The shad are here

If you're watching the various Facebook groups or other forums you already know this, but the shad have been thick in the Gladstone/Oregon City stretch of the Willamette for a week or more now.

I made it out last night for a few hours after work. There were only a few boats out, and a boat full of drunk yahoos was in my favorite spot, so I tried the middle of the river, which is usually too packed with boats to make it worth my time. I got a few fish on the line but only landed one small buck. The boat in my spot had almost non-stop action.

The surface water temp was a little under 60F and the boat that was getting the most action was anchored in about 17ft. of water.

Right as I was getting ready to pack it up, around sundown, I got a take-down and as I started to work it towards the boat it took off directly across the river as my drag sang. It went 50-60 feet before it ran my leader across a log or something and snapped it. I'm pretty sure it was a springer; I've caught many shad and even the biggest in the heaviest current didn't do that. I know it wrapped me up because I eventually got my spreader and dropper weight back but my leader was all scuffed up. I was pretty bummed, because I would have cast off my anchor and followed that thing around all night.

Don't forget we added shad to AOTY this year, so go get 'em!

Good one, Cap'n.  Can't wait for them to start coming in down this way.

Yum. Canned shad. I need to restock.

I've been wanting to do this.  I been wondering about anchoring in that current.

What does your anchor setup look like?  Are you anchoring from the bow or stern?

I've been wanting to do this.  I been wondering about anchoring in that current.

What does your anchor setup look like?  Are you anchoring from the bow or stern?

Here's an old article about the anchor system I use.   
http://www.northwestkayakanglers.com/index.php?page=26
 However, to be honest I don't like anchoring for shad.  It can be difficult to compete with boats for the good anchoring spots and if you don't anchor in the right spot, you won't catch many shad.   

I much prefer to troll shad darts or dick nite spoons behind a small diver (crank bait) or simply drift with the current and cast shad darts as  I go.   It's a much more active method of fishing and I find sitting on anchor boring.

Brian

Yup.  Trolling is the way to go. I lost track after 10 today.  It was a good day. Although there may have been a little bit of crying when I lost the Springer on my second rod. 

I'm not seeing the article for the anchor system.


Here's an old article about the anchor system I use.    However, to be honest I don't like anchoring for shad.  It can be difficult to compete with boats for the good anchoring spots and if you don't anchor in the right spot, you won't catch many shad.   

I much prefer to troll shad darts or dick nite spoons behind a small diver (crank bait) or simply drift with the current and cast shad darts as  I go.   It's a much more active method of fishing and I find sitting on anchor boring.

Brian
[/quote]

I'm not seeing the article for the anchor system.


Here's an old article about the anchor system I use.    However, to be honest I don't like anchoring for shad.  It can be difficult to compete with boats for the good anchoring spots and if you don't anchor in the right spot, you won't catch many shad.   

I much prefer to troll shad darts or dick nite spoons behind a small diver (crank bait) or simply drift with the current and cast shad darts as  I go.   It's a much more active method of fishing and I find sitting on anchor boring.

Brian

[/quote]


Sorry about that.

I’ve updated my post to include the link

I've been wanting to do this.  I been wondering about anchoring in that current.

What does your anchor setup look like?  Are you anchoring from the bow or stern?

I agree with the other guys - if you don't have to anchor, don't. I have a couple of spots that are out of the worst of the current and I anchor there. I have anchored in the fast part and it's really not much fun.

Small divers or wiggle wart / mag wart used as a diver with a small Dick Nite spoon (or similar) or shad dart trailing behind.

What does your anchor setup look like?  Are you anchoring from the bow or stern?

Also: I use roughly the same anchor system as bsteves (his is better). I always anchor off of the bow, so that I can help control things with my rudder if necessary and so I can see debris coming at me.

[/quote]


Sorry about that.

I’ve updated my post to include the link
[/quote]

No problem. Thanks for posting it. I am a rare visitor to the site and thought maybe I was missing something. I have an OK Ultra 4.7 that I rarely use and I'm trying to remedy that.

Sorry about that.

I’ve updated my post to include the link

Brian, didn't you once have pictures of how you attached the anchor to your kayak?  I built a copy of your anchor system a while ago but never rigged the kayak for using it.  Came back to see how you did it and POO! any pictures of that are gone.

[Sorry about the thread semi-hijack]

The simplest is when you have a rope hooked to the padeye on either the bow or the stern.  This is basically a copy of Brian's.  Tie a ring to the rope that is attached to your anchor system.  Slide this ring over that line secured to either the front or back of your kayak. When you need to release anchor, you just pull that line out of the cam or jam cleat and let it go.  Hobie makes it easy because there is already one in place for the rudder control system. When you need to re-anchor, the line will be floating next to you.  Go back to your float and reattach.  This is far superior to a trolley because the line runs off the very front, or very back of your kayak so it does not move around with the current.
I know, because I have used both systems. Here is a 50 second video showing what I mean: