite this
    thing."
    
    He looked like one of you serioous angler types, what with the
    obviously expensive but well used equipment he had.
    
    John H-C

    I saw some people fishing over by Spiros(SP) in Lawrence yesterday.
    Didn't look like much was going on...Shouldnt be much longer. 

    I remember one year on mothers day morning, snuck out of the house on my
    wife real early to go fishing, I returned home with my arms hurting! The 
    fishing was incredible..Nothing like catching 5 pound shad on 6 pound 
    test in the Merrimack.

    Gus

    On Sat. I got 4 shad in Lawrence (one big female) - things were still
    pretty slow. I couldn't manage any at Rock Village Bridge though the
    folks who had boats seemed to be doing pretty well.
    
    		Robert.

One boat got 5, everyone else, squat.  3 hours in the afternoon.

Tim

    Anyone got any updates on the Connecticut River??
    
    We are planning a week from Wednesday, 5/19....
    
    Tom

    
    Ifn I aint mistaken, there's a big tourney on the con during the mem
    holiday.  Yep! took 3rd place a few years back.
    
    TSDW
    
    ps  STOP usin my name!

    Fished the Conn. River yesterday afternoon just below the I91 bridge
    in WindsorLocks. We boated 33 shad in 3 1/2 hours. The water was clear
    and just he right height for this time of year. Later on today I'll be
    trying the river just below the RR bridge that spans Suffield and
    Enfield. Friends of mine have been having a ball there, so they say.
    

I know shad are edible, but does anybody here have experience eating them ?
If so, how do YOU cook 'em ?
I guess they're bony ?  Any comments ?

(Please don't include the "cook them on a board and eat the board" recipe).

Thanks,
Dave

The roe is excellent.  The meat is also quite tasty (broiled is good by me) but
like a herring (they are the same family), they have the y-shaped bones and
require a delicate fillet touch.  I don't keep very many.

Tim

    RE: .44
    
     That's a good haul!!  What was the average size and weight of
    your catch?? 
     I'm heading out next week, on my boat as well.....
    
                              Tom

    re.44
     all fish ranged 4-6lbs. I was a good but yesterday was better, my
    friend and I caught 82, I also took the afternoon off. We put the boat
    in the river at the launch in Enfield, and proceeded west across the
    river to the Suffield side and fished our way down to the RR bridge.
    The fish were everywhere. The only lures we used were the gold willow
    leafs. We did kill 4 roe and tonight it will be creamed shad roe for
    supper.

    The heck with it, the day is too nice to pass up so I'm heading for the
    river. I called my daughter and she will trailer the boat up to the
    Enfield launch and pick up my friend on the way, then she could take
    the car and do whatever. Today we will run up to the Enfield dam. The
    water is a bit low as I could see many parts of the old dam were above
    water when driving over the rt190 bridge this morning. The fish will
    /should be stacked up waiting their turn to make it through one on the
    breaches in the dam. will brief everyone tomorrow.
    

    Well, had another great on the river many many many   many fish. The
    Buck to Roe was about 50-50 and we caught over 70 fish, again all on
    gold willow leafs. I have not expierenced shad fishing as good as this
    in a long time.
    We killed 10 nice roe and when I got home I pulled out my 10gal. crock
    cleaned it out, cleaned the shad, cut them into steaks, removed the
    backbone(used a de-boneing tool i use for rigging salt water baits)and
    salted them down in the crock + I added 10 large onions. I will brine
    the shad for 4 days then de-salinate for 1 day, then,I will create a
    pickle using approx 4 cups salt, 2cups sugar, 20 or so onions, 20 or
    30 bay leaves, 20 garlic cloves 2 qts, water and 3 qts. white vinager
    , cover, store in a cool place and check them out in a week.
    
    NO fishing today, the wife gave me the word, " The lawn needs cutting."
    
    Ed

    
    Ed, that sounds really good... can you fax me a taste?
    714-497-7234
    
    TPSW
    

Ed,

Thanks for the fishing reports. your reports have been
some of the best coverage that the shad fishing has gotten 
in some time.

