Deer Creek Shad

[HJS]

If you wait for the dogwood you may miss some of the best fishing.

I agree. The "dogwood" theory pertains more to the arrival of the larger American Shad, aka: white shad, that peaks ~2+ weeks later than hickories. Back in the day, many many decades ago (maybe a century ago), American shad was the shad most fishermen pursued... they were the main show in town. Americans are noticeably larger than the hickories and they are very good to eat as is their roe... hickories not so much. But now, since American shad are on hard times, fishermen have developed an interest in catching hickories for sport. But the "wait for the dogwoods to bloom" is still being applied erroneously to hickories. Yeah, by the time the dogwoods bloom the hickory run is already half over.

Just to clarify, I mean when the dogwoods bloom near the fishery... not the dogwoods that bloom in your back yards located many miles from where you intend to fish for shad.

[Egriger]

You mean you're going to be playing dodge, with shad darts and spoons?

[Excalibur]

OK with that clarification on timing, maybe I'll give it a shot in the next couple weeks.

[HJS]

OK with that clarification on timing, maybe I'll give it a shot in the next couple weeks.

During Springs with "normal" temperatures (definitely not this spring) I catch my first hickories during late March. Here are a few details of my first hickory trips to Fletchers over the years:

2013-3-31 - caught 29 hickories, many nice females, 47F
2012-3-16 - caught 3 sm/med, 58F
2011-3-26 - 4 med bucks, 50F
2010-3-27 - 4 bucks, 52F
2009-3-25 - 4 bucks, 50F
2008-3-27 - 40 buck hickories and 1 small American shad
2007-3-27 - 6 hickories bucks, 55F

Today, Friday, the Potomac is 48F, so says the USGS river gauge. So action will start within the week, I think

[YakCapn]

Surprised the hickories were there with 47 degree water...that seems odd, maybe the water temperature just dipped that day or something and had been warmer in previous days.

[SuskyStripers]

I am going to give Deer Creek a try this Saturday. I'm not very hopeful but I need to get out and cast a line. I'll let you all know how I fare.

[sparky1423]

I am going to give Deer Creek a try this Saturday. I'm not very hopeful but I need to get out and cast a line. I'll let you all know how I fare.

I might be there too if the winds don't cooperate.

[SuskyStripers]

I am going for the same reason. I was going to try the Flats with the yak but blowing 25 with gusts to 30 puts me at Deer Creek.

[SuskyStripers]

I was out at Deer Creek at sunrise on Sunday. The Shad are there but not in thick just yet. I think another week and it will be on. I caught 5 in the first 45 minutes of daylight but they turned off after that. I did see a school of about 100 go under the bridge and up the creek as I was leaving. The usual double rig Chartreuse Shad Dart on top with a Shad spoon on the bottom was the ticket.

[sparky1423]

I was out at Deer Creek at sunrise on Sunday. The Shad are there but not in thick just yet. I think another week and it will be on. I caught 5 in the first 45 minutes of daylight but they turned off after that. I did see a school of about 100 go under the bridge and up the creek as I was leaving. The usual double rig Chartreuse Shad Dart on top with a Shad spoon on the bottom was the ticket.

That was me driving by after fishing asking how you did. I was in the red jacket fishing on the other side of the bridge. Nobody had any luck at Lapidum, stopped by and chatted with some fisherman

[SuskyStripers]

Nice to talk with you Sparky. I think the water is still a little cold. I think I am going to give it another try in 2 weeks. Either way it was nice to shake off some cabin fever and hear the Susky at daybreak!

[eyedaddy]

Free State Fly Fishers had an outing planned for today and cancelled after the trip leader spoke with DNR and was told that nothing was there as yet, no use fishing for something that not there. We rescheduled for the 25th of this month.

[Shawn L]

I was there yesterday and caught about 18 decent size shad near the mouth of Deer Creek.