anyone sucessful at bank fishing for Shad? I know the dropper and dick-nite technique works well from a boat. Is it the same from the bank? I am heading down this weekend and any info would be good.
Thanks

The only shore access for shad I know of, on WA side, is at Bonneville dam. Tough conditions, but if no one else responds, give it a try. You'll see plenty of shadders. Just have plenty of gear, as the boulders grab a lot. If you're lucky there could be fish below the riprap near the boat launch. G'luck!

Randy - Ditto. The best place I know to bank fish for shad is just downstream of Bonneville Dam on the Washington side. Use shad darts in green/charturese. Add a couple 1/4oz. split shots for weight. The shad will be in the current. The current is pretty strong so be careful. They're a kick on light tackle. They should be there now. But you might check the fish counts on the Army Corps of Engineers website. Good luck.

RANDY,

Bank fishing for shad is a kick! I've been going to Bonneville dam every late May, early June for the last 10 years just to fish for them. The most effective setup that I've found is the small shad dart jigs that all of the small stores in the North Bonneville, Stevenson area have for sale. I personally like the chartreuse/white combo, but any of the color combo's work when the shad are in thick. I use a 7 1/2 ft. graphite ultralight rod, with 6lb. mainline.
Get some 1/4" hollowcore lead and cut a piece about 1.5 inches long. slide it on your mainline, then tie on a small black barrel swivel. I then use about 3 ft. of 12lb. leader. This is because I release most of the shad, (except the ones I use for sturgeon bait) This allows you to grab the leader with your hand while landing the shad in the rocks. If you use a light leader also,
the shad would thrash around and break off the jig, which at 65 cents apiece can get a little expensive. Anyway, tie the shad dart on so that the knot is on the front of the eye(when hanging vertically the jig should hang down, not horizontally) Cast straight out, and slowly retrieve the dart like you would a spinner or spoon. The current can be somewhat strong, and that's why the lead is necessary. Let your lure swing down with the current, and reel in fast when you think you are getting close to the bank. The rocks are notorious lure grabbers.

It is not necessary to crowd in with everybody at the deadline, just find an open area and start fishing. Last weekend we were averaging about 50 or so shad a day. Usually, this time of year you can catch them until your tired of it. Shad fight great on the light trout tackle, and this can be a good fishery for the kids.

Good luck,

Mark

Here's an interesting question. Would shad hit bait, like worms, etc.? Probably a stupid question, but I'm just curious.

Also, does the run usually go strong until mid-June? I went the last couple years in early June (it wasn't that great then), but won't be able to make it up there until the middle of June this year.

[ 06-04-2001: Message edited by: Krome Brite ]

I've never heard of shad taking bait, unless you count the shad scales I used to use on a bare hook years ago. Thought it might be a mating reaction but have never confirmed why they'd "strike" at them. Shad are supposed to be filter feeders, eating plankton. I read in latest STS mag letters to editor that they eat smolts, but I find it hard to believe!
The chartreuse darts do seem best in the Columbia, with gold hooks.

When I was younger and lived over in tri-cities area, we used to do real well at Ice harbor dam on the shad. We would fish a current seam next to the rip-rap shore(below the dam). We would use crappie jigs in red/white or red/yellow, beneath a bobber. The jig was only about 4-5 foot down below the bobber. THe drifts were rather quick. Just cast upstream, let it drift past you, and repeat. The shad would come through in spurts, and sometime the action was fast and furious. I would use a noodle rod, and it was a real kick.

Wow, eating their own scales, now that's screwed up! Hmm, maybe I'll just have to try some scales on the hook next time I go (that is if I can catch one first).

[ 06-05-2001: Message edited by: Krome Brite ]