I wish I could get away to go down there. 

	Steve

    I got out to the Merrimack in Lawrence last night for a few hours.
    
    Nothing. Out of about 6 fisherfolk - 2 shad landed.
    
    The river was down a good 3 feet - I wonder what effect that has on the
    shad?
    
    				Robert.

    Still slow in the Merrimack. My brother and I picked up 5 in about an
    hour fishing from a canoe in Lawrence.
    
    I'm beginning to doubt that there is going to be a good strong run
    this year.
    
    			Robert.

Hi all,

I was just looking through my calendar and noticed it is getting close
to shad season.  I expect they'll be a bit late this year given the 
extra-cold winter we've just survived.  I'm planning on doing more shad
fishing this year.  Hopefully, I'll manage a trip during the peak.  Let's
try and keep this note up-to-date.

Last year, I noticed a few peple fly-fishing for the shad.  I got myself
a 9 weight for this year (stripers & blues mainly), but wouldn't mind
trying the for the shad.  I don't know of any flies which are specifically
made for the shad.  I expect I might get away with a 1/32 oz shad dart,
given it is a 9 weight.  Anyone have any fly-fishing experiences to share?

Got that itch,
Tim

    Tim: There are a bunch of patterns tied specifically for shad (why
    	 not - we tie flies for just about any occasion/reason/excuse ;^)
    
    	 Most shad patterns call for pretty gaudy colors - favorites
         these days seem to use flourescents mixed with white, with 
         some glitter or sparkle involved (eg: tinsel or colored mylar).
    
    	 There's a pattern named "Connecticut River" in fact, that is
         a fairly simple affair calling for a red slip tail and wing,
    	 silver tinsel body, red thread head, and used with a small red
         bead placed an inch or so in front of the eye. Tied on a nymph
    	 hook (Mustad 3906B or equiv) sizes 4 down to 8.
    
    	 The fly version of shad dart is also a simple pattern: a tail
         of orange Maribou, body of orange floss with a silver tinsel
         rib, and a head of orange chenille. Other colors can be used
    	 (reds, whites, flourescent pinks/reds/yellows/greens as the 
         primary alternatives). Tied on the same hook as above.
    
    	 There are also some bucktail wing streamer affairs that use silver
    	 white yarn bodies with silver or gold ribbing, white, chartreuse,
    	 or white/charteuse mix wing, and Golden Pheasant Crest tails.
    
    	 A couple of tips: early in the season it's important to get your 
         fly down deep and keep it down deep, so a full sink or heavy
         sinktip line is imperative. Also, shad aren't particularly leader 
         shy, and a short leader will let your sinking line do its stuff 
         better than a long leader (which will let your fly rise up). 
         Casting upstream or three-quarter up and across will let you get 
         down deeper/longer.
    
    	 If you're somewhere in the GMA you could give the Orvis Store in
    	 Wayland a call and see what they have for patterns/rigging.
    	 
    /dave
    	 

    	C'mon Dave!  Invite him into the FF file too!  Just because he
    does other kinds of fishing too doesn't mean he isn't a nice guy! :^}
    
    					B.C.

    I have used salmon egg flies successfully for Shad.  Chartreus, orange, 
    yellow, whatever you like....  
    
    1/32 oz may not be heavy enough to get a fly down, a 9 wt can handle 
    1/24 or even 1/16, be careful....  Those suckers hurt if you catch one
    on your backside....
    
    Regards,
    Greg

Hi all,

Thanks for the input.  I'm not much of a fly tier, but I do make simple
bucktail streamers on 3407 hooks which I use successfully as codfish 
teasers.  I had some plans to visit a fly-tying place (probably will 
start at Surfland).  A few very simple patterns would be handy.  I 
only have a 9wt floating & a 9wt intermediate, so it does not sound 
promising.  I have done some trout fishing & panfishing with a 5wt 
rod (met it's death in a car accident), but it has been a few years
since I've done any fly casting.  I'll be out practising very soon 
as a crowded Merrimack river is not a good place to re-learn.

