Shad Run

[Trapper John]

I see the shad are starting to run.  Anyone catching any?
Do you need a fishing license and whats the daily limit?

I have got to find some time to go fishing.

I hear they can be big ............. Lets see your catch
JC

[acrocker]

Haven't fished for them in years, but used to catch them on the Umpqua in Oregon. If I recall correctly, there were no limits for the Umpqua or the Columbia?

"When the Scotch Broom is in bloom, the shad are running....", was always the catch phrase to remember when the fish were in. Lot of fun, hard fighters on light tackle, and good crab bait. Ran anywhere from 2-4 pounds, the ones we caught.

Good Luck!

[gee_unit360]

Killing them at bonneville dam

[h2ofowlr]

Lots of fishing being caught at Bonneville dam.  Numbers are over 100k a day going over dam.  Used to be free to fish for them and no limit.  The Regs will clarify this.

[WSU]

If anyone goes and is coming through Olympia I’d love to get some for bait.  I’ve had folks hook me up in the past and it was great!

[doyourtime89]

I see the shad are starting to run.  Anyone catching any?
Do you need a fishing license and whats the daily limit?

I have got to find some time to go fishing.

I hear they can be big ............. Lets see your catch
JC

I wish you would have said something before yesterday.  My dad and I hit them up yesterday down by Bonneville.  It was on fire, we only kept about 20 or so each (for crab bait). I have no idea how many we gave to the people fishing around us and fought and lost even more.  It was a blast, check the count today and it said 355,000 went over yesterday so we picked a good day.

[Bigshooter]

http://www.fpc.org/currentdaily/HistFishTwo_7day-ytd_Adults.htm


Numbers look good.

[hard hunter]

Daughter and I gave away 43 last Monday in 3 hours of fishing...can't wait to try it with these increased numbers

[Pete112288]

When going out to fish for these guys is there anything specific you look for as far as a place to try? A certain depth, or type of bank or anything?

[fowl smacker]

When going out to fish for these guys is there anything specific you look for as far as a place to try? A certain depth, or type of bank or anything?

Fishing a seam behind an island or other natural barrier is a good place to start.

[Trapper John]

Any special lure or color?  Hows those shad darts?

Anyone ever eat them or does everyone use them for crab bait.

I know a guy that uses them for trapping (bait) skunks.
JC

[Hilltophustler]

We did 200+ in a few hours last year. Smallest nickle and green dicknite you can fine. Ran a dropper set up. We used whole shad for halibut and they yielded the biggest fish. Pass on eating them. 

[The Marquis]

We did 200+ in a few hours last year. Smallest nickle and green dicknite you can fine. Ran a dropper set up. We used whole shad for halibut and they yielded the biggest fish. Pass on eating them. 

They are great eating if breaded and fried, but better for bait.  I caught 20 in an hour (nearly every cast) back when only 15k went over the dam (last Saturday I think).  I use the cheapest 1/16oz crappie jigs (heads only) and like I said, one hit nearly every cast.  The size is important.  They tend to hit the larger jigs a lot less frequently.

[Bill W]

you can eat the roe sacks also.  I'm ready to try them again.

[The Gobble-stopper]

A few years back, I filleted them and a   friend pressure canned them. They came out tasting like fresh albacore tuna fish. YUM