Shad Are In and They Are Fat

Type: Tidal
Region: Southern
Location: Fletcher's Boathouse

I just returned from my first fishing trip of the year and had good luck catching Hickory Shad and maybe possibly American Shad. These fish were caught at Fletchers Boathouse on the Potomac River in Washington DC. Most of the fish were caught on a white shad dart but I had to switch to a pink shad dart after breaking off a fish due to a weakened knot. The action was steadily improving towards dusk when the sun left the river. Fortunately I missed the flood a week earlier and the river is in good shape for fishing though you will have to fish from shore as rowboats are not being rented right now. If you are looking for something to do while waiting for opening day trout season, Fletchers is a good bet. Photos are of flood debris and big Hickory or American Shad-hard to tell the difference.

DNR Response: Good to hear that shad are running in the Potomac! This may actually be a large hickory shad. The key characteristic of the hickory shad is the upturned lower jaw (similar to "hook jaw" or Kype in sea-run trout and salmon). Unfortunately, the lower jaw is covered up by the shad dart in this photo, so we can not get a positive ID.