I could probably copy a few simple patterns, if I knew the exact material
list.  The place I used to get all my flyfishing supplies (Merrimack
River Outfitters in Hudson, NH) was put out of business by Walmart.

Tim

Hi Tim,


Merrimack River Outfitters in Hudson, NH is still in bussiness.

They just moved, there now located on Roosevelt Ave. in Hudson.

Also they now have a very nice indoor Archery range with 3D targets.

			Jim

Funny, I don't ever recall seeing a sign outside.  Bo told me he
was in tough shape financially given Walmart moving in down the
street.  Where is Roosevelt Ave in Hudson?

Thanks,
Tim

    Tim:
    
    You're certainly welcome to give a shout in the FlyFishing conference 
    CMEM2::DKA300:[FFNOTE]FLYFISH.NOTE - we do have a handful of shad
    chasers that could probably lay some tips on you (although most of us
    are closet FISHING readers - right Greg? ;^)
    
    /dave  (OK, B.C.?)
    

>Where is Roosevelt Ave in Hudson?

 Roosevelt ave is off Lowell Road (rt 3A). It's about 100 yards south of the NFS
bank (on the other side of the street) or 100 yards north of T Bones.

    	Atta boy Dave!  Just trying to make sure we're all valuing
    diversity in fishing too! ;^]
    					B.C.

    You wouldn't catch me dead in this file.  But if you did, I'd
    advise you to check out the latest (May/June) issue of American
    Angler (used to be called Fly Tyer) for a good article by 
    Al Raychard on fly fishing for east coast shad.
    
    Bob

Hi all.  I fished the Merrimack for shad on Saturday.  I didn't catch
any, but I did get a few hits.  I saw three other shad get caught.
I fished from about 10am until 2:30pm.  Most of the other people I saw
came and went during that peroid.  If it matters, red & white darts 
caught the three fish I saw, all were females in the 3-4lb range.
Nice jumpers too, like 4 or 5 times each!  There were 3 or 4 boats
and maybe 8 people fishing from shore.  This coming weekend should
be more productive.

Tim

Tim,

Care to elaborate *WHERE* on the Merrimack you went?  Where is the launch
site?

I've never fished for shad and wouldn't mind trying it some time.  

-Joe-

Tim,
	Thanks for Shad report on MR :-)
	Like -Joe- I'd like to know where you launched from and fishing area.

	Twas thinking of taking FishTeaser out this week/end to:
	Thames R. Groton, CN  or  Allens Harbour Harwichport, MA
	but now you got me anxious to get back to MR ;-)
-< Tuna Tail >- dick
	.
	

Rocks Village.  It's the section immediately up-river of the bridge between
W. Newbury & Haverhill (rte. 110)  -- I don't know where the launch is, but I
can find out.  I'd be happy to join either of you this weekend -- let me
know.

Tim

RE:-1
	Tim,
		I launch from Salisbury State Park so drive up-river to
	Rocks Village would be a slow trek for the FishTeaser for Shad.
	Most likely will hit Thames or Cape this weekend for Stripers :-)
	thanks
	-< Tuna Tail >-

	PS: That is if the boss will let me go on her big boss day Sunday ;-)

    	Take Rt. 133 in Haverhill towards Groveland and just before you get 
    to the Groveland bridge hang a left. There are a couple of ramps there. 
    From there it's only a short trek down river to Rocks Village.
    
    	If you have a canoe or a car topper, you can launch right at the
    place they fish. You only need go out beyond the casting distance of the
    people fishing from shore so a motor is not really needed, especially in 
    a canoe.
    
    	RAYJ

I got 4 at rocks village, high tide between 11 and 1 on Saturday.  I saw
a good 40+ fish caught, mostly by two individuals.  I don't know what
their special talent was.  One was in a boat, using a ultra light (like
about 4') and the other was wading, using a noodle rod (ala salmon rod).

Tim

I've seen shad roe in the fish market, and saw a recipe in fridays

globe, How about the fish itself, never having eaten one, what do they

taste like.

JIm

They taste remarkably like bones


;-)

TIm

As in not much to eat...?

