[OT] herring run in Rock Creek Park

[Howard Wu]

I understand this is a birding group, so apologies and please disregard this message if you think it is irrelevant.

But I'd assume most birders are also interested in other natural phenomena (I am one of those). I know that every spring there is herring runs in many rivers and creeks in the Eastern US, Rock Creek being one of these, but I've never seen it before.

What is the best time and location to see these herring runs?

Thanks in advance,
Howard Wu
Fairfax County, VA

[Art Drauglis]

I'm not sure where too get the information that you are looking for, but I do not think that it is off-topic.
With the fish runs come the birds - cormorants, night-herons, other waders, etc. all rely on those runs.
I once heard that the cormorants come back in numbers at about the same time as the spring tourist season, "only they're not
here for the cherry blossoms" is how it was put to me.

You might check with the folks at Fletcher's Boathouse in DC on the C&O canal. They used to be a fountain of knowledge for fishermen and
may be able to answer your question

Art D

W. DC

[Wayne Bierbaum]

The first herring and shad start to arrive just after the first full moon of the spring...usually. There should be fish in the deeper water of the river now but the cold may have delayed the spawning. I follow the run because the Osprey and eagles congregate with the fish.

[Stuart Pregnall]

On Monday, March 17, 2014 11:05:54 AM UTC-4, Howard Wu wrote:

MD Birders: From Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders on March 4th:

"Getting a bit antsy and tired of feeding birds I called and had a chat with Gordon Leisch. He is a Potomac river Fletcher’s Cove angler and former Navy pilot/shrimper/marine biologist who has kept consistent records on the first bite since 1975. Before that he had partial info going back to 1948.

Here is what his records reflect.

Striped Bass February and early March in the Tidal Basin near the warm water outflows.


White Perch Mid-March

Hickory Shad Last week of March

American Shad 1 week to 10 days after the first H shad

Snakehead April high water

All of it may be a little late this year. We both agreed that it will probably happen all at once."

Stripers have shown up in the Potomac at Blue Plains, the shad won't be far behind.

Good Birding across the river.

Cheers, Stuart
Fairfax, VA

[Mary B]

On Monday, March 17, 2014 11:05:54 AM UTC-4, Howard Wu wrote:

I saw them yesterday (Monday, April 21) in the sunlit water immediately downstream of the Mass. Ave bridge in DC. (This is a good place to look for them every year.) They weren't there at 9 am on my way down--I believe because it was still too cool--but they were teeming there later around 11:30 am when it was warmer. I've been told that their migration is temperature dependent--they need several consecutive days at a certain temperature before they begin moving.