Morning Shad Report

[Rock crusher]

Well, it was a beautiful am on the James. My good friend Victor met me at the house at 7:45 this am and after trying to crank the old suzuki over on my 1977 Sea Nymph 16 we realized it was time to swing by walmart for the new battery. Didn't really bother me as I knew it was due. After a quick battery change in the parking lot of the route 10 walmart it was off to the launch. SPlashed the dingy and off we were, engine ran great. A while back Doug Whalen had a post up about the guys that do maint. on their engines, I thought he was talking directly to me about that little 50hp. I have not done squat to that motor in 4 years, fire it up two weeks a year for the shad run and spend the rest of the time on the big boat every chance I get. Well again, that good old suzuki ran awesome.

Ran past 95 and dopped the anchor right in the middle of the river, tied on the gold spoon, 2' below the swivel and a 1/8oz inline (thanks to the report from yesterday and it was FIIIIIISSHHHHOOONNN for about an hour straight on every tenth cast or so.

In years past, I have never kept the fish but this trip we keep a few, I am going to try thr roe, It seems that fried is the way to go?????????? As I was clening them I wondered if the fillets would make good strip baits for FLOUNDER???? Any one ever try?

AGain, great morning on the water and nice to cach some fish and be home by noon. Maybe next week we can hit the Bay.

[hookinfinger]

Nice deal ! Did you happen to see Jamie (Racn35) up that way ? I think he was going back up today.

I would like to try that fried row out. The picture Jamie posted made me hungry.

Glad you had a good day.

It was windy as heck here on the Bay most of the day. It has calmed down now. I am going to try for some Puppy Drum this evening and see what happens.



Dennis:))

[Here We Go]

Nice job Matt:yes:

Glad I could help with the report from yesterday, once you get the tackle right which you did try varying your retrieve speed until you find out the presentation then repeat.

The fish come in waves and once you figure out the right water column depth and about where they pick it up at you came really where them out.:thumbup:

I'm getting ready to fry mine up tonight, a good combination is slow fried with House Autry and eat with eggs and apple sauce.

[Rebel]

Pretty work, Matt! Let us know how the roe turns out...

Ed

[Kevin Smith]

Matt,

Glad you had some pullage this morning. It is a lot of fun.

Now we need to put you on some flounder. Let me know when you are available.

Kevin
Weekend Mistress
Coastal Conservation Association Virginia

[doug johnson]

Matt
Those shad are a lot of fun. I had not fished for them until this year and couldn't believe what we were missing. Here W Go had them really dialed in and gave some good information.

[Sledge142]

...I usually keep a few to freeze and have caught striper, flounder, and shark on the strips...I try to keep the males...one guy I met at the ramp says he puts out whole shad and has caught cobia on it...good luck...

[racn35]

I got a call from Dayton this morning and he said I could go w/ him and Lil Dayton......I un-hitched my boat and headed that direction........

[RANGER690]

Here is a little Jamie eye candy for you guys.

1 Friend, 1 boy, The Man, Hickory, Herring, Perch - Crappie.com (http://www.crappie.com/crappie/virginia-crappie-fishing/93950-1-friend-1-boy-man-hickory-herring-perch.html)

Dayton

[South Paw]

Matt,

Are you kidding. A flounder will bite just about anything it can get it's teeth into. We use everything including pork rind, which is the toughest stuff around and keeps pesky fish from steeling it.

Good Fishin

[EHOIV]

Is the shad bite still going on? Was thinking about heading down there this weekend? How are the river conditions after this rain?

Thanks,
Ed

[Kevin Smith]

If the water is clear enough it should be a great weekend for them.

Good Fishing,
Kevin

[racn35]

i just saw on another site where they slayed em yesterday

[EHOIV]

Thanks guys. I appreciate the information.

[Kevin Smith]

That part of the river is full of boats, so it must be heating up. Hope you have a blast!!! Let us know how you do.

Kevin

[hooked-up03]

Going this afternoon around 3. My buddy got all the row last Saturday today I will be the lucky recipient. It will be 2 big fellows in a camo G3 boat up near the I95 bridge. Give us a holla ou a high five if we see you out there. Good Luck Big Dave

[racn35]

we got there around 6 pm and caught quiet a few but not the big fat roe filled ones we did last 3 times.....fished untill well after dark.... 11:59 PM just got home......

UP AT 4:45 AND BACK TO FISHING TOMORRO !

[Swamp Collie]

We've been fishing the river just about every day throughout the past week. The rain really seemed to have a minimal effect on the fish..... made them kinda spotty at times... but once the water warmed up after noon the bite