Shad from Shore Tips

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Davis Walker

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Apr 28, 2014, 10:55:27 AM4/28/14
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I am going to try to catch my first shad ever this coming weekend. I don't really know much about it other than reading from the forum. I am planning on fishing from shore at fletchers. I have never been to fletchers either. I am going to tie some shad darts this week in pink and chartreuse. I currently only have a floating line unfortunately and hopefully that wont hinder my ability to catch a shad!
Any tips or tricks would be much appreciated when it come to fishing from shore, I have never fished in the Potomac before and will get my DC license from fletchers as well.
 
thanks!
Davis

Jeffrey Silvan

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Apr 28, 2014, 10:59:26 AM4/28/14
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I've personally never had success from shore, mainly because I rarely fish from shore. I tried a couple times a couple years ago, but got fed up by too many snags. Now I typically just rent a rowboat from Fletchers. I do know that you'll need to go either upstream or downstream from Fletchers, rather than fishing from shore in the cove itself. I do highly recommend getting a sinking line though. The shad are typically down too deep for a floating line in this stretch of water.


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Scott Stankus

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Apr 28, 2014, 11:11:28 AM4/28/14
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I second the sinking line. If nothing else, try to get yourself a sinking leading. Orvis sells a 10' Poly Sinking Leader that should help. I would guess that Urban Angler has something similar as well. The slower that your line sinks, the longer you should wait to begin your retrieve. Experiment with casting across the current and even upstream a bit to get your fly as deep as possible.

Without a sinking line, you also may want to add a little weight to your flies when you're tying them. 

--Scott


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Yambag Nelson

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Apr 28, 2014, 11:13:47 AM4/28/14
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I have had a few good days from shore this season, but it is difficult due to the fact that there are not a ton of places where you have room to backcast and the fact that there are tons of snags.  With a floating line, the snags won't be a problem, but you are going to have a very tough time getting down to where the fish are.  I have heard of a couple people having success with a floating line, but it seems that the instances where they are up in the water column are few and far between.  A sinking line is really a huge help, but like I said, you will lose a ton of flies fishing from shore with a sinking line.  Most of the spots where there is room for a backcast are upstream of fletchers.  Shorefishing may be a bit more productive around chain bridge, but it is always crowded up there. 
 
My recommendation would be to get a boat (it is definitely worth the $25) and get a sinking line. 

Scott Stankus

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Apr 28, 2014, 11:20:31 AM4/28/14
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If you do upgrade to a sinking line, I think a sink tip line (of around 300-grains) is more productive than a full sinking line. It seems to allow you to cover more of the water column with each cast. 

--Scott


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Danny Barrett

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Apr 28, 2014, 11:36:08 AM4/28/14
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Give an Orvis shop a call.  I couldnt figure out how to get into the Fletchers parking lot.  It saved me a lot of concerns.

Thanks,

Dan Barrett



On Mon, Apr 28, 2014 at 10:55 AM, Davis Walker <williamda...@gmail.com> wrote:

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GSFeder

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Apr 28, 2014, 1:41:46 PM4/28/14
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From shore with a sink tip or sinking line you have to roll cast or single hand Spey cast. Sometimes you may have to roll cast your line to the surface and then roll cast to get it out to the seam. It ain't easy, but you'll catch some fish. 

Cheers, 

-- Greg

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Rob Snowhite

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Apr 28, 2014, 1:44:59 PM4/28/14
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What Greg said! Looks like today is the last day of fishable weather. Let's hope the tidal basin floods over the walls. 

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Scott Stankus

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Apr 28, 2014, 1:46:26 PM4/28/14
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So you can get fined for "being in the river" when you're standing on the sidewalk? ;-)


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Richard Farino

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Apr 28, 2014, 1:55:41 PM4/28/14
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Shush the both of you.



Richard Farino

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Davis Walker

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Apr 28, 2014, 4:03:24 PM4/28/14
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I was going to fish from shore because like I said I haven't fished on the Potomac or for shad before, and I was thinking I would kind of soak in the experience and watch others on what their doing and learn some.
definitely going to invest in a sinking leader. and I plan on tying the SHAD DART per Rob Snowhites youtube page (which is a godsend, thank you rob for posting those videos)
 
Davis
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Marek Rich

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Apr 28, 2014, 4:28:46 PM4/28/14
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Not to drown this subject down to much more, but I would also suggest fishing at and above Chain Bridge. This is my “go-to” site for shore fishing the Potomac for Shad. If you search the website, you’ll find a ton of useful information, including maps. If you are at all interested in learning more, please let me know. Always happy to lend a hand.

 

I went out on Friday afternoon for a couple hours and landed over 25 fish, including a crappie, carp and catfish. I also had a massive follow from a 25-30” snakehead, which got the blood pumpin’. I prefer to fish an incoming tide timed to afternoon/evening, but everyone has their preference.

 

Marek

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johnfarr

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Apr 28, 2014, 7:03:28 PM4/28/14
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I tried to fish from shore last year while my name was on the waitlist for a boat but didn't have much luck. It's tough to really get your line out there with a fly rod, you really need to get into the main currents to have a shot at fish. Granted I didn't have waders but I think the area around Fletcher's would be tough to wade.

