Shad Fishing

[trouthunter]

Does anyone ever chase shad with a fly rod ? I hear they are "the poor mans salmon", I have caught them beofre in the spring fishing for stripers but would like to see if anyone would like to share some info are targeting them with a fly rod, and maybe some rivers & tribs that they run... thanks Kyle

[fessiewig]

I heard there is a Shad run in the Merrimack as far north as Manchester.

[SaltH2oFly]

TH - years ago I belonged to a fly fshing club down in Nashua and we had a guide come to speak to us about fly fishing for Shad on the mighty Merrimack. He was fishing the lower end all the way up to Merrimacport, Rocks Village etc. He was out in a boat and it looked like a blast.

[MJ]

In the past I have caught Shad in the Merrimack well below the Lawrence Dam in Haverhill, MA and beyond using spinning gear. They hit hard and fight hard. The only thing we ever used for lures were little red and white, bucktail shad darts.

[PW]

I've fished for them at Rocks Village on the Merrimack in West Newburyport, MA. You need a boat or a canoe to really get at them. There is a primitive boat launch there. It can get a little crowded at times. I have been able to shore fish a few times (if nobody’s around) and it was tough back casting but do-able. I've had the best luck bouncing shad darts of the bottom at high tide. The river takes a slow inside bend and they seem to bunch up there. They should be coming soon! end of April early May. Send me a PM if you need directions very easy off 495.

Paul-

[BugChucka]

How prolific is the run up to Manchester and when? I've only received vague bits of rumors..

[fessiewig]

I'm not sure. The last time I knew anything about it was years ago and at that time they were "just starting come up to Manchester". Perhaps Fish & Game will be able to tell you more.

[SaltH2oFly]

I just checked with NHF&G and my contact there said he is not aware of any Shad passing the Lawrence Dam at this point. He said there is talk about trying to get them back up to NH but we probably won't see that for a number of years.

That being said - I have "heard" from a reliable source - and not a fisherman, that there is a "resident" population of Stripers in the Merrimack between Nashua and Manchester. I guess the next question is how did they get there?

[PW]

One thing I forgot to mention in my previous post is that you don't need a MASS license to fish Rocks Village. It's tidal and still considered salt and salt rules apply there.

Stripers above Lawrence???? They have to be far and few between. Do we have some bucket biologists involved?

[Gerry]

Last year I think about 35,000 shad were trapped at the Essex dam in lawrence. Some were "lifted" over the dam and turned loose to proceed up river. Thousands were trucked north to be released so they can spawn in the Merrimack and tribs. They would have just turned them all loose, but the fish-way in Lowell at Pawtucket Falls is not effective in passing any fish upstream. I have caught shad (and stripers) in Lawrence just below the Essex dam - urban combat fishing at its best.
Gerry

[MJ]

I have, in fact, caught stripers above the Lawrence dam, caught 'em in Lowell. I supposed then they got there via the Lawrence fishlift.

[Dakota]

I used to live in West Newbury and fish for shad every spring at the rocks village bridge. You can fish it from shore but not very easily with a fly rod. When the tide is low you can wade out a considerable distance from what I can remember. If you would like to fish from boat, you can put in in Groveland I believe and Haverhill, both are a short boat ride down river. There is a lousy ramp at rocks village but it is overgrown and in very poor condition (at least the last time I saw it).
Good Luck