First Shad

[Matt D]

After seeing a couple different shad reports from the Delaware recently, I was pretty pumped up and wanted to try to get my first shad. Since I am at college, I did not have to much tackle to work with. Just my ultra light trout rod and some lures. I was checking the weather all day and saw about an hour gap with no rain so I figured I would go give it a shot. I drove to a couple places and found some nice deep water by the bank with some pretty fast current. I only had about 20 minutes to fish before the rain was gonna be back on top of me but I gave it a go with some small curly tail jigs and phoebes. On my third cast I hooked into something but with the light tackle and heavy current I had trouble getting it back to me. It jumped a couple times and then popped off but at least i got to see that it was a shad. I hooked into one more on the small jig that also got away and another on the phoebe that came off. As the rain began to fall and I was thinking it wasn't gonna happen today I got one on the phoebe and finally got him in. Not to much size to him, he was only about 14 inches but I sure was excited to get my first one. Can't wait to go back again with some egg or bullet weights to help get down the lure down. Thanks for the reports from all who posted them, they are what helped make my day today!

[flatcreek]

Nice going Matt, not exactly a fish for an ultra light, that makes even better.

[Rottilover]

Nice going Matt, on your first Shad. I used to do the same thing back in the early 90's. I remember rushing out of my last class at William Paterson and driving up to the gap to fish the last few hours of the day. I loved it. PM me if you want any help. Love to see all the shad fishing interest on the site.

[Mikey topaz]

Cool stuff man i havent caught a shad since i was like 9 really gotta make time to get in on the action!

[FASTEDDIE29]

Nice catch Matt. It's only going to get better from here. After this cold front passes and the temps regulate again, it's GAME ON!!! This is just the beginning!

[UglyStick]

Way to go Matt - gotta get me one of those beauties

[Predator]

Congrats on your first Matt. I'm hoping to post a report with video and pics after this good Friday's outing with Rottilover. We hit the river North of the Gap last week but got no action. We seemed to be a few days too early up there. Reports from this past weekend indicate they have reached north of the gap. So hopefully the fun begins for us this Friday.

[Matt D]

Thanks for the comments everyone. I was pretty excited about it!

Congrats on your first Matt. I'm hoping to post a report with video and pics after this good Friday's outing with Rottilover. We hit the river North of the Gap last week but got no action. We seemed to be a few days too early up there. Reports from this past weekend indicate they have reached north of the gap. So hopefully the fun begins for us this Friday.

This was down by the Trenton area if that helps you at all. Do not know to much about shad so I don't know when they will be up by the gap, but hopefully they are there for you. Good Luck!

[Matt D]

Was thinking about trying again today. Will the rise in water and drop in temperature turn shad off like some other fish? Thanks

[kcritch]

Congrats on your first...Nicely Done Dude!

[Rottilover]

In the past I've found that a sudden drop in water temp and rising river levels are two things that really give these shad lock jaw but who knows . I'll be out there Friday and Saturday.

[420*NightCrawler]

Good job catching one, man, they're fun fish. The sudden rise in water and change in temp will change the bite. They'll be harder to catch but still there. It's still early in the run, I'd give it another week. My father (a avid shad fisherman), picked up 16 on Tuesday. Today a friend had no luck in the exact same spot, with the water risen. There's enough time yet to where 20+ will be caught daily. I'll be out next week Tues or Wed and will report, but I'm up at the gap area.

[420*NightCrawler]

I should also mention, Matt, I would have stayed thru the rain. Shad aren't effected so much by rain like some other fish. A overcast day with rain can turn up some nice bites.