Austin's Northwest Adventures - Coast guard certified and with over 20 years experience, we fish the northwest from Lake Roosevelt to Buoy 10. If catching Salmon, walleye, Kokanee, or Sturgeon is your goal, we are a full time guide service for Washington's hottest fisheries. Fish in comfort with top of the line equipment, call us today!
*** SOMEONE LEFT A NICE ROD&REEL SETUP AT PARKING *** (found near empty parking area near Dam with lots of moistures - so must have been from Wednesday/ the day before). If you see this message and this belongs to you, then please private message me - describe the asset and we can make arrangements for pick up.
Final Shad trip "for me" was excellent today! When today's counts shows up on Friday, I'm guessing that it will be well over 100K. Plenty of space to fish, not too crowded, no dirty looks at each other when lines tangled - can't complain. It was not-stop actions from approx. 8am to the time that we called it a day (4pm). Everybody got their fair share of fish to take home, a gentlemen to the left of me & another to the right had at least 50 each (I ended up taking home 26). Lots of fish lost but fun actions nevertheless.
The best technique is to use heavier weights (3/4 or 1 oz), cast out, let it hit bottom and drift with current and keep your lines tight and just reel in very slowly. Today there's no specific jig or colors, everything works - 1/32, 1/16, or 1/8 oz crappie jigs or shad darts.
I wonder if the crowds thin out a bit later in the season, because more and more people have filled their crab-bait (or whatever) requirements by then? (Their freezer is only so big.) I've been living vicariously through your reports lately. Keep up the great reports.
Thanks Bigfishguy! Keep in mind that a good majority of the folks prized these fish for consumption/ and in some part of the US - these fish are considered a deliciously and place special orders for them. Another thing is that, you have a mix variety of anglers - some come for just the actions (C&R), some for crab/ cut bait as mentioned, and others for family experience (take the kids out fishing). So my point is that, as long as the shad numbers are healthy - folks are going to show up. Just checked the recent counts, Wed Thurs Fri all showed over 100K each - which is great, Sat = 65K - which is good but not great. *** Mis-perception *** 1) Is that there is too many anglers or is too crowded 2) Is that you catch more fish closer to the Dam = Not the case. There's plenty of space below the Dam and you can catch just as much/ or more if you have the right set up and discipline
Austin's Northwest Adventures - Coast guard certified and with over 20 years experience, we fish the northwest from Lake Roosevelt to Buoy 10. If catching Salmon, walleye, Kokanee, or Sturgeon is your goal, we are a full time guide service for Washington's hottest fisheries. Fish in comfort with top of the line equipment, call us today!