Fletchers, shad, 4-9-14

[HJS]

I fished Fletchers again today from shore, 4-9-14, 11:00am to 2:00pm. Once again I encountered great hickory action. I caught 39 hickories of mixed sizes with the biggest one measuring 19”. About a 1/3rd were nice females in the 15”-17” range. They hit a mix of standard shad darts, 1.5” twistertails and silver/chartreuse spoons. All lures had a fair bit of chartreuse on them. No Americans. Fishing pressure was light. Annoying downriver breeze gusting to 15+mph was a PITA.

Getting to Fletchers during weekdays has become very tricky. This morning at 10:00am, Canal Road was closed from Arizona Road down towards DC for at least 3-4 miles for major road repair. The actual road repair starts about 100’ past the entrance to Fletchers. Reservoir Road is also closed both ways. Canal Road is barricaded at Arizona Road but you can drive through the barricade and get to the Fletchers entrance. Dunno if Canal Road is open for morning and afternoon rush though. But I’m guessing it will be open on weekends.

[scott taylor]

Great report thanks! A 19" hickory shad is a handful....Any rental boats out? Canal road was open Monday. I did the suicide run up river on canal in the wee hours/dark as it was changing to one way for rush hour. always the most exciting facet of Flether's!
I fished in the (cold) rain and it was slow. Got some hicks to hand but they seemed less than aggressive. I think they were also cold! Glad to hear that you got into the shad parade/column....

Let me hear if you want to share a boat, next week..

ST

[HJS]

Great report thanks! A 19" hickory shad is a handful....Any rental boats out? Canal road was open Monday. I did the suicide run up river on canal in the wee hours/dark as it was changing to one way for rush hour. always the most exciting facet of Flether's!
I fished in the (cold) rain and it was slow. Got some hicks to hand but they seemed less than aggressive. I think they were also cold! Glad to hear that you got into the shad parade/column....

Let me hear if you want to share a boat, next week..

ST

Scott - When I hooked that 19" hickory I thought for sure I had hooked an American shad based on the hard fight with no jumps... but it turned out to be a very nice female hickory. Looked like there may have been a dozen boats out and I could not even see another bank fisherman where I was fishing.

BTW, water vis is up to 2.5' to 3', water temp 53.5F, flow 4.7'.
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Yeah, I carry a spare pair of skivvies just in case the turn into Fletchers does't go as planned.