Fishing for American Shad?

Hey folks,

The Shad are starting to move up into the Sac River now and should be just about full swing by the time I return from overseas trip.

I was wondering if you guys have any advice on fishing for shad from a yak?  I've caught them from shore before and they are a BLAST with light tackle!

I'll start off with what I know.  Sac river generally fishing with shad darts.  American normally with small grubs.

Caught a ton of shad last year on tiny 1" hot pink big daddy grubs in the American. 

But from a yak, we have more access to waters that shore fisherman can't access and with lower flows we can get places that normal boaters can't.  I really only know the American River from nimbus down to around Ancil Hoffman.  Never fished the sac for them and have only fished the Feather way up towards thermalito.

I was wondering if you guys have any advice on fishing for shad from a yak? 
I'll start off with what I know.  Sac river generally fishing with shad darts.  American normally with small grubs.

Caught a ton of shad last year on tiny 1" hot pink big daddy grubs in the American. 
 I really only know the American River from nimbus down to around Ancil Hoffman. 

From May on I usually fish for them in the American after work or on the weekends .I have a spot just PM me for more details. Here's a couple of pictures from last year, one in the line up. Where I usually go you need a drift anchor but can also do the float and paddle up technique.

glad for this thread....I usually shore fish from freeport but i also want to know from anyone if they tried it in a kayak....I tried just before nimbus on shore way back but no luck.  Do you need anchor on the Am River.  I know in freeport PB do anchor side by side with each other.  I too use shad darts on the Sac river.
Main question is are they IN?

  Do you need anchor on the Am River. Main question is are they IN?

You can fishing without an anchor its just a lot more work unless you are doing a float from point A to B. Other wise you spend a lot of time paddling.

Are they in ...  They usually start coming up the American in May, I  start seeing them in the upper section while diving the first and second week in decent numbers.

As far a rigging for a kayak I weight the bottom come up 16" or so tie a shad dart/grub go up another 12" and put another one. Vary the weight until you find out how far off the bottom they are, it will change. Or you can use a float and tie you dart/grub at the bottom and let it float down and every once on a while jig it.

OK thanks abdiver...hope to hookup soon with you guys

OK thanks abdiver...hope to hookup soon with you guys

No problem, I look forward to the hook up!

Note: There are special fishing regulations for the upper section of the american.

7.50 (b) Alphabetical List of Waters with Special Fishing Regulations

C) From the U.S. Geological Survey gauging
station cable crossing about 300 yards downstream
from the Nimbus Hatchery fish rack site
to the SMUD power line crossing at the southwest
boundary of Ancil Hoffman Park.

-Jan. 1 through Oct. 31.(Only barbless hooks may be used.)

If you need to know where on a map this section is, let me know.

they are not "in" in full force yet, but there have been some decent reports out of freeport already.  i'd rather stay out of the sac because of the "big" waterness of it and much prefer the A.

i think by mid to late may they will be in.  I return from an overseas trip in mid may and am looking to make a trip up to sac the 23rd weekend or the 30th.  shad fishing last year was the absolute most fun fishing i've had in YEARS so I am aching to go.  those little herring fight like the dickens.  I also heard some rumors that they make good crab bait so I wouldnt mind trying a few of them out for that to see if it works.

i'd love to hook up with you some weekend abdiver. 

Ive gotten luck and hooked a few on the Stanislaus from the bank. There isnt as big number of them that run up the Stani but there are there occasionally. I have always wanted to get out and fish for them on the Sac.

Jeff

I've caught them along HW160 from Sherman island to Rio vista on spinner bait around June last year. At some point, these were all I was getting. Maybe I got lucky.

I'd like to try it some time....Not sure the tackle requirements but it looks/sounds like fun

eric, trout gear will work fine.  I tend to downsize and let the shad beat the snot out of me

i personally roll with 7' UL with a small spinning reel.

others recommend a medium action but I wouldnt go much above that.

4-6lb test

Perfect. I got the gear just need them to come in full force.

Eric:

I've always wanted to hit shad.  looks like a blast.  Let me know when you want to go up.  I've got access to a "river house" that we could use as a homebase, right by Sacto Airport.  Let's shoot for sometime in early june or last week of may.

Sounds good. Were heading on a vacation the last week of May but will be back the first week of June. So lets plan a trip sometime after that

I used to catch a lot at San Luis Dam (not the Forebay) from shore -mid-June to mid-July. When driving over the pass there is one spot where the water is on both sides of the highway. Fish off the rocks right next to the highway ( on the big water side) Daybreak to 10+ or until it gets too windy Using crappie jigs and shad darts.  There is a launch cove just east of that spot ( good bassin/stripper spot). Has anyone tried kayaked from that spot? I figure it's overlooked due to the wind.