FISHING FOR THE AMERICAN
SHAD
Shad fishing is an exciting annual
springtime adventure for thousands of Delaware and Lehigh River
anglers. Arriving in the river during late March, the shad
provides one of the first angling opportunities of the year. The
shad is a prized gamefish and is not difficult to catch after
learning a few basic lessons.
In this pamphlet the Delaware River
Shad Fishermen’s Association offers you some guidelines which
we hope will start you on a successful shad fishing
career.
WHAT IS A
SHAD?
Centuries ago the Delaware was home
to many species of fish, some of which inhabited the river year
round and others, termed anadromous, which made only annual
visits to the river to insure the continuation of their
kind.
Unimaginable numbers of these
anadromous fish including sturgeon, striped bass, alewives, and
blueback herring came out of the depths of the Atlantic Ocean
each spring to enter the Delaware River and spawn in its crystal
clear waters.
The American shad, not to be
confused with its smaller cousin the hickory shad, is indigenous
to the Atlantic coastline of North America and in pre-colonial
times could be found in almost any coastal stream from Florida to
the Bay of Fundy. Since colonial times there have been drastic
changes to the land and consequently the range of the shad has
been greatly diminished. Overfishing, dams, and human and
industrial pollution are just some of the factors which have
closed many of the shad’s former spawning grounds
forever.
In the Delaware, shad were a major
source of food and income until the late 1800’s when commercial
fishing reached a peak. Shad were considered to be limitless in
number and were taken commercially from Scudders Falls, near
Trenton to Lackawaxen, a distance of some 140 miles. Between the
years 1896 and 1901 the average annual commercial catch of shad
was approximately 14 million pounds. But commercial fishermen at
this time were unknowingly witnessing the last of the great shad
runs on the Delaware. Increased river pollution during the first
60 years of the 20th century led to an almost total
disappearance of the shad from the river.
The enactment and enforcement of
the Clean Streams Act and subsequent improvement of water quality
was one of the major factors which helped enable the shad to make
a gradual comeback in the early 1960’s. Twin hurricanes in
1955, which caused perhaps the worst flooding in the history of
the river, are also considered to have been factors in the
cleaning out of the lower river and the comeback of the shad. A
great deal of the pollutants which had settled on the river
bottom over the years were washed out to sea by the floodwaters.
With the continued improvement of water quality in the
Philadelphia-Camden-Chester areas, we may someday return to the
great shad runs of colonial times.
The Beautiful Delaware
River
The Delaware River begins as two
branches, the East and West, in the Catskill Mountains of New
York. After the branches join at Hancock, NY the river flows
southward until its freshwater portion reaches tidal water at
Trenton, NJ, a distance of over 200 miles, all of which is free
of impoundments. The tidal portion of the river continues to Cape
May, NJ, an additional 130 miles.
To the fisherman the Delaware
offers excellent opportunities for many types of fishing, ranging
from the intricate sport of fly fishing for native trout to the
stalking of giant muskellunge. And of course, in the spring it is
the shad which attracts the attention of thousands of
anglers.
The Delaware asks only one thing of
you—respect! Treat the river as the precious resource it is and
it will be able to offer its recreational opportunities for
generations to come. Carry trash bags at all times, not only for
your own trash but also for that left behind by others. An extra
couple of minutes picking up discarded litter may be an important
factor in keeping the river open to public use.
When and Where to Find
Shad
Shad usually enter the river proper
during the waning days of March, when water temperatures reach
the mid to upper 40s. The first bona fide reports of sportfishing
catches come from the Trenton-Scudders Falls area where the shad
leave the tidal waters and enter the freshwater mainstream. The
shad do not enter the river all at once but rather in schools of
varying size. It is generally agreed upon, however, that there is
a main run of fish which constitutes the majority of the shad
entering the river system. Locating this main run is the key to
successful season long shad fishing.
When the main run is underway good
fishing can be found between Trenton and lower Bucks County, PA
during the first 3.5 weeks of April. Upper Bucks County and
Northampton County, PA come into their own during the latter part
of April and the early part of May. Although Northampton County
and neighboring Warren County, NJ enjoy good shad fishing into
June, the main run of fish are usually through the area by
mid-May.
Once the shad pass the Delaware
Water Gap it doesn’t take long before catches are reported from
Shawnee, Dingman’s Ferry, Milford, and Port Jervis. The main
run usually reaches these locations during the second week of
May. Points north of Port Jervis see the main run from mid-May to
late in the month. Lackawaxen, Narrowsburg, Skinners Falls and
many other upper river locations have good fishing through
June.