JIm

    	I've never tried to eat either the fish or the roe. I'm not a big
    caviar fan so I doubt I'd like the row. The fish itself is loaded with
    Y-shaped bones and they are not very meaty. 
    
    	I've spoken to people that have tried them and they said the meat
    is good if you don't mind bones. I do. There is also a filleting procedure 
    that is somewhat involved that supposedly yields a boneless fillet but
    I don't know what it is and don't think I could explain it over the net
    even if I did. My guess is it's something you'd have to see done at
    least once in order to do it.
    
    	RAYJ.

Sounds to me that these are like scup or porgies. I've heard in the past

that these were excellent eating. And until about 3-4 years ago i had 

never had one. Until a friend of mine invited us over for an evening

meal. Tom is an excellent cook, so i never asked about the menu.

Later after a few pops i asked what he would prepare, he said scup,

being the nice folks we are, we had no comment at the time.

Its knowing how to separate the meat from the zillion bones

inside, actually its very easy once cooked. I've heard of people

fileting them, but Tom says its a waste of time.

In addition, preparing them is more work than cooking.

If anyone is interested in doing this send me mail, i'll give you 

the best directions i have.  They are very tasty, so dont heslitate 

to try them.

JIm 

scup are not shad.  scup are excellent eating and have no different
bone structure then any other drum-like fish (closest example I can
give you is a white perch.)  They are a lot of work since they are 
small, but they are really very good table fare.  I've eaten shad once.
Not worth the effort, IMHO.  The roe is quite good if prepared right.

Tim

    My Great Great Aunt (she's over a hundred now 101) used to cook shad in
    my (and her) younger days.  What she used to do is cook the shad at
    about 250 degress for about 6 hours or so.  After this time most of
    the small y shaped bones would disolve.  We used to pile on the horse-
    radish and serve a side order of shrimp.  Thanks for the memory!!!
    I could try to get the recipe from her.
    
    
                                                     Culprit

    When I lived in Massachusetts as a teen, my buddy and me would fish
    under the South Hadley Bridge on the Holyoke side for Shad. Every year
    they held a Tourney for 2 weekends in 2 different divisions. The kids
    division which first place was always a nice rod and reel combo and the
    adult division, which was a 16 foot aluminum boat and motor...........
    
    ....anyway at the weigh-in scales, they had a man who would filet your
    catch for you and also did many for restarunts. We use to stand and
    watch him for hours cut every bone out of the shad until it was clean.
    
    One year,,,after the first weekend,, I held 1st place in the junior
    division,,,Ahhhh can't wait for my new Fishing Pole. The Shad weighed
    5 1/4 lbs. I was told like in the previous notes about the bones and
    the taste so I had him only save me the roe.
    
                                         -Steve
    
    
    ...oh yea,,,,,it was very fishy gross tasting and the following weekend
    there were many 7 and 8 pound weight class caught to take my dream pole
    away from me :^|    Boy,,,WHAT MEMORIES!!!

Can anyone give a total shad novice some pointers?

I work just a few miles from the Connecticut River in the Rocky Hill, CT 
facility (RCH). I spent the past two day's lunch break throwing a shad dart in 
the water to no avail.  Something which I assume to be a shad (bigger than 
2 feet) jumped out of the water about 50 feet from me today so I have hopes.

I have the following specific questions:
  * How should a dart be retrieved?  
  * Should I use a leader and/or additional weight?  
  * Am I fishing in the wrong place if I don't see ample evidence of fish 
    (no-one else is fishing here at this time)?

The location where I have fished (the ferry landing) is fairly wide portion of
the river with a shallow, gently sloping bank. The current moves slowly right 
along the bank and only slightly faster farther out.  There have been no other 
people fishing so this may be a sign that I'm in the wrong place.

I'm eager to try out any suggestions that are given and will gladly report 
back any results.

Thanks for any help,

-- Kevin Phillips (DECmessageQ Engineering)

    
    Hi Kevin,
    
    I haven't been shad fishing for a couple of years,
    and since I live in the eastern part of Mass, I've
    only fished the Merrimack river for shad, but I'm
    sure the same techniques apply.
    
