shad on the columbia?

[gpc]

So when is the peak of the run for the shad? Is it possible to fish for shad and springers, with in a short drive on the same weekend?

[Shad_Eating_Grin]

So when is the peak of the run for the shad? Is it possible to fish for shad and springers, with in a short drive on the same weekend?

Shad fishing does not open until May 16. Springer season is often (but not always) closed by then. It's fairly common to hook salmon while fishing for shad. I've seen folks hook and land salmon on those tiny shad darts, and people catch salmon all the time when using dick nites for shad (from a boat).

[gpc]

So when is the peak of the run for the shad? Is it possible to fish for shad and springers, with in a short drive on the same weekend?

Shad fishing does not open until May 16. Springer season is often (but not always) closed by then. It's fairly common to hook salmon while fishing for shad. I've seen folks hook and land salmon on those tiny shad darts, and people catch salmon all the time when using dick nites for shad (from a boat).

Yeah it sounds like the the salmon will be closed down at the end of April. Those are 2 fisherys that I have been wanting to fish for a while. Hopefully I will be able to hit the shad this year.

[eustace]

Note: if these shad are the same species that spawn up the Chesapeak Bay tributaries they are alot bigger then they are in there native waters.

[Shad_Eating_Grin]

Note: if these shad are the same species that spawn up the Chesapeak Bay tributaries they are alot bigger then they are in there native waters.

the two common types of shad are hickory shad and American shad, both of which are native to the East Coast.

The shad in the Columbia River are American shad, transplanted on the west coast sometime in the late 1800s (?).

[eustace]

Note: if these shad are the same species that spawn up the Chesapeak Bay tributaries they are alot bigger then they are in there native waters.

the two common types of shad are hickory shad and American shad, both of which are native to the East Coast.

The shad in the Columbia River are American shad, transplanted on the west coast sometime in the late 1800s (?).

How big do these get in the Columbia, on the east coast the ones I seen were 1 to 2lbs and do they seem to grow larger than on the east coast of the same variety.

I know it looks like they would be fun.

[Shad_Eating_Grin]

Note: if these shad are the same species that spawn up the Chesapeak Bay tributaries they are alot bigger then they are in there native waters.

the two common types of shad are hickory shad and American shad, both of which are native to the East Coast.

The shad in the Columbia River are American shad, transplanted on the west coast sometime in the late 1800s (?).

How big do these get in the Columbia, on the east coast the ones I seen were 1 to 2lbs and do they seem to grow larger than on the east coast of the same variety.

I know it looks like they would be fun.

Biggest I've caught is about 4 lbs. Most are 2-3 lbs. The bigger ones will go 5-7 lbs.

[eustace]

Shad_Eating_Grin, do you or anybody you ever hook in to Stiped bass down there.

[Shad_Eating_Grin]

Shad_Eating_Grin, do you or anybody you ever hook in to Stiped bass down there.

Some southern Oregon rivers, and all throughout CA have the stripers. Once or twice in a century, a striper might get caught in Washington waters.

[eustace]

I read an article in the Washington, Oregan fish & game magazine they were starting to catch on a regular basis in the Willamette river. And I posted a question in the Bass forum and some people claim to catch them, check it out. Note: they do spawn in the same rivers as shad on the east coast and Stripers are found as far north as Main.

[cavdad45]

Stripers are not in the Willamette or Columbia Rivers. They are thickest in the Umpqua and Smith Rivers near Reedsport and there are smaller runs in the Coos River and TenMile Creek going into TenMile Lake. Every once in a while with some off the wall ocean temperature or weird prey occurance they will straggle North, but they won't establish themselves.

[wolverine]

I've spent the Memorial day long weekend fishing for Shad & Springers for the past 16 years. Camp down there and fish early and late. Sip cool ones and snooze in the heat of the day. I actually like to eat Shad. Fry up the roe from the females for dinner. Split and skin the shad, brine them for an hour, put them in the smoker for 2 pans of chips, cut the still raw Shad into can sized pieces, add a couple of peppercorns and a tablespoon of oil, and cook them in the pressure cooker. The finished product is great eats. I often bring jars of this along on fishing trips. Everyone that tries it like it and can't believe that its shad. Quite a bit of work but very tasty. The males I either shake off or let the eastern european kids or old babuskas take them off the hook for me. They gut and salt them, hang them to dry, and ship hundreds of them back to the old country.

