i've been doing a decent amount of shad fishing this year in the Occoquan, and am starting to believe that these fish are either super irritable, or are sometimes feeding.
Everything I've ever read or heard about shad is that they are strictly in these rivers to spawn and that the bright flies we are pulling in front of them are eliciting a reactionary, angry strike. I believe this is certainly true, but I will admit that I am wavering slightly. Lately i have been letting my flies sit on the surface right next to the boat and quite often a shad will come out of the depths to take one. It seems they are moving 5-10 feet out of their way to take a fly that is just sitting. Maybe the brightness is catching the sin and they are curious, but it certainly looks like feeding. Any ideas from those much more knowledgeable?
Gregg