    First, retrieval.  I've always had the best luck
    tossing the bait upstream and then letting it bounce
    downstream with the current right along the bottom.
    Keep in mind that the shad are not feeding while they
    are headed upstream, so you have to hit them on the
    nose to get them to bite.
    
    The rig I used was a bit different than many people
    seemed to use.  Shad darts come in many varieties.
    Most people I've seen tend to use a lead head shad dart,
    as this seems to be the most common type available.  I've
    always had better luck with darts that are essentially
    weightless, consisting of just a hook and a very small
    piece of metal, painted flourescent or white.  I added
    split shot weights approximately 2 feet above the dart.
    You can then easily adjust the weight to match the
    prevailing current conditions.  Keep in mind that for
    some reason, the color can make a big difference, so if
    one is not working try others.
    
    Finally, it sounds as though you're not fishing an
    optimum location.  The fish are probably there, but
    they are most like spread out across the river.
    Look for a spot where the river narrows significantly,
    and the fish will be a lot more concentrated.  I had
    my best luck just below a dam, with the current moving
    along at a good clip.
    
    Hope this helps...
    
    Gus
      

I grew up fishing the CT and Chicopee Rivers for shad.  There is no current in
the Chicopee and no water so they are having a hard time making up there.  The
problem with the CT is that it's too damn big to fish from shore.  The shad are
usually found in the deepest and swiftest part.  After all, they are swimming
upstream.  Fish on the bottom.  If you are not losing shad darts every now and
again, you are not fishing correctly.  Use light (4-8, I like 6#) line and a 1/8
to 1/4 oz dart.  You can put a split shot ahead (18") of it.  Sometimes the spli
shot hits 'em in the head and they react when the dart swings by.  Always cast
up current and retrieve across/down stream.  Keep at it and you'll catch one,
after all, the typical CT run is about 500K fish.

Tim

    
    ...and boy are they a fighting fish when you catch one!!!
    I grew up in Holyoke Mass. and fished for Shad under the bridge at the
    Holyoke Dam. You had to get there early (before 5:00AM) to get a spot
    to fish,,,especially during the Shad Derby which ran 2 weekends. The
    top adult prize was something like a 12' aluminum boat. One year, I
    held 1st place for the first weekend in the Junior Division with a 
    5.25lb female. The final weight ended up over 7lbs but to have my name
    up on the board was the thrill of a lifetime.
    
    The water under the bridge was narrow and swift and you could only fish
    one side. People also fished from on top of the bridge which kept the
    dart in the strike zone longer, but they needed to hoist the fish up
    without loosing it. People below use to cheer the fish on to spit the
    hook because the top people ALWAYS would tangle line with the bottom
    people.
    
    A red and white Shad Dart with feathers was always the best choise. The
    anticipation was incredible because they came up in schools. When
    someone would shout out "Fish On!!" everyone up river would get
    ready to nail one. Everyone down river (with a few exception) would 
    reel in to get out of the way. During the Derby, they alway had someone
    there from the Holyoke Transcript waiting to take your picture........
    ..oh the memories!!!! ...and the stories!!! People were shoulder to
    shoulder telling stories of last weekend they saw,,,,or did you hear
    down river a man,,, They also had a weight booth and an old man who
    would filet the shad if you wanted him to,,,,,,and save the roe.
    
    Does anyone know if they still have the Shad Derby in Holyoke anymore??
    
    
                                        -Steve
    line in to get out of the way 
    

    Thanks for the info.
    
    It seems that I should start looking for a more productive spot.  The
    challenge will be trying to find one close enough that I can get
    to during my lunch break.
    
    I'll report how I make out.
    
    -- Kevin 

	Any Shad reports for either Merrimack or Connecticut?

	-kg

No water (no rain).  No water=no current.  No current=no shad.

not a good run (yet)

The shad are in the CT river.  Have been for two weeks (was there this weekend).
They aren't in the Chicopee because there is not enough water coming down for
them to swim up.  I checked several places and the water was only a few inches
deep -- not enough for them to pass.

