Shad Run

[bearpaw]

How do they taste canned? Would they be anything like kippered snacks? Does anyone have some recipes they like for shad?

If I went shad fishing I'm wondering if I should keep them or just throw most of them back?

[The Marquis]

How do they taste canned? Would they be anything like kippered snacks? Does anyone have some recipes they like for shad?

If I went shad fishing I'm wondering if I should keep them or just throw most of them back?

Keep some for bait, some to eat (fried or pickled) and some just to find Roe.  They are invasive and very much plentiful, so throwing them back isn't doing any good. 

[Smossy]

I have 0 energy. Its all going to be bait.

[Remnar]

How do they taste canned? Would they be anything like kippered snacks? Does anyone have some recipes they like for shad?

If I went shad fishing I'm wondering if I should keep them or just throw most of them back?

 Yes they are very good . Put a light cool smoke and then can in a little olive oil .

[bearpaw]

How do they taste canned? Would they be anything like kippered snacks? Does anyone have some recipes they like for shad?

If I went shad fishing I'm wondering if I should keep them or just throw most of them back?

Keep some for bait, some to eat (fried or pickled) and some just to find Roe.  They are invasive and very much plentiful, so throwing them back isn't doing any good.

I thought they were a native fish? Maybe the orcas better start eating them instead of salmon?

[nwwanderer]

Good point Bearpaw. and it is very likely they do.  The other point about the introduced shad is they compete for food with salmon.  Could only find one study, in river, but the conclusion was clear, they eat the same food and reduce salmon numbers.  Lets see, a four or five year fish returning millions.  Probably 10 million plus eating the same thing baby salmon do.  Add in the pink and sockeye numbers and we wonder why the chinook numbers and size are down.  Just like putting more pigs in a pen and feeding the same amount.

[Stein]

Use them whole for sturgeon bait, that's what all the cool kids do. 

[Sandberm]

Ive been wanting to get out below Ice Harbor to catch a few but i havent made it happen yet. Looking at the counts, as of yesterday 2.3 milliom shad have come over McNary with "only" 362k over Ice harbor...so they should be coming.

A guy I ran into Saturday says if they are canned they taste like tuna. Be nice to find a way to make em taste decent.

[Timberstalker]

Not all the fish that go over McNary will go over Ice Harbor. A lot stay in the Columbia.
I think the peak at Ice Harbor has passed.
If you’re gonna go, now is the time.

@ Sandberm


Best of luck.

[gaddy]

I went up by Ice Harbor a week ago, not another soul around. I never fished for shad before and couldn't find a fish. Tried little dick nights and jig heads at different depths and nothing. Had hoped someone else was up there so I could see what they were doing.

[Timberstalker]

Did you fish close to the dam?

[gaddy]

Had been told to go below the dam towards the end of the road. No luck so I went above the dam to the first point thinking they would come out of the ladder and have to make their way around that.

[Timberstalker]

Fish right at the large pipeline with the sprinkler on top, below the dam.
Use a green or pink 1/8 oz jig head.  Bring a lot as you will lose some.

Or use a slip bobber.  Start at 5' depth and work from there.

You'll catch them.

Good luck.

[gaddy]

Thanks for the tip, If I get a bit of time in the next couple of days I'll run up and try again.