shad on the columbia?

[Shad_Eating_Grin]

I was reading about a fishing dock in Washougal near Cottonwood Beach Park and the author was saying that it was good for shad (when they run). Has anyone been there and fished that spot? I was just trying to avoid driving to Bonneville.

I looked on Google maps and I do not see the dock that I read about. There is a nice looking dock/pier at Steamboat Landing Park. Maybe that is the one he was writing about.

That is the correct dock. You'll catch shad there, but not in the numbers like Bonny. The setup for the dock is a heavy sinker (4-6 ounces) with 1-2 Dick Nite spoons above the sinker, tied to dropper lines. Basically, you are plunking for them.

You might as well go to Bonny... it is only 30 minutes away from that dock.

[colton]

yeah that area around the dock is pretty good for shad at times. i also fish smallmouth their around the rock pilings and thats fun too.

[Gisteppo]

Does anyone fish in the lower Snake for Shaddleys? I dont really want to commit a 3 day weekend to go down to the normal shad spot in Oregon if someone knows a reliable choke point to catch them somewhere between Lewiston and say McNary dam.

E

[trout slayer]

Does anyone fish in the lower Snake for Shaddleys? I dont really want to commit a 3 day weekend to go down to the normal shad spot in Oregon if someone knows a reliable choke point to catch them somewhere between Lewiston and say McNary dam.

E

where do you fish in oregon for shad? i fish the main umpqua and down there shad darts are almost unheard of we use jigs with pink skirts.

[Gisteppo]

Oregon City...

E

[cavdad45]

Oregon City...

E

dittos.

[Fisherman_max]

so does anybody know were these shad spawn? do they go up small rivers and creeks like salmon? or do they pick a spot in one of the larger rivers like the willamete or columbia? do they die after spawning? or do they make multiple trips like a steelhead?

[Jake Dogfish]

Last year I was driving by Bonneville at the beginning of May. I saw a few guys fishing, and a couple Shad caught So I thought I would try it. I put on small crappie jigs and caught 2 and lost one. First Shad for me. They were fun.

[Fisherman_max]

yea i hear you can catch em pretty easy when they are in. i also heard they are easy to use because of their soft mouths.

[cavdad45]

so does anybody know were these shad spawn? do they go up small rivers and creeks like salmon? or do they pick a spot in one of the larger rivers like the willamete or columbia? do they die after spawning? or do they make multiple trips like a steelhead?

I've seen them in the Clackamas River well past the run. As late as August, heading back to sea? The young shad head back in the fall and make a wonderful food source for river smallmouth, and just as wonderful color choice for bass plugs.

[racfish]

Im not sure where they spawn Actually lay there eggs.I wonder if they die like salmon or do some live after spawning and return to the salt?Has anyone ever checked out their life cycles.Im just curious thats all.

[A9]

yea i hear you can catch em pretty easy when they are in. i also heard they are easy to use because of their soft mouths.

Yea they when they are running thick they are just stacked up in the river...

[Fisherman_max]

yea i am going to freeze some shad for you and gisteppo and for my craw traps.

[A9]

Gisteppo: If your ever in a bigtime crunch for crab bait, I know the Joes over here in Western Washington sell whole shad for bait. Something like $4 per shad. And they are big ones. I'm not sure if your anywhere near a Joes, but if you are, it might be worth looking into their freezer and seeing if they stock shad as bait.

[Fisherman_max]

i can give ppl free shad!

[colton]

yeah i could too.

[Fisherman_max]

i will probably go 3 or 4 times this year so i will have plenty to spare.

[Gisteppo]

Sam thats good info, thanks.

Im a tightass, so I prefer the idea of stealing shad from someone that has a bunch extra, since they are out fishing them anyways. So many of the fish are wasted at the dams and such, floating around dead, that Id like to come scoop em all up. Just hard to find the time.

E

[Fisherman_max]

dude if you can arrange it sometime i will give ya all the shad i have i just need 3 or 4 for crawbait this summmer and i am sure ill catch more than that.

[zen leecher aka Bill W]

max, type in shad spawning in google or yahoo and see what you get.

The short answer is shad spawn in moving water.