AR Shad - Wed 7/11

Shad are finishing up and heading back downstream, from what i have heard.  Going to try for them again Wednesday.   Not sure yet whether will wade from shore or go by yak. 

Intel, tips, pointers, company -  all welcome.

I have installed QRAS to my yak for added safety, thanks to the many helpful comments from brothers on the board. 

Went out last evening with a Striper hunter in training below Watt.  Targeting Shad first, he had a couple of hits and a lost fish early afternoon but like I have been experiencing the bite doesn't turn on until 8:30-8:35pm.  I generally don't even worry about getting on the water until around 7:30pm.  He picked up a perfect one right off the bat at 8:35.  I went through three (with one a possible personal best +22" but did not have the time to measure it) before I got a nice sized one. 

They are still around but the bite window is so narrow these days I don't know if it is really all that worth it unless you are really needing some Shad love. 

I hear it is pretty much the same around Harrington, not sure about upper Sunrise area. 

The bite area below Watt begins on the riffles right below the launch and the borderline where there is current and eddy along the first south side beach/cove.  If your wading, just wade from the little point below the launch and edge out about half way to the island.  Let your fly out and let it run straight down the current.  Wait till 8:30pm and you should do good.

Probably not the best spot to start using your QRAS as it is shallow and kind of fast.  Otherwise go downstream a tad and set-up on the current line and do the same thing.

I was planning on hitting the AR near Lower Sunrise by the Sunrise Blvd bridge. Any word if Shad are still around that area? And is there a place to park / launch a yak?

I am assuming that if they are still around Watt then it only gets better as you head up river.  I don't fish up there so not sure where the spots are for launching and catching. 

Hit Watt this afternoon and surprisingly the Shad were hitting early with a decent bite.  We were catching from kayak as well as shore.  Looks like they are hanging around for a while.

Got some nice shad today. They are still thick in the system...



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Ive got a freezer that's empty from my move. I need to fill this thing up!

Thaanks for the feedback.  Planning to hit Sunrise by kayak tomorrow.   Will arrive and fish in the morning through mid afternoon.   Unfortunately have to miss the magic hour.   

Got some nice shad today. They are still thick in the system...

Yea, he was killing it.

I fished just north of sunrise bridge last night. It was slower than our last trip, but we all caught fish. 3 of us caught about 15 fish from 8:15 to dark.

Went out w/ Ash & my coworkers last night at river bend.
As Steve said bite really didn't turn on until the sun hit the ground.  We didn't get any hits at all until then. Ended up 8 shad & 1 pikeminnow lost bunch for 4 of us.  My coworker caught one female that completely spawned out.  It was very short window...

Good luck & be safe!

Naoaki


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I fished just north of sunrise bridge last night. It was slower than our last trip, but we all caught fish. 3 of us caught about 15 fish from 8:15 to dark.

What kind of bait/tackle are you guys using?

I fished just north of sunrise bridge last night. It was slower than our last trip, but we all caught fish. 3 of us caught about 15 fish from 8:15 to dark.

What kind of bait/tackle are you guys using?

Not sure if this is what he was using but the most common shad rigs for spinning gear are 1/32-1/16 oz jig head in chart or pink, with a 1" grub In pink champagne or chart, and however many split shots it takes to keep in the strike zone(1-2 feet from the bottom).

Lots of guys also utilize a stationary bobber above said rig to affectively keep it in the strike zone.

Joe

I fished just north of sunrise bridge last night. It was slower than our last trip, but we all caught fish. 3 of us caught about 15 fish from 8:15 to dark.

What kind of bait/tackle are you guys using?

We were fly fishing.  Pink shad darts the ones with a short tail and heavy bead eyes approximatly a size 6 hook.  Below the shad dart is tied a fly called a bloody maria on a dropper off the shad dart hook.  The bloody maria (approximatly a size 16 hook) is a small bead head like a copper john but red and with a clear head.