2002 Recap Shad

When there is water in the Yuba, there are Shad!!  And Shad there were!!  I wouldn’t call it lights out fishing this year but we had some very good days.  What makes the Yuba so attractive is the crystal clear water.   Its sight fishing at it’s best. 

With the temperature hovered around 100 degrees the first two weeks of June we would get into the water early each day.  Unfortunately for the anglers that have never fished with me before didn’t know that we would still be getting off the river until dark.  Early in the morning the shad would be hiding in the shadows along the shoreline.  The shad would hold their position until the sun was high in the sky.    With the sun high and the protective shade gone until evening, the shad would start to migrate up the river in larger schools.  With the shad moving up the river, made it more difficult to get a fly in front of them.  It just takes patience!  Anchor the boat, wait for the school of shad to come into casting range, make a good cast, mend your fly line, let the fly swing…..Hook-up.   

By mid day it was hot!!  With the temperature around 100+, I tried every thing in the book to keep everybody cool and comfortable.  Wet towels, cold drinks, watermelon, candy, you know some times you just need a little sugar.  It’s time to do some wet wading, even in the cold Yuba River.  It sure felt good!  Thankfully there were several locations that we could do just that. 

Here are some highlights about a few of the anglers that were on this year’s shad fishing trips. 

The river was running high, but I encouraged Sherrie K. to try wading and casting for shad in a good holding area.  Unlike the boat, you now have to manage your fly line in the heavy current.  She is a very accomplished fly fisher and did this very well.  It wasn’t long before she had a hard grab that nearly took her down stream.

I really enjoy spending the day with Martin and Ryan, two trout fishermen from Reno.  It was their introduction to fly fishing for shad, after they learned the technique of casting a Teeny line; they settled down and had a good day.

I can’t say enough about these two gentlemen, George and Willie, in their mid 70’s, still continue to pound away each day.

Jim, if you would only practice just a little bit before you get on the water.  By the end of the day he was lighting them up.

After loosing the first four shad, I gave up giving instructions to Cathy H.  After you hook the fish you…. Yes, keep some pressure on and bring him to the net.   What a good a beginning husband and wife fly fishing team Cathy and her husband Dave are going to make.  Hope you continue to have many more successful fly fishing trips.

  

Thank you all, looking forward to next year.