Fletchers - Still catching shad?

[RobSky]

Trying to get out Wednesday, any recent reports?

Or is the run done?

Thanks 

[Lane Thurgood]

They're still around. The lightning fast hickory shad run is over, of course. But we're in the time of year I prefer. You can think. And appreciate what you get. And get a wider variety. Got a couple of slams this week--hickory shad, American shad, striped bass and white perch. I think until it gets too hot, we'll have several good days ahead of us. I did real well this past week up until the Thursday rains. Friday morning was tough with the water cool and murky, but my daugher and I managed a small mixed bag of hickories, a striper and an American.

For perspective, due to Covid-restrictions, we were stuck with shoreline fishing last year. Looking back through my notes, on May 18 last year in a morning before work, I took over a dozen hickories, several herring, 3 stripers and 3 white perch. On May 19, I got my first two Americans of the year along with 5 hickory shad, a herring and a 20" striper, all on a size 6 chartreuse sparkle grub with gold tail.

I've kept notes since 2010. I have taken shad in June in years past, but I can't say I've joined the July 4 club (perhaps urban legend, anyway).

No man, not time to quit yet. 

Tight lines.

[Lane Thurgood]

Sorry, it was Thursday morning that was rough. Cold, murky and windy. I didn't fish Friday.

[Mark Binsted]

July 4 is hardly urban legend. Mike Alper was the guy and Joe Fletcher will back him up. My latest catch in the early 70's was June 20, June 9 more recently.

I'm a little disappointed in my buddy Lane. Alper's own records are meticulous.

[Yambag Nelson]

Run is definitely not done.  Once the water clears it should be good again.  

Good number of stripers around as well.

[Lane Thurgood]

I stand corrected. If Mark says it, that settles it. He's forgotten more about shad than I will ever know. 

[Alexander Vu]

Can anyone give Input about what is the time or tide to go after stripers at Fletcher’s currently? Is it better to go during incoming tide or outgoing tide?

On May 8, 2021, at 10:08 PM, 'Lane Thurgood' via Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders <tidal-potoma...@googlegroups.com> wrote:

I stand corrected. If Mark says it, that settles it. He's forgotten more about shad than I will ever know. 

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[Mark Binsted]

Not sure about tides with stripers. Early or late is best. Last year I had good success with clousers in the evenings after I quit American shad. The schoolers are in the river now. 

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[Will Bock]

My understanding is that outgoing tide, 2-3 hours before low tide until about 1 hour after low tide are prime time for fish. The water is low and fast, which tends to be productive.

This is my first year shad fishing though, so perhaps someone more experienced will weight in.

Best,

William

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[Alexander Vu]

thanks Mark. Do you use a full sinking line for stripers or intermediate for stripers? What type sinking line?

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[Alexander Vu]

thanks William!

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[Mark Binsted]

I use a shooting head on an intermediate running line. Very fast sinking T11 or T14, 30' heads; so 330 gr. to 420 gr. They can be in some strong current.

William's tide advice fine for shad, still don't know if it pertains to schoolies. Early morning or evening best, sometimes good all day.

[Alexander Vu]

wow T14!  that is heavy!  Thx for the tips

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[Yambag Nelson]

Here's a question I have never gotten a great answer to:  Are the schoolies that are around now resident (river) fish or have they come up from the bay/ocean?  They are a good bit bigger than the typical fish you see at gravelly later in the year which I have always believed to be resident fish.  What draws them to the cove this time of year?  I assume bait but that is a long way to travel.  I assume they aren't there to spawn like the early big fish.

[Sean Steele]

I thought they were coming in from the bay/ocean and are (were?) spawning. 

My question is how did they get into Lake Anna and Smith Mountain Lake?!

-Sean

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From: tidal-potoma...@googlegroups.com <tidal-potoma...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Yambag Nelson <northstreet...@gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, May 10, 2021 9:08:56 PM
To: Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders <tidal-potoma...@googlegroups.com>

Subject: Re: {Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders} Re: Fletchers - Stripers

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[Yambag Nelson]

I believe those fish were stocked.

[brad dreisbach]

hitting fletchers at 6am tomorrow, never fished for stripers on fly before. will they hit top water flies?

> On May 11, 2021, at 11:13, Yambag Nelson <northstreet...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> I believe those fish were stocked.
>
> On Monday, May 10, 2021 at 9:12:07 PM UTC-4 spst...@gmail.com wrote:
> I thought they were coming in from the bay/ocean and are (were?) spawning.
>
> My question is how did they get into Lake Anna and Smith Mountain Lake?!
>
> -Sean
>

> To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/tidal-potomac-fly-rodders/7645582f-5211-4d71-919e-e43088821865n%40googlegroups.com.

[Alexander Vu]

Nope... clousers are best with sinking line

> On May 12, 2021, at 6:46 PM, brad dreisbach <bsdre...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> hitting fletchers at 6am tomorrow, never fished for stripers on fly before. will they hit top water flies?

> To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/tidal-potomac-fly-rodders/58C8F338-7687-428D-BB4F-7A8FAB6B7573%40gmail.com.

[brad dreisbach]

what i figured thanks! i have sinking line and clousers, i just prefer top water if its viable so figured id ask. thanks again.

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[Rob]

Be sure to fish a dropper off that Clouser.

Sent from my iPhone

> On May 12, 2021, at 8:12 PM, Alexander Vu <alexan...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Nope... clousers are best with sinking line

> To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/tidal-potomac-fly-rodders/C63118DA-3F6B-4BBE-BE33-CD2667D1A7C5%40gmail.com.

[brad dreisbach]

shad fly dropper? that was actually my plan.

> To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/tidal-potomac-fly-rodders/93B39C44-655F-4440-B317-62BE6CC3BBC7%40robsnowhite.com.