Tim

    
    When can we expect shad in the Merrimack and CT Rivers?
    
    -donmac (who has been meaning to try shad fishing for close to 10 years
             and has not yet made it... unfortunately conflicts with prime
             smallie time on winni) 

    FWIW, the White Suckers were breeding in the Shawsheen River this
    weekend, approximately two weeks later than usual. In my often flawed
    memory, the Shad are usually running about three weeks afer the White
    Suckers breed.
    
    John H-C

I think that if this rainy weather pattern doesn't change soon then
the Shad run on the Merrimack will be late and disapointing.

But hey this is New England - We could be having drought conditions
by the 1st of June. 

ya never know

When the apple/cherry blossoms come out, so do the shad.  At least this year the
water levels are high enough for them to come up the rivers.  Last year, the CT
had some shad, but the best spots (Chicopee River) were dead because no water.

Tim

    
    Anyone have any updates on the Shade run in Holyoke or Chikapee? 
    
     Thanks Mike
    
    

    Last Thursday's Worc. Tel & Gazette reportes that the high water has
    put the run about 2 weeks behind schedule. It added that it was
    beginning at the mouth of the Conn. River but very very had been caught
    or lifted over the dams in Springfield. Chicopee. It added that the
    cold weather was a factor as well.
    Sunday's paper had an article describing how minimal the shad runs were
    on the Hudson River, although the Striper population was improving.
    Here they described polution as the problem. One guy interviewed
    related how the shad runs had bought and paid for his house - now they
    were so few he could barely buy a six pack.
    Wonder why the F&G haven't opened a hatchery devoted to shad
    propogation ? It seems logical given that folks seem to primarily catch
    them for their roe. Never given it a try, but heard that fishing for
    them with shad darts was fun. On the Hudon, they described the use of
    long nets which periodically resulted in "Shad Wars" as the folks
    downstream  periodicallly had their nets span the river, thus
    allowing few fish upstream.
    How 'bout a report if you get out ? Good luck!
    
    -bob   

    Today's W T& G reported action picked up substantially last weekend.
    In excess of 15,000 shad have been counted at the Holyoke (?) lift,
    with most counted between Sat. and Sunday. The Power Plant Derby begins
    this weekend and runs for 2 weeks. First prize is a boat. Most fish
    landed have been by boat as the water has been high and filled with
    debris, so lost gear has been common for shore anglers. Fishing has
    been good up through the Hadley bridge, if the paper is accurate.
    
    They mentioned 2 guys who caught 50 shad - isn't there a daily limit ?
    How's the eating (BBQ ???). I use to know a guy who fished for these,
    gave away the roe and pickled the meat. Claimed they were more oily
    that mackeral. I've had macks on the BBQ, smoked and in chowda and they
    were tasty. How do you prep the roe ? What to you do to preserve it ?
    How 'bout some recipes...I might have to try this over the next few
    weeks. 
    
    Has anyone ever fished the mouth of the Conn. River at this time ?
    Seems like Stripers, blues and shad could make for continuous action.
    Any recommendations on where to fish in Conn. ?
    
    Thanks
    Bob

    re: .97
    
    There are probably a few different recipes for Shad Roe, but the one
    consistant step is to barely cook it or it'll fall apart and taste like
    #*$@! Some butter and shallots (or some garlic) in a SS pan, a couple 
    of minutes per side at medium heat (just enough to brown the outside), 
    and you're done.
    

    Yesterday's W. T& G reported over 200,000 shad had passed the lift in
    Holyoke/ South Hadley and expectations were that an additional 100,000
    would pass before the end. Last year the total was sightly over
    100,000. So far around 50 salmon have passed through as well.
    
    And I'm busy again this weekend! Thanks for the roe recipe - anyone
    been able to try it this year ? Hope to try both next week...

