Shad Run

[dilleytech]

The roe fried in butter is delicious and if you skin, smoke and can the fillets they are awesome also. They would be good a lot of ways I’m sure but so many bones.

[ctwiggs1]

A few years back, I violated them

[Smossy]

Was out a few weeks ago learning the technique, hooked two landed 0. Left early.
Heading back this weekend so monday/tuesday ill be at bonneville dam all day.

[Timberstalker]

Was out a few weeks ago learning the technique, hooked two landed 0. Left early.
Heading back this weekend so monday/tuesday ill be at bonneville dam all day.

They have super soft mouths. Watch the hook set.
Good luck.

[Smossy]

Was out a few weeks ago learning the technique, hooked two landed 0. Left early.
Heading back this weekend so monday/tuesday ill be at bonneville dam all day.

They have super soft mouths. Watch the hook set.
Good luck.

Yup, one of my mistakes, also was using like 1/8th size jigheads. Way too big. Got some 1/32 and 1/16 for this weekend. Gonna fill the cooler. Im poor and need all the free food i can get Plus gonna get back after crab this year so yeah theres that.

[gaddy]

Are you guys just using the lead jig heads and no tails ? Like a crappie jig ? Never fished them.

[762Armo]

Was out a few weeks ago learning the technique, hooked two landed 0. Left early.
Heading back this weekend so monday/tuesday ill be at bonneville dam all day.

They have super soft mouths. Watch the hook set.
Good luck.

Yup, one of my mistakes, also was using like 1/8th size jigheads. Way too big. Got some 1/32 and 1/16 for this weekend. Gonna fill the cooler. Im poor and need all the free food i can get Plus gonna get back after crab this year so yeah theres that.

Interesting that 1/8th is too big. I just ordered 3/16th, sounds like I'm screwed. haha.

[Smossy]

Was out a few weeks ago learning the technique, hooked two landed 0. Left early.
Heading back this weekend so monday/tuesday ill be at bonneville dam all day.

They have super soft mouths. Watch the hook set.
Good luck.

Yup, one of my mistakes, also was using like 1/8th size jigheads. Way too big. Got some 1/32 and 1/16 for this weekend. Gonna fill the cooler. Im poor and need all the free food i can get Plus gonna get back after crab this year so yeah theres that.

Interesting that 1/8th is too big. I just ordered 3/16th, sounds like I'm screwed. haha.

If your using just jigheads your probably fine, I had big curly tail grubs and I only hooked 2 but there was also only 44k shad through the damn YTD when I went. Says 1.4mill YTD right now

[The Marquis]

Are you guys just using the lead jig heads and no tails ? Like a crappie jig ? Never fished them.

Yep, exactly.  No tails at all.  Exactly this.  Can work in other colors too.  Don't think that part matters nearly as much as the size

[Machias]

How far up the river do they migrate?

[Jake Dogfish]

A few get past Priest rapids dam. the free flowing section of the Columbia might be the biggest barrier.  On the Snake they get through a few more dams.  I think we could learn a lot from the Shad run and apply it towards salmon because there is not Ocean harvest.
What is the main limiting factor? Did they benefit from the spring increased flows?  Are they limited by food in the Ocean or spawning habitat, Predation Etc?.
Did we plant salmon and they came back as Shad?  

[GBoyd]

I fished Bonneville on the Oregon side on Sunday and brought home 17 in 2 1/2 hours with a 1/16 chartreuse jighead, nothing on it like the Marquis said. I could have caught more and faster, but I was taking my time and taking good care of each fish. I bleed each one, put it back in water for a few minutes, then right in the ice.

I like to eat shad either pickled or smoked. It's a really tasty fish, similar to herring. Check Hank Shaw's website for the recipes. Be prepared to gross out your more rednecky acquaintances if you eat them. There are many people who've never tried it but still have extremely strong opinions. 

[carpsniperg2]

I have some shad jigs. They look just like the ones posted but have a couple little sparky streamers on them. I was hammering them when I use to fish for them. Everyone was trying to buy them from me. If I remember I’ll try to get a pic.

[BigGoonTuna]

i learned not to waste money on jigs, a really small corky or a bead works just as well.

[The Marquis]

i learned not to waste money on jigs, a really small corky or a bead works just as well.

I'm absolutely going to try this.