The Northern California Fly Fishing Board

One of the wise ones of The Board once said that the earliest he had ever seen shad at Verona, in many long years in California, was April 5 one year. I can't remember what year he said.

With today's weather, it sure feels plausible!

What is the earliest you have ever seen them caught at Verona? Or in the American? For me it has never been earlier than the second week of May, but I have only been at it a few years and am generally incompetent anyway

Hey Eric!

It's getting to be that time of year. I'm already tying up some shad flies. I've caught my first shad on the America the last two years on the following dates:

5/21/06 and 5/19/07

I know that they are at the mouth of the American and Feather rivers typically by the end of April. Let's hook up and get some this year.

Jeff C.

The earliest I've caught shad at Princeton was April 16th, and we did quite well that day. It was probably 15+ years ago. Frequently we've caught shad in the first few days of May, with the run peaking around Memorial Day at Road 48. But, the last two years the run has been 2-3 weeks late. I only caught 2 fish prior to Memorial day last year at road 48. Wondering what this year will bring?

I tied about three dozen shad flies this morning. Working on getting my swap flies done!

Good to hear from a couple of other shad enthusiasts Down in Baja I was reminded how cool it is to be pretty much surrounded by strikey silvery things with fins, and then today's weather is so shaddish that my shadometer started to rise . . .