It should be pointed out that once
the main run reaches suitable spawning areas some of the fish
drop out of the main schools and spawn without going further
north. This depends on many factors including the make-up of the
river bottom, water temperature and river flow. When the
temperature of the water reaches the mid to upper 60s, the
shad’s sexual glands rapidly mature and spawning becomes more
urgent. Spawning may extend from late May until
July.
Once spawning has occurred, the
adult fish which have survived the run will rest for a short
period of time and then return to the ocean. The mortality rate
among adult shad is high due to starvation. Shad do little or no
eating during their upriver migration. It is estimated that
between 6 and 10% of the Delaware River shad which survive the
run will return to the river again as repeat spawners, a
remarkable feat.
After spawning has taken place and
the eggs have hatched, the young shad, or juveniles are usually
out of the river by November and will meet with other shad coming
down the Atlantic coastline from river systems to the north. The
shad will winter in warmer waters which are found off the coast
of the southern United States.
Locating Shad in the
River
Shad tend to follow the river’s
channel because the channel offers the shad the deeper water they
seem to prefer and also, because of its swifter water, a
direction to follow. Unless the channel changes for some drastic
reason you can be sure that a productive spot will continue to be
productive year after year.
Obstructions in the river such as
bridge trestles, wing dams, islands, or large rocks are places
where shad will hold for short periods of times to rest. Fishing
behind these obstructions is often productive.
Shad often rest in deep pools,
therefore fishing at the heads of pools in the early morning
prior to shad moving into the rapids could prove productive,
especially for shore fishermen.
The late afternoon and early
evening hours are perhaps the best hours of the day for fishing,
regardless of weather conditions. Shad seem to become more active
at this time of the day and can often be observed zigzagging
through a pool’s tailwaters as evening approaches. Once night
falls, it is best to get off the river and fish for shad another
day.
As the season progresses and the
spawning process begins the habits of the shad become more
predictable. Since the fish for the most part will not be
traveling any further north, they tend to inhabit particular
pools day after day and will leave them as evening approaches to
enter shallower water to spawn. Spawning does not take place in
one night and a given fish may extend its spawning for several
days to more than a week. At this time of the year shad are
usually found closer to the surface and very lightweight darts or
other lures are all that is needed to reach the fish. Fly fishing
is particularly effective at this time and offers many thrills
for the successful angler.
A final word about locating shad.
Once you’ve hooked one, don’t move. There are others in the
area and even if fishing slacks off for an hour or more, stay
there. You have found a “shad path” which other schools will
be soon following. The only good reason to move is if you know
another good hotspot upriver and want to intercept the shad on
the way up.
An excellent aid in learning the
river is a set of maps produced by the Delaware River Basin
Commission. The ten map set provides information on boat access
areas, river depths, channel location, and recreational
opportunities. The maps are available through the Delaware River
Shad Fishermen’s Association.
Equipment for Shad
Fishing
Shad average in weight from 4-6
pounds for the females, or roe shad, and from 2-4 pounds for the
males, or buck shad. There are larger individuals of each sex but
it is more often than not that the fish you catch will fall into
the average categories.
Spinning tackle is by far the most
popular and best suited equipment for shad fishing. It offers the
angler the best means of attaining good casting distance with the
generally lightweight shad lures and, in addition, a spinning
reel offers superior drag control, the key to landing the
majority of shad you will hook.
Spinning rods ranging from 5-7.5
feet in length are the choices of most experienced shad
fishermen. Medium weight rods of these lengths supply plenty of
backbone to land the largest shad in the river but are not too
heavy to take the fight out of the fish. When choosing a rod,
keep in mind that if you are a shore fisherman you may want to
opt for one of the longer-length rods which will afford you
greater casting distance.
Shad hook themselves when they
strike and therefore you don’t need a heavy rod to set the
hook. Since shad have extremely thin sided mouths, you will need
a rod with a certain amount of “give”.
When choosing a reel for shad
fishing, select one that is going to be compatible with your rod.
Select a medium weight freshwater reel featuring a smooth drag.
The reel’s drag must be set such that the fish may have line
when it makes hard runs but that you are in control the rest of
the time. Too tight a drag will result in snappped lines or lures
torn out of the shad’s soft mouth. Too light a drag will allow
the fish to use the river’s currents to its advantage and
eventually break free.
The type of line you use again
depends on the type of rod and reel you will be using. Four to
eight pound test is all you will ever need to land the river’s
biggest shad. The lighter the line, the quicker it will sink and
shad tend to run near the river bottom, especially during the
early part of the season. Purchase a line known for its
resistance to abrasion and its ability for holding a good
knot.
