Shad Fishing at Fletcher's and Chain Bridge

Type: Tidal
Region: Southern
Location: Fletchers Boat House and Chain Bridge

Date of Trip: 4/27/12

The shad run is still going strong at Fletcher's Boat House in Washington D.C. and there are some American shad showing up. I started the day fishing for hickories in the morning just above the boat house and caught about 30 including one nice 3 pounder. Shad darts either single or double work well. Afterwards I tried to catch some white perch by fishing with worms and caught plenty but they were so small it was hardly worth keeping them so I threw them all back. I decided to quit for the day but just as I was leaving I overheard a conversation between two anglers at the boat house tackle shop about American shad.

The American shad are in but it takes patience to fish for them. I asked one of the anglers how to fish for them and he advised a slow retrieve close to the bottom. Chain Bridge is the place to go as the river narrows up there. I headed up there and proceeded to an eddy above the bridge. If you have never been to Chain Bridge, be advised the terrain is rocky and hard on the knees and legs. Rocks slant this way and that way so getting to a spot is not easy. I started fishing and caught a hickory. Then I caught a hard fighting deep running fish that turned out to be my first American shad. This fish did not fight on top like the hickory shad. I went down to a spot just under the bridge and hooked up to something big that dove for the bottom and then the hook tore out. If you want to catch American shad you need to target that fish specifically. There are not nearly as many American shad as hickory shad but American shad can get up to 8 lbs so If you get one it might be worth the effort. Fishing died down and I quit for the day. Hope that the American shad stay around. Tight lines.