After years of failing at catching many shad, I finally win. Past results ranged from being skunked to 2 shad. This year, I broke the double digit mark. I was schooled by a shad fisherman with decades of experience a few weeks ago and it was a still a good time to put it into practice since the numbers were still over a 100K a day at the Bonny.

Left Seattle at 3 AM and got there at 7 AM. I pick a spot in the middle between the dam and the entrance. I pick up a shad in a matter of minutes. It goes on the stringer and it seems like it will be a goood day. Loss a little male a short time after. Then nothing for several hours. Checked out other spots with the same results.

It was noon when I decided to fish by the second powerhouse. This guy and his dad were knocking them dead. They fished thier jigs corkies and yarn style. They got thier bites while the jig was flowing in the zone downstream. Not casting and retrieving like everyone else. They gave me 9 shad. I copied their style for no results.

From 2 to 5 PM, It was on like Donkey Kong for me. I caught 11 and lost 4. Casting just the right distance and retrieving at the right rate was producing hits. All of a sudden, I can sense every little hit and setting the hook just right. I use to set the hook hard like I was power bait fishing and that ripped the hook out of thier mouths. Everything was great till this group of three people crowded me at the rock I was standing. This guy would cast out,then keep his rod low to the water while my line was drifting below his. What a jerk. Overall, I was pretty happy that I can fish for shad now.

PS. I was using a ten foot medium light action rod. Fighting those shad on that rod was fun.

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