Shad in Fredericksburg?

[William]

TPFR,

I know that the shad run also happens in the Rappahannock. Does anyone know if tactics differ from how we fish them in the Potomac? I understand the water heights are quite different, since you can wade the river in Fredericksburg but not the Potomac.

William

[Kevin KB]

William,

Fishing pretty similar, except that you have to wade to get to the main channel.  Compared to the Potomac it is very shallow.  Probably not more than 6-8 foot, with some holes, in the Falmouth Flats area.  This is with the USGS guage showing 3 ft in the Fredericksburg area.  

At Falmouth Flats park, looking from the Rte 1, on the right side is Old Mill Park, is tree lined and where most of the gear fishers are.  On the left side is a large beach area with a gentle slope where you have to wade out quite aways to get within casting range of the main channel.   The wading is easy.  The current is generally not bad, especially the further downstream you go from the bridge.  Right under the bridge it can be dicey. 

As you say, it is not as deep,  so you can use a floating line with a sink tip.  You can use your intermediate and sinking lines as well.  I would recommend a stripping basket if you have one.

Bright colored streamers seem to work best.  I have also caught perch, catfish and stripers while fishing for shad.  I even saw a gear fisher catch a snakehead last year.

I am not an expert but hope this answers some questions.

Kevin

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[Eric Farquharson]

I agree with Kevin.  I usually start as far upstream as I can, fish the water in front of me up to the channel, and then take a step down stream after every cast or so to cover the water targeting the channel.

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