    	O.k., If I hear the word SHAD one more time i am gonna lose it! 
    Some one enlighten me and define shad. Is it an actual species of fish? 
    Fresh or salt water? Or is it more of a slang , given to baitfish and
    minnows of all species? 
    It seems that almost 90% of the lures (crankbaits specifically) are
    desiged to replicate a shad. If the shad is a specific species and
    there are none in the waters that I fish, I have to ask myself...why
    would I drop my money on the baits...
    Fwiw, I did look it up in a dictionary and they said it was a herring!
    I fished and caught herring as a kid while growing up on the east
    coast. as far as I know,they are definitly a salt water fish.
    
    thanks,
    
    _kev_

    
    
    "The shad is the largest of the herrings that regularly visit our Gulf
    [of Maine], growing to a length of 2.5 feet. In the Bay of Fundy,
    according to Leim, shad weigh about .2 pounds at 8 inches; about .6
    pounds at 12 inches; and 1.33 pounds at 15 to 16 inches; about 2.5
    pounds at 20 inches; and about 4.5 pounds at 23 to 24 inches, though
    with variations according to their condition. Adult males with from 1.5
    to 6 pounds; females from 3.5 to 8 pounds. Shad are occasionally
    reparted to 12 pounds, and the older writers mention shad of 14 pounds,
    but none so large has been credibly reported in the Gulf [of Maine] of
    late years."
    
    From _Fishes of the Guld of Maine_ by Bigelow & Schroeder.

	I've never caught a shad, but I guess they migrate up stream
	(to spawn I don't know) every year.  The Connecticut River 
	has a good Shad fishery.  From what I hear, they put up a good
	fight.  I've heard em referred to as freshwater bluefish when
	they're in the river.

	As for shad-named lures like the Shad Rap for freshwater lakes
	and ponds, who knows ?  I don't think shad ever enter these
	waters.

	/Ken

  In the California reservoirs, shad are a species of freshwater silvery minnow 
that pretty much looks like a ShadRap lure, short and round more 
the shape of a young bluegill than a shiner.  They swim in schools and where 
youfind the shad, you'll find bass.

Al

If you catch shad fresh from the ocean, they put up a heck of a fight.  In order
to fish them effectively, we use light line (6#), a "shad dart" or willow-leaf
spoon, and a light action (salmon noodle rods are all the rage now) rod.  They
will often go aerial, especially at the mouths of rivers.

I grew up in Springfield, MA and spent many year fishing shad in the Connecticut
and Chicopee rivers.  Last year, there was NO WATER to be found in the Chicopee
(okay, some water, but not enough for an up-stream migration).  The year before,
I went "after peak" (according to locals) but landed 21 fish in one day (3 hours
or so).  They regularly have people patrolling the rivers and asking about fish
counts.  They like to examine any fish you may be keeping (roes only, bucks not
worth eating) or if you are fighting one, they'll often come over and ask to see
it before you release it.

I remember years of 450K+ fish being lifted over the power company dam in
Holyoke.  They would take a tractor trailer load of fish away for catfood -- the
fish that got crushed by the "ladder" -- every day.  The Merrimack River run is
mostly from CT river fingerlings released in the Merrimack headwaters.  A good
year for the Merrimack is 15-18K fish.  Last year, I think it was around 8K.

I'll certainly be visiting Mom & Dad in mid-May to take advantage of the run!

Tim

    It's also referred to as the "Poor Man's Salmon". I heard last year
    that the run was down in Massachusetts. Some people are trying to say
    that it's due to the Striper come back. After seeing what a school of
    Stripers is capable of doing off of Monomoy last summer, I believe it.
    
    The shad that are in lakes (mostly in the south) are related to these
    shad but do not achieve the growth (size) that their Ocean run cousins
    have.....
    
    Bob M.

I believe there are 3 species of shad under scruitiny here:

1. American Shad, the largest, is the one we fish for here in New England
2. Hickory Shad, a smaller cousin of #1.  We get a few (like 3 per 1000) mixed
in with the American.  I've caught one or two in my life.
3. Gizzard Shad, a small, freshwater cousin, which is the baitfish of the south
and the namesake for "shad rap" and "shad colored".

I could be wrong.
Tim

    There's one more that I have heard of and that would be the:
    
    4. Threadfin Shad
    
    fwiw
    Bob M