[Shad_Eating_Grin]

Hints to increase your shad catches:

1. Plan your trip when it is supposed to be hot and sunny. I've had better days when the sun was shining, as opposed to cloudy and rainy. Maybe something about the water color and sunlight hitting those gold hooks on the shad darts.

2. Tie your shad darts using the Rapala knot (go to Google for pics of the knot). You'll outfish everyone next to you that have tied their darts using standard clinch knots.

I have plenty of more hints, but those are it for now... I need to keep my edge.

[lskiles]

Hints to increase your shad catches:

1. Plan your trip when it is supposed to be hot and sunny. I've had better days when the sun was shining, as opposed to cloudy and rainy. Maybe something about the water color and sunlight hitting those gold hooks on the shad darts.

2. Tie your shad darts using the Rapala knot (go to Google for pics of the knot). You'll outfish everyone next to you that have tied their darts using standard clinch knots.

I have plenty of more hints, but those are it for now... I need to keep my edge.

Thanks for the info. I have a question for you.
When I started on this adventure of fishing I went to a seminar on how and where to catch fish in my area (SW Washington). In fact that is how I found this site. The instructor handed out maps of the lakes and they all said www.wahingtonlakes.com on them so here I am...back to my question.

Our instructor told us that when we tie a jig or dart on to our line we should put a drop of superglue on the knot so that the lure presents straight down. What you are telling me is that I should tie the rapala knot that is going to allow more movement in the dart/jig. Is that the reason for this, movement? Does this apply to all sorts of jigs/darts presentations or only for shad fishing? Should I get rid of the glue and let the jigs rock?

Please advise. Thanks in advance.

[Shad_Eating_Grin]

Hints to increase your shad catches:

1. Plan your trip when it is supposed to be hot and sunny. I've had better days when the sun was shining, as opposed to cloudy and rainy. Maybe something about the water color and sunlight hitting those gold hooks on the shad darts.

2. Tie your shad darts using the Rapala knot (go to Google for pics of the knot). You'll outfish everyone next to you that have tied their darts using standard clinch knots.

I have plenty of more hints, but those are it for now... I need to keep my edge.

Thanks for the info. I have a question for you.
When I started on this adventure of fishing I went to a seminar on how and where to catch fish in my area (SW Washington). In fact that is how I found this site. The instructor handed out maps of the lakes and they all said www.wahingtonlakes.com on them so here I am...back to my question.

Our instructor told us that when we tie a jig or dart on to our line we should put a drop of superglue on the knot so that the lure presents straight down. What you are telling me is that I should tie the rapala knot that is going to allow more movement in the dart/jig. Is that the reason for this, movement? Does this apply to all sorts of jigs/darts presentations or only for shad fishing? Should I get rid of the glue and let the jigs rock?

Please advise. Thanks in advance.

Get rid of the super glue.

My first preference: let the dart swing back and forth loosely through the rapala knot. This is for shad fishing. Your mileage may vary with other types of lures and target species.

My second preference: tie a standard clinch/cinch knot to your dart. My best sucess has been when the knot is tied to the top of the hook eye, so that the leader lies perpendicular to the shank of the hook. Less success when the knot has slid to the front of the eye (so that the leader is lying parallel to the hook shank).

These are shad--get a shiny lure in front of them and they will bite. My tips/sucggestions are only if you want to catch 50+ fish a day, instead of 20+

[Fisherman_max]

My preference is the always make sure the knot is at the very tippity top of the jig eye. that is so the jig falls flat in the water, jigs like trout magnets are built to fall flat but some bigger crappie jigs and darts need that little extra help to fall flat in the water.

these little things can greatly determine what and how much you catch on a givin day.