SimonSays Posted March 25, 2009 Posted March 25, 2009 Shad seems to be coming up the James, caught some hickories the other day, about 15-20. People were pulling up Perch 2-3-4-5 at a time with the sabiki rigs. silver or gold 1 in spoons seem to be hot, my fly fishing bubby had a lot of luck with pink/purple fly. Quote
Super User Sam Posted March 25, 2009 Super User Posted March 25, 2009 Yes, it is that time of the year to clog up Ancarrows with shad fishermen. Hundreds all on the water in the Ancarrows area at the same time, along with the bank fishermen. Dan, you go and let me know how you do. Quote
Super User Sam Posted March 25, 2009 Super User Posted March 25, 2009 Opps! Meant to say Simon. my mistake. Sorry. > Quote
Super User Dan: Posted March 25, 2009 Super User Posted March 25, 2009 Simon, do you know if they are heading up the Rapp or Pmac yet? Quote
SimonSays Posted March 25, 2009 Author Posted March 25, 2009 Simon, do you know if they are heading up the Rapp or Pmac yet? sorry Dan, not a clue =( Quote
Super User Sam Posted March 25, 2009 Super User Posted March 25, 2009 It's Dan. See? Dan. I was close. ;D ;D ;D Quote
Super User Dan: Posted March 25, 2009 Super User Posted March 25, 2009 you were just too early, Sam. ;D Quote
SimonSays Posted March 28, 2009 Author Posted March 28, 2009 If anyone is interested I'll be at the James around the 14th st bridge area shad fishing =D hopefully the recent rain didn't mess things up too badly ! Quote
Super User Sam Posted March 29, 2009 Super User Posted March 29, 2009 Heading out next week to try my luck with the shad. Will go during the week to avoid the thousands fishing for the shad. ;D Quote
VekolBass Posted March 29, 2009 Posted March 29, 2009 I've never fished for shad before, I'm thinking about doing it on Saturday @ the Rappahannock. Any tips? Quote
VABasser Posted March 29, 2009 Posted March 29, 2009 I've never fished for shad before, I'm thinking about doing it on Saturday @ the Rappahannock. Any tips? d**n I'm jealous of you all. I'm hoping I can get away from VT soon for a weekend to slay some shad. I imagine it'll peak in the next week or two although I dont really know considering I'm not there. Vekol, the two main things I would recommend throwing are small 1 inch silver or gold spoons and shad darts. I've mainly thrown the silver spoons with good success. I'm sure you can get them at Gander or Dicks but I usually got mine at Kens Bait and Tackle off Rt 1 southbound (after the Rt 1 bridge over the Rapp, on your left side, mapquest if you dont know where it is). All the stores this time of year should have the darts and spoons so if you dont know what you're looking for ask someone and they'll know what you're talking about. I always put a few split shots above the spoon. The amount of weight you want and how far up your line depends. You just have to experiment and see whats working. I would recommend starting with 2 or 3 of that "average size" (1/8 oz i reckon) about 18 inches up your line and go from there. Mainly I would just cast out and retrieve with varying speeds. I know there are different variations and ways to catch them but this is my most proven method. I remember the first time I ever went me and a buddy caught around 40 each within 2 hours or so. Talking about this bums me out that I'm stuck here in Bburg . I'm in a bit of a hurry but if you want a few suggestions on where to go send me a PM Quote
SimonSays Posted March 29, 2009 Author Posted March 29, 2009 VABasser hit it on the head, 1-1.5in silver or gold spoons. I use 6lb line tied to a 1/2oz trolling sinker with about 2-3 ft of mono leader. I feel that early in the season the longer leader helps but in the middle when it's really hot they'll slam anything. I watched a guy last year drop a polished silver hook straight down and got bit... Also, I always put a small orange bead above my spoon, I don't know why but it seems to help a bit. I was out on Sat and Sun practicing/fishing with the fly rod and my own hand tied flies!. Didn't hit as many as I would have with the spinning gear but it was mad fun ! There's also stripers mixed in on the James. Here's a few =P Quote
A.Do? Posted March 29, 2009 Posted March 29, 2009 Nice fish!!! You should just pick me up, take me fishing, and drive me home. Quote
rickster Posted March 30, 2009 Posted March 30, 2009 Fished the Potomac on Saturday, no Shad caught, but I did see a couple jumping. This rain should bring em up Quote
armesjr Posted March 30, 2009 Posted March 30, 2009 I went today at ancarrows and caught 7 in about an hour on a yellow/orange shad dart Quote
SimonSays Posted March 30, 2009 Author Posted March 30, 2009 what part of the james?? 14th street bridge area Heya Armesjr, did you have a kayak? we should yak fish for them one day Quote
Aluma-Bass Posted March 30, 2009 Posted March 30, 2009 thanks Simon! wheres the closest public ramp? Quote
SimonSays Posted March 30, 2009 Author Posted March 30, 2009 For large boats the closest launch is at Anncarrow's Landing, bass boats and V-hulls etc launch here. At the peak of shad season parking here is horrible. Googlemaps link to anncarrow's If you're on a kayak or canoe you can launch from the 14th street bridge area, designed for kayakers/canoeist to launch. Googlemaps link to 14th street bridge launch Quote
hokiefisherman93 Posted March 30, 2009 Posted March 30, 2009 Simon, i have never really done much shad fishing, but i was wondering on pointers on where to look for them. i am heading out there this friday and hoping to land a few on fly and a spinning set up. any tips on where to look for the shad or stripers? or is anywhere you throw it usually going to produce? Quote
SimonSays Posted March 30, 2009 Author Posted March 30, 2009 Right now I believe that they're staging right downriver of the 95 bridge according to some friends from orvis and greentop. Later on in a few more weeks they'll move up above the 95 near the 14th street bridge. If you aren't on a boat you can try to bank fishing from ancarrows landing, it's really crowded there but you hit them pretty regularly as the river narrows in that area. On my fly rod I was using small clouser looking flies both the stripers and shad will hit those it seems. The stripers don't seem to touch the silver/gold spoons Quote
hokiefisherman93 Posted March 30, 2009 Posted March 30, 2009 you able to fish from a canoe around that area or is the current to swift? Quote
SimonSays Posted March 30, 2009 Author Posted March 30, 2009 you'll be able to fish there on a canoe, bring a heavier anchor though, there's not much there to catch on it seems. The current still drags my yak around with a 3lb anchor. Quote
hokiefisherman93 Posted March 30, 2009 Posted March 30, 2009 how big of a striper were you landing? Quote
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