Shad run soon?

One of my fondest memories as a child was shad fishing with my grandpa, he wasn't much for salmon, trout, bass, or any other fishing but he LOVED to fish for shad and was pretty good at it too.

Being a relative newcomer to the area I haven't yet experience a Columbia or Willamette shad run, but if memory serves me correct it should be ramping up in the next couple of weeks and good through mid June?? Where is the best area for shad fishing from a kayak?

Thanks!

I too love shad fishing! I'm still trying to figure out the best place to fish for them from a kayak on the Columbia, but on the Willamette I've fished for them off of Clackamette Park (I launched from Meldrum Bar).

As the fish counts at Bonneville show that fish are starting to come in, the action should be starting any time depending on how far upstream you go.

I made this video about kayak fishing for shad last year:

If you anchor please be safe!

I too love Shad fishing.  My dad would take me combat fishing at Bonneville dam.  We would walk away with 30 plus shad for canning and bait for the year.  Always looked forward to that trip.  I would love to catch some from the kayak and am interested in where others have gone.

I had never fished for them till last year.idk what took me so long to try for them.what a blast.I will use the kayak this year around the Dalles if your up this way.

I too love shad fishing! I'm still trying to figure out the best place to fish for them from a kayak on the Columbia, but on the Willamette I've fished for them off of Clackamette Park (I launched from Meldrum Bar).

As the fish counts at Bonneville show that fish are starting to come in, the action should be starting any time depending on how far upstream you go.

I made this video about kayak fishing for shad last year:

If you anchor please be safe!

Thanks Captain!
That's a great video! I didn't think to check the fish counts at bonneville for shad although that would make sense that the numbers show there as well. It's amazing they count the shad coming through there, I can imagine the numbers get into the tens or hundreds of thousands daily when the run is really rocking and rolling. Will keep an eye on the counts and plan for the end of May as tentative timing. I haven't fished for them in close to 20 years so your video definitely helped.

Ummm... I didn't see much of a beard in that video. 

Great video, but like Craig said I was very confused by the lack of a beard.

I was trying to be ironic  Yeah I figured it was only a matter of time until someone pointed that out. Bad timing... shaving a day before making my first vid 

Im gonna try to shad fish this year. Hopefully I can line up days when it heats up. Seems like a fun fishery.

We should organize a NWKA shad day - maybe a little wager among friends to keep things interesting.

We should organize a NKWA shad day - maybe a little wager among friends to keep things interesting.

Catching sturgeon bait and a beer bet.no one will go for that 

If I weren't hoping to make it to the beach a couple of times in the next few days I'd be giving it a shot this weekend. I like the leading edge of the run best - there's more male fish (which are usually smaller) but they hit hard and the crowds haven't shown up yet.

I would enjoy meeting up for a Shad fishing event!  Sounds like agreat time!

Where are you headed to on the coast redbeard?

Not sure, Pacific City if the forecast is OK, otherwise Depoe Bay unless the forecast gets worse. But it's all up in the air at the moment for me.

My son Kai and I caught these nice big Shad near the garbage hole last summer.



-Michael
www.KayakFishingOregon.com