Shad season

Can someone tell me when is the shad season end in Bonneville Dam area? Thanks in advance.

Definitely plenty of shad to go around above Bonneville, 205,000 crossed through on Wednesday. Side note... I have always wondered if someone sits there counting the shad coming through, considering on a good day they could see 400,000+ of those guys I can't imagine that's an easy task.

Definitely plenty of shad to go around above Bonneville, 205,000 crossed through on Wednesday. Side note... I have always wondered if someone sits there counting the shad coming through, considering on a good day they could see 400,000+ of those guys I can't imagine that's an easy task.

I believe it is done using some sampling which is then used to estimate the total.  Still a monotonous job to watch the window or to review video.  Look here for the description of  "About our fish counts" on the left: https://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/Missions/Environmental-Stewardship/Fish/Counts/

Technically, the shad season ends when there are no more shad.  There is no "season" and no limit because they are an invasive species - and tasty when smoked and canned. I caught a bunch yesterday on the Willamette.  The run is still going strong as far as I could tell. They were jumping everywhere.  Mid-May through the last part of June is my "season".  They are a filler between Spring Chinook and Summer ocean salmon.

Thank you everyone for the responses.

I caught a bunch yesterday on the Willamette.

#noinvite

they are an invasive species

NOAA's definition of invasive species: An invasive species is an organism that causes ecological or economic harm in a new environment where it is not native.

Not native, check (they've been on the west coast for 150 years). But do they do ecological damage? My understanding was that they were one of the more welcome transplants due to not impacting other fisheries, but I might not have all the information. Curious if you can point me to some info on that.

Curious if you can point me to some info on that.

I do not have the info.  But maybe they are beneficial for salmon if salmon predators are eating shad vs salmon. Although, I do not know how they can not impact other species.  By being there, they have an impact.  If their smolt are dining on the same thing as smolt from other native species that would be less smolt food for the natives.  But, again, if the smolt food is plentiful for all and native fish predators are dining on shad vs natives it may be good.  Or, the additional food in the form of shad helps the predators increase in numbers which at other times of the year when the shad are not around could be bad for natives such as salmon.   But one thing I know is a fact is that I am sitting here drinking a beer making shit up while debating the merits/detriments of shad in the environment with myself the day after I canned about 10 pounds of it. It was a lights out bite last Friday evening.   

Shad are good bait for lings, but then, what isn't good bait for lings?  Great crab pot bait as well...

Norm