Help with Shad

[njmultispecies]

I was interested in fishing the shad run this year. About what time do they start running? I have heard about shad darts, but don't know much else about what lures, line, rod, ect to use. Any suggestions? Thanks

[Capt. Lou]

The best method to take them is definitely on the fly rod , that being said if you are not a fly fisherman then spinning with the darts produces very well .
I use a 7 - 7.5 light action spin road with 6# mono . Darts range in colors but if u stick with silver or gold that's all u need . Tails optional , Imnever used any with tails , plain body only .
More importantly is understanding how to fish the darts , most approach this wrong .
It's best to cast slightly up and across stream , once dart settles in a hard jigging motion is imparted to dart as u retrieve on down stroke , u repeat this until jig gets hit or retrieve completed .
U cannot go too fast , they love those super hard jig motions & fast retrieves !
Dart size is generally 1/4 or heavy enough to,reach holding water .
The other part of this equation is locating the shad . They are active in evening but certainly can be caught all day .
Mid depth riffs , tail outs , major seams all can produce . Water temps early fifties gets em going , but best fishing occurs mid to late fifties !
Stages of runs can be noted by commercial,netter located on lower river usually peaks late April,thru mid May .
You. An sub rive to his website , I forgot his name but u can google it I'm sure

[MudCat08]

I'm going to be targeting them this year as well as I still need to add them to my list.
I hear they start in April and continue until May and even June.
I'm going to try spoons, and flutter spoons with shad darts. Something's gotta work! Going to be using a small reel with 6lb line and a 7ft-8ft rod.

It's shad in the evening then walleye as the sun sets!

[Capt. Lou]

Flutters usually work best from a boat trolling or on DR's . I would stick with darts from shore they've always produced very well for me .

[acabtp]

if you want to get the shad reports send an email to steve meserve at lewisfishery(AT)comcast.net and ask to be added to the shad list. that's the netter capt lou mentioned. they are the last/only "commercial" shad operation on the delaware (very small scale, basically for historical/demonstration/shad fest purposes at this point) at lewis island in lambertville.

in 2016 the shad were at trenton by 3/15 and the run was over by 5/23

[Mark B.]

http://drsfa.org/shad-fishing

http://www.woofish.com/FISHREPORTS.html

[NJSquatch]

Agree with everyone's comments...

You will be fine with any rod length but I use a 10' noodle rod with a larger arbor reel and 6# mono from the banks. This combo allows me to be able to throw 1/4oz darts and spoons with an inline weight a really good distance. The noodle rod and mono combo act as a shock absorber for when the fish make runs. These fish will give your drag a work out.

Vary your lures and retrieve to figure out what they want. Ask the other fisherman for advice. Unlike other types of river fishing, guys are more than willing to help each other out especially if you tell them it is your first time fishing for them. You might even be given a handful of lures.

Monitor the fishing reports to see where the shad are located and the water temps. The fishing will be more consistent with the water above 50.

You will be addicted once you get into them.

Good luck and see you out there!

Resources
http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/fish_shad.htm
http://www.woofish.com/shad.html

Reports
http://drsfa.org/fishing-log
http://www.woofish.com/FISHREPORTS.html

Delaware Gauges
https://waterdata.usgs.gov/pa/nwis/current/?type=flow

Cheap Noodle Rod
https://www.amazon.com/Pinnacle-Vertex-10-Feet-4-10-Pound-2-Pce/dp/B002TFCV2O/

Shad Lures
Ramsey Outdoors has darts
Dicks in Rockaway has darts and small spoons
http://www.woofish.com/
http://www.ebay.com/sch/russell_tackle/m.html?
http://www.ebay.com/sch/woofish/m.html?

[AndyS]

Never fished a shad dart till a friend of mine handed me one and said just fish it like a spinner !! BINGO fish on !!

[MudCat08]

From some of those reports it sounds like the Shad are ready to move up soon. should be going through the Gap by early April, at least I hope.

[FASTEDDIE29]

All great advice! Don't forget the Raritan gets a nice run of Shad! Darts on the Raritan for me! These fish will lay low and stop pushing up with the current polar vortex were having! It's early, make sure your ready!!!

[Mark B.]

All great advice! Don't forget the Raritan gets a nice run of Shad! Darts on the Raritan for me! These fish will lay low and stop pushing up with the current polar vortex were having! It's early, make sure your ready!!!


Unlawful to fish for A. shad in the Raritan River, as it is considered a recovering population.

See pages 27 & 28 of: http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/pdf/2017/digfsh24-34.pdf

Shad, American* - Delaware River only

Open year round, No minimum size, 3 per day

* Due to serious declines in American Shad numbers, the taking of American Shad, except for the Delaware River, is prohibited.

[MudCat08]

you can probably catch and release them in the Raritan, right? Nothing wrong with fishing for other fish with darts and by-catching shad haha.

[Lard Almighty]

you can probably catch and release them in the Raritan, right? Nothing wrong with fishing for other fish with darts and by-catching shad haha.Darts are my go-to for Raritan River smallies! :D

[Mark B.]

Darts are my go-to for Raritan River smallies! :D

If a Conservation Officer observes you fishing with a shad dart & catching / releasing multiple Raritan River A. shad, he’s going to bust you, as you falsely claim, “I’m targeting smallies!”

Same deal for anglers without a trout stamp, catching / releasing multiple trout,….“I’m targeting smallies!”

[Delawareriver]

I've always done best with flicker spoons from a boat or on shore. Every day the best color can vary but for me pink seems to be the most consistent. Very easy to fish and catch them but does take some knowledge of where to fishoot. Couple tips I'll give you from shore as seems like that what several will be doing. When water is low and clear look for spots where you can cast into the deeper channel, and think of smaller spoons and darts. Vice versa when the water is up and cloudy target the current seem closer to shore and think slightly bigger spoons and darts. Sections of Rapids can produce in high or lower water as the shad don't wanna run up the extreme current

There are shad already in the river but you won't have much luck till the water temp gets closer to 50. Best bet is follow the reports and follow the main run of fish, march-April can be great in the lower section (Trenton through lambertvill) of the river, April and may in the middle section (Stockton, through easton and up to water gap) and may and June typical the upper River shines from (water gap up to ny) with that said different pushes of fish can make good action anywhere at any time, I've caught shad into June near easton as well as plenty of shad in water gap during april. Best of luck guys

[Mark B.]

Rutgers plans to open / clean The Raritan River Island Farm Weir Fish Ladder next week & install the camera system / antennas for the monitoring of 2017 run.

A. shad are in the Delaware River. A week ago, a few were caught near Easton PA.

[team heat]

i USED TO CATCH SHAD STARTING ABOUT THE FIRST WEEK OF MARCH AT THE TRENTON POWER PLANT.iF THE PLANT IS RUNNING THE WARM WATER DISCHRGE INTO THE COVE IS THE PLACE TO BE.LAST YEAR I TOOK A FLOAT TRIP DOWN THE DELAWARE RIVER FROM LONG EDDY TO CALICOON NY IN THE THIRD WEEK OF MAY AND THE SHAD WERE ALL OVER THE PLACE.yOU COULD SEE THEM. CRUSING ALONG.MANAGED TO CATCH 4 OR 5 BUT WE WERNT EVEN FISHING FOR THEM GOOD IDEA TO CALL FIRST TO SEE IF THE MERCER GENERATING PLANT IS RUNNING.THE PLANT BELONGS TO PULIC SERVICE ELECTRIC AND GAS.yOU CAN ACESS THE COVE OFF OF RT29.jUST TAKE THE LABERTON ST EXIT GO DOWN TO THE STOP SIGN MAKE A LEFT TURN YOU WILL GO AROUND A BUNCH OF CURVES.wHEN YOU SEE THE FIRST OIL COPANY ON RIGHT PARK THERE.THERE IS A WELL MARKED GATE TO ACESS THE COVE.

[bassnblues]

It's been a while but I've had luck using the same teaser rig that I use in saltwater. I call it the milt Rosko rig because I read about it in one of his articles.

Tie a swivel into a small dropper loop, leave one side longer. Tie you dart on the long end and the flutter spoon on the short end. It was 50/50 between fish on the spoon and dart. I use 6lb floro.

[NJ219bands]

i USED TO CATCH SHAD STARTING ABOUT THE FIRST WEEK OF MARCH AT THE TRENTON POWER PLANT.iF THE PLANT IS RUNNING THE WARM WATER DISCHRGE INTO THE COVE IS THE PLACE TO BE.LAST YEAR I TOOK A FLOAT TRIP DOWN THE DELAWARE RIVER FROM LONG EDDY TO CALICOON NY IN THE THIRD WEEK OF MAY AND THE SHAD WERE ALL OVER THE PLACE.yOU COULD SEE THEM. CRUSING ALONG.MANAGED TO CATCH 4 OR 5 BUT WE WERNT EVEN FISHING FOR THEM GOOD IDEA TO CALL FIRST TO SEE IF THE MERCER GENERATING PLANT IS RUNNING.THE PLANT BELONGS TO PULIC SERVICE ELECTRIC AND GAS.yOU CAN ACESS THE COVE OFF OF RT29.jUST TAKE THE LABERTON ST EXIT GO DOWN TO THE STOP SIGN MAKE A LEFT TURN YOU WILL GO AROUND A BUNCH OF CURVES.wHEN YOU SEE THE FIRST OIL COPANY ON RIGHT PARK THERE.THERE IS A WELL MARKED GATE TO ACESS THE COVE.

I drive past the power plant every day and they didn't generate yet this year. The plant is scheduled to shutdown this June because they burn coal. Fishing has been no good there for many years because they don't generate most days.

[NJ219bands]

I caught and released 43 shad the past 2 days on a tube jig but they were all gizzard shad.