Some of the most successful shad
catchers are the small lead jig known as a shad dart and the
flutter spoon. They each come in various sizes and colors and can
be found in almost every successful shad fisherman’s tackle
box. Most shore fishermen prefer a larger dart which can be cast
further out into the river. Smaller darts are usually preferred
by boat fishermen who need not do a great deal of long distance
casting. Whatever the size, all are effective and a variety of
sizes should be carried to cope with changing river conditions.
When the river is high and fast, a heavier dart, or combination
of dart or flutter spoons is necessary to get down to the fish
through the fast current. Contrarily, when the river is low a
lightweight dart is in order so that snags are not encountered on
every cast.
The colors of the darts you use are
entirely up to you. Any color combination may work at any given
time. Bright, fluorescent colors are popular as are the
traditional color combinations such as white and red. The choice
is up to you. One word of advice. Don’t go shad fishing without
at least a dozen darts.
In addition to the above mentioned
lures, brightly colored spinners and small spoons are also good
shad catchers. Gold and silver spinners are popular. Fluorescent
beads on the spinner sometimes attract shad when brass beads
don’t. Flicker Spinners are good and can often be used in
tandem as a dropper with a shad dart.
All shad lures can be cast,
trolled, or if you’re fishing from a boat, simply let out the
back and allowed to drift in the current at a desired depth. The
shad will strike at the lure and hook itself. On the bottom they
are lifeless but once brought off the bottom they bob in the
current and attract the attention of the fish. An additional
light jigging action may also help induce some
strikes.
Shore fishing is practiced by the
many shad fishermen and is a highly productive method of catching
fish. Shore fishing is most successful where the channel of the
river comes close to or follows the shoreline. There are many
good locations along the entire length of the
river.
The method of fishing from shore
can be learned on your first trip to the river. This does not
insure that you will catch fish the first time out, however.
There are many subtle tricks to learn before you can begin to
consider yourself a veteran.
The beginning shore fisherman
should cast his lure across the river or slightly upstream and
allow his lure to drift with the current, twitching the rod tip
occasionally to give it additional action. You will snag the
bottom occasionally but hopefully you will learn the contour of
the river bottom before your dart supply disappears. Most strikes
occur as the lure is nearing the end of its downstream drift. If
a fish hasn’t struck yet, allow the lure to hold in the current
for a few seconds and then make a steady retrieve, again
twitching the rod tip for additional action. Shad occasionally
strike on the retrieve but the majority of the strikes occur
during the downstream drift. If you are not hooking shad try
fishing a bit deeper by casting your lure slightly further
upstream.
The shore fisherman should be
extremely cautious when wading, especially in the lower portions
of the river. There are deep dropoffs and the Delaware’s
currents are deceptively swift. Chest waders are recommended for
wading the river and it is not a bad idea to invest in felt soles
or cleats. A wading staff is helpful for testing the river
bottom. The best piece of equipment the shore fisherman can have
when wading is his own common sense. Don’t take
chances!
A long handled, wide-mouthed net is
a must for any type of shad fishing. Shad are large fish and will
not easily fit into a trout sized net. The long handle provides
that extra reach to net a shad which does not yield easily.
Remember the use of a net eliminates the need to remove the shad
from the water to disengage the hook.
Courtesy to fellow shad fishermen
should be shown by allowing plenty of elbow room to the angler
next to you and by not casting over other angler’s lines. Also,
friendships can be started by offering to net a shad hooked by an
adjacent angler.
Boat fishing for shad holds a
decided advantage over shore fishing due to the almost unlimited
water available. There are state and federal boat access sites
along the entire length of the river which make almost every mile
accessible to the boat fisherman, especially those propelled with
jet drives.
Fishing methods are much the same
as they are for the shore fisherman. The first necessity is to
locate the river's channel. In addition to the types of water
mentioned in “Locating Shad in the River” in this pamphlet,
the boat fisherman should be aware that shad are often found in
the slot of water just between a rapids and the eddies on its
flanks. This water can often be distinguished by its seemingly
directionless, flat look. Drift your dart through this water or
simply anchor on it and let your line out the back of the boat.
This is called flatlining. Your dart should be allowed to drift
in the current and not sit on the bottom. If shad don’t strike,
try adding or taking off some split shot. Changing the color or
size of your lure may also prove to be the deciding factor that
will change your luck.
Boat fishermen should also employ a
long handled net. Shad usually make a final run when they see the
boat and making jabs at the fish with your net will only scare
it. Proper netting is accomplished by steering the fish upriver
and placing the tip of the net in the water behind the shad. Once
the shad and net are in proper position, let the fish drift back
into the net, remembering to keep a certain amount of tension on
your line.