I'd suggest using a spinning rod if you want to fish from shore.

As others have said, the area around chain bridge seems to work well for shore fishing.


On Monday, April 28, 2014 10:55:27 AM UTC-4, Davis Walker wrote:

Justin Schiavone

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Apr 29, 2014, 8:28:35 AM4/29/14
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Hey man,

Def need a sink tip with weighted flies or a sinking line, but It's all about positioning from the shore. Find a big eddy and a point where you can get out there- lower tides obviously help. I like to fish the pinch where the main current and the eddy merge cast upstream into the current and strip up through the seem - usually on a 45 and usually fast. Keep it controlled though, you'll have better luck with even strips - they miss a lot. It's also a lot of patience because you are not as mobile. Don't get discouraged though and keep varying the time you let it sink and your retrieving speed. You will get into fish and when it rains, it pours.

Hope this helps,

Js

jake hamilton

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Apr 29, 2014, 5:33:44 PM4/29/14
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Put soap on you leader to remove grease therefore letting it sink quickly. Or buy a singling leader they are sold at urban angler like $20. My beat experience is using a liquid based soap like hand soap and rubbing it on the leader.
Good luck

Davis Walker

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May 1, 2014, 3:40:26 PM5/1/14
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im guessing my chances at catching a shad this weekend have been thwarted due to all the rain.....
 

On Monday, April 28, 2014 1:55:41 PM UTC-4, Richard Farino wrote:
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Jeffrey Silvan

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May 1, 2014, 3:42:54 PM5/1/14
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Flows likely won't be back to the point where Fletchers will rent boats again until the beginning of next week. I'm not sure how easy/safe it would be to fish from shore this weekend since the water will still be pretty high, but it will almost certainly be pretty mudded up.


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Rob Snowhite

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May 1, 2014, 4:01:26 PM5/1/14
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They were stacked up in the tidal basin as of this morning. 

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Patrick Kearns

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May 1, 2014, 4:24:11 PM5/1/14
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The tidal basin, eh?  I'd be sorely tempted to give that a try, especially if it's looking like a better bet than Fletcher's (much closer to home, not to mention the novelty of fishing the Mall).  It seems like people usually fish the Ohio Drive bridge and around the Jefferson ... ?  Any tips, tricks, and warnings would be much appreciated  (I noticed the past thread about having paper licenses & displaying them, I'll keep that in mind).

Davis, regarding Fletcher's this weekend, especially if you can wait until Sunday, forecast river levels are only a hair over the cutoff for boat rentals at Fletcher's (5' at Little Falls, the forecast is for a bit under 6' by Sunday afternoon - http://water.weather.gov/ahps2/hydrograph.php?wfo=lwx&gage=BRKM2).  I've fished from shore when the water is up around those levels, and it's both possible and safe (although the warnings not to wade go double!).  

Whether it'll be productive is another story.  I've pulled bass and catfish out of some pretty muddy water at Fletcher's, but I don't have any experience with cloudy water & the shad run.  

Anyone care to prognosticate on what the river'll look like this weekend, and whether it'll be worth fishing?  Heck, the forecast is 70+ and sunny all weekend, it'll at least be nice day to wash some lures and get a tan.

Brendan

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May 1, 2014, 4:57:30 PM5/1/14
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Several eddies on the virginia side between key bridge and up past chain bridge. Best fishing is when the river is too high for boat rentals and you get some water backed up in the tributaries.  You can park at Roosevelt Island and walk up or access via several of the nature trails... be careful for trees and hikers with your backcast. 

Can't say it enough though - if you're fishing from shore on that section of the potomac - please do not wade. crazy currents, quick fluctuations in water level and you're pretty much done for if you slip. 

Brendan
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Forrest Allen

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May 7, 2014, 12:33:52 PM5/7/14
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Is anyone planning on going out for some shad tomorrow? I have always done shore fishing near Fletchers, but am interested in renting a boat. If anyone wants to join, I would be happy to have some company (Ill pay for the boat!) I hope to be there all day. 

Also, has anyone fished over there today or yesterday? Conditions seem back to normal/good? 

Forrest

tperkins

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May 7, 2014, 1:40:00 PM5/7/14
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I fished from shore yesterday starting around 6 pm. I was just upstream from Fletcher's. Water is still really high and muddy but shad are close to shore. I caught the majority of them on chartreuse. I caught a lot of hickory, one gizzard and a good number of perch as well.
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Justin Schiavone

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May 8, 2014, 8:42:54 AM5/8/14
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Forest,

I'm off tomorrow and down to go, how does that work?

Js

Forrest Allen

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May 8, 2014, 6:59:54 PM5/8/14
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Justin,

I wish I could... But I'll be back in the office. I imagine the fishing will only get better as the weekend progresses without rain.

I caught about 35 fish today but only a handful of shad. All of the rest I caught were perch, which is still fun! I'll be debating going back out there on Saturday.

Thanks for checking!

Forrest

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