Delaware River, Northampton County, 4/30/2017

[jacob]

Fished the big D at Easton last Saturday, right below the confluence with the Lehigh River for the great american shad run!

Air temps in the 80s, sunny with some clouds - I got sunburned, forgetting to throw some in the car and enjoying the beautiful weather in a tank top... Once I threw on some sleeves it was far too late (racoon eyes and all)!

Anyway - I've been wanting to fly fish the shad run now for a couple of years, and finally pulled the trigger. I just got an 8wt a couple weeks ago from Allen Fly Fishing (great deal btw, and decent rod and reel for the price) so I finally had the rod for the job.

I tied up 10 shad darts in various gaudy, flashy colors the night before hoping I could hook into one for the first time ever, and also on the fly- as my girlfriend questioned my sanity... I was really pumped to get on the water.

The river here is swift, deep, and damn dangerous at best. Only way for me to fish with a fly rod was to hug the bank and utilize the ole spey cast. My rig consisted of a 7 ft. poly leader, extra fast sink, with about 3 feet of tippet, and various darts that I tied (sparse white maribou with lots of pearl flash and a fluorescent pink head ended up being the ticket for me, tho I tried some oranges, chartreuses, and whatnot.)

After about 2 hours of swinging, spey casting "practice," lots of mending to get down deep in the fast current, seeing the boats in the main current pull in fish after fish- and watching all of the guys in said boats staring and pointing me out to their buddies like "what in the hell is this guy doing"... I began thinking I may leave frustrated and slightly embarrassed, when.... I finally felt the tug!

HOLY COW, these fish are so strong, and incredibly fun! There is something special about catching a fish you know swam hundreds of miles from the ocean to get to that spot on the river... Needless to say these fish are hot, and really pull some line, each one I caught was making my reel scream, and damn, we all know that is an awesome feeling. Even on an 8wt, at times I felt undergunned.

I ended up landing 5 american shad, and lost one that took me well into my backing, arguably the largest I had on. (always the one that got away, eh?) My stripping finger was mangled after two fish, and I would have had to quit early if it wasn't for a nice guy I asked for some tape giving me a few band-aids to wrap up my bloody finger and keep on fishing.

Needless to say, I am hooked on shad fishing now, and have been questioning myself on why it has taken me so long to do it when an awesome anadromous fish is migrating within an hours drive.

I ended up leaving the river ecstatic, super proud as I crossed something off the bucket list the first day out fishing for them.

I am going back this weekend for some more action hopefully. If I don't find them around the same area, I suppose I'll drive north and try to intercept them there.

I had an absolute blast, and I suggest you try it if you haven't!

In the picture is the nicest one I landed - the others were smaller, but still put up one hell of a fight.

Get out and do some shad fishing - the trout will still be here later in the year, but these guys won't!

 

[Dave_W]

What a great report!

Glad you had some success on your first trip for shad and thanks for the reminder that it's sunscreen time. Shad do indeed pull and are a blast to catch on any gear. Many freshwater FFers, especially if they're used to catching small stream trout, are just amazed at how hard saltwater fish can fight.

 

[jacob]

Thanks Dave!

I've decided that I'm going to do a lot of different fishing than I normally do this year, and break into some new territory, techniques, and species. Historically, I've been mostly a trout and bass guy and it is really nice to get out of the comfort zone and do something different.

That being said... With shad on the mind, I also have striper on the mind 😛

 

[Bobert540]

Congrats! I did the exact same thing about a week ago in the exact same spot, well maybe a few feet south. You can back cast pretty easy below that island but as I'm sure you found out, you have to move where the fish are. I too was blown away by their power. I had my switch rod I use for steelhead and the one I caught bent that rod over and took more line off that reel than it has ever seen. It's addicting and I too kick myself for trying it sooner.

I saw the guys in the boats catching fish but it was more rewarding to me having to work for them. Congrats again and maybe I will see you out there sometime!

 

[jacob]

Absolutely Bobert- I agree with the more rewarding aspect. It's one thing to sit and dangle a spoon and another to work actively for it.

I'll be somewhere in the vicinity Saturday morning. If you see a dude who needs a haircut fly fishing... It's more than likely me!

Make sure to say hello!

 

[jacob]

Im actually looking to buy a switch rod soon- possibly my next big purchase. I want something multifunctional- whether swinging streamers or even nymphing so I'm seriously considering getting into the more specialized switch and Spey world. I love using those techniques for casting, and have been utilizing it for single hand rods and also using the fighting butt on my 8wt to get a head start on coordination.

I fish the lehigh quite a bit and some other bigger waters, one thing that is confusing about it is the weight classifications, I.e a 5wt switch is gonna throw lines significantly heavier than a 5 wt single... It's tough to wade through the info without casting a bunch of them...

 

[Nymph-wristed]

Great stuff!

 

[afishinado]

jacob wrote:
Im actually looking to buy a switch rod soon- possibly my next big purchase. I want something multifunctional- whether swinging streamers or even nymphing so I'm seriously considering getting into the more specialized switch and Spey world. I love using those techniques for casting, and have been utilizing it for single hand rods and also using the fighting butt on my 8wt to get a head start on coordination.

I fish the lehigh quite a bit and some other bigger waters, one thing that is confusing about it is the weight classifications, I.e a 5wt switch is gonna throw lines significantly heavier than a 5 wt single... It's tough to wade through the info without casting a bunch of them...

Great job on the shad, they are fun.

As far as a switch rod, a 5wt or 6wt switch would work well for shad. But a switch is not a good choice for nymphing. It's really too heavy of a rod and the line 300gr or more with all the weight in the head doesn't work well for short range nymphing. The rod is great for casting and swinging like one does for shad.

 

[Acristickid]

Nice. How long do they hang around?

What diversity of fishing we have in PA.

 

[jacob]

From what I understand, they should be around until early June, depending on water temps. They may be present in the river, just either higher or lower depending on the time of year. Prime time, from what I have read, is late april through early June depending on where you fish for them. Once water temps get into the 60's, they'll break off and spawn and begin their journey back to the ocean shortly thereafter.

That being said, I am a novice when it comes to shad - I am sure other fellows on the forum can give more specific information regarding this.

I'm gonna hit it again the next couple weeks, I'll try to keep ya'll updated on where and if I can get on them.

New fly fishing obsession! (Like I need one, hahaha)

 

[timmyt]

To a degree they must hang around all summer, i caught a few in August on a trip in 2013 not far below Narrowsburg

 

[troutwilleatflies]

Later in the spring most of the Shad will be way up river,then after the spawn they head down.There is a article in the Morning call today talking about the run this year being massive,best in many years.I haven't fished for them in years,and then it was spin tackle,but from what is being reported I just might give it a try again this year.

 

[JeffK]

The run has been non-stop this year - I think the cooler water temperatures have helped. I fished Sunday (5/14) and yesterday up near the Gap and the fishing was steady. The regulars told me fish are still coming up in the lower river, so there is still time. Not many people are still fishing. The only downside is the water is high which restricts where fly casters can get a good back cast. Yesterday the fish were 30 ft off the bank so that may not be a problem.

 

[krayfish2]

2 weeks ago, they were up around Fishes Eddy. Saw several decent schools. I'd imagine they are pretty thick on Main right about now.

 

[moon1284]

I caught a fallfish near peas eddy during that time frame and a large shad followed it almost into the net. Never saw that before.