Downriggers remove the guesswork of
knowing where your lure or bait is at in relation to the bottom,
versus using weights to reach a desired depth. They are used with
or without depthfinders. Finders put you on fish sooner and also
locate channels. They also help center your boat on the schooling
fish. They eliminate lures hooking up on the bottom by knowing
the depth of the fish.
Rod line is usually run about 6 to
10 feet behind the ball or release, and fished 1 to 2 feet off
the bottom. Start out at the 1 foot level and raise half to 1
foot intervals if no strikes occur over a period of time. If
using a finder it’s just a matter of lowering the ball to the
depth of the fish. There will be times that fish will show up or
run anywhere from 1 to 5 feet off the bottom. Sometimes depending
on the current and the position of your boat, running line out
20-25 feet will also produce fish without moving boat position.
When running long line behind the ball, don’t flat line long,
because this could lead to tangles of both or more
lines.
Always use a barrel swivel when
flatlining or using a downrigger. This prevents line twists when
using flutter spoons that are not tuned properly, or bent from a
previously caught fish. The swivel is attached to your line and
then attach a 3 to 4 foot leader of lighter line to which the
spoon is attached. Example: 8 lb. mainline, 6 lb. leader;
6 lb. mainline, 4 lb. leader.
Releases – clothes pin type and
wrap around type with most being adjustable for different line
diameters. When adjusting releases in debris filled waters,
debris build-up on the line should be considered when adjusting.
Debris build-up will cause premature line release. Usage of small
split shot/beads/rubber band above the barrel swivel or the lure
will catch debris and keep it off the lure and barrel swivel. You
will keep your line in the water longer when there is a lot of
debris floating down with this method (less cleaning off
time).
When running downriggers and two
flatlines, the downriggers are kept short behind the ball and the
flatline rods are set out farther. This eliminates pulling all
lines in when hooked up on one line. Note: If two lines are
hooked up, pull all other lines in to eliminate
tangles.
When playing fish to the boat, keep
the rod tip down, even into the water, and pump and reel until
close to the boat. This method does not tire out the fish and
therefore fish brought in with this method keeps the fish down
from the surface which helps you from fighting the top
current/drag. Once a shad is on the top surface, it is not only
hard for you but it’s also hard on the fish. When it tires it
just lays on the top and starts to spin. This is when many fish
are lost.
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Boating on the Delaware can offer
many hours of relaxation and fun if approached in a safe and
courteous manner. The Delaware is a river with swift and, in many
cases, undetectable currents. Fishermen new to the river should
not choose the most challenging water the first time out but
should learn the river slowly and, if possible, with a friend who
has experience. Don’t forget to start and warm-up the motor
prior to leaving the shore.
A properly equipped boat should
always carry oars in addition to a motor, a sufficient amount of
fuel, an anchor of ten to fifteen pounds, a sufficient amount of
nylon rope, lights for early morning and evening use, a knife to
cut the anchor rope in case of emergency, a first aid kit, and
most importantly properly sized life jackets for all passengers
and a throwable floatation device. It is against the law to be
without them and you can be heavily fined.
Boats should always be anchored
from the bow and not the stern. If your anchor becomes stuck, and
this will happen on occasion, cut the rope rather than have your
boat and yourself go under.
Courtesy should be shown to fellow
fishermen by not anchoring too close to other boats, not speeding
past anchored boats, offering assistance in time of need, and not
strewing the river with litter.
Never take the attitude that you
are the master of the river. For additional information on safe
boating write to the Pennsylvania Fish Commission. The DRSFA
strongly recommends attending a boating safety
course.
The Delaware River Shad
Fishermen’s Association, Inc. is comprised of members who are
dedicated to the maintenance of a clean, free-flowing Delaware
River.
DRSFA’s efforts are aimed at
expanding the population of the American shad in the Delaware
River and re-establishing the shad in tributaries of the Delaware
which once held them.
DRSFA pursues these efforts by
actively promoting shad fishing, by supporting federal and state
legislation which is beneficial to the river’s
well-being.
DRSFA holds monthly meetings from
January to June and from September to November at the Se-Wy-Co
Fire Co. Social Hall, Rt. 378, one mile south of Bethlehem, PA.
Meetings are conducted the third Wednesday of the above mentioned
months beginning at 7:00 PM.
More information may be obtained on
our webpage: www.geocities.com/shadhotlineor
by email: shadfisherman@aol.com.
Annual membership in DRSFA may be
obtained by sending a check or money order for $5.00-Donor, or
$10.00-Patron to the DRSFA, 3907 Boswell Ct., Bethlehem PA 18020.
Lifetime memberships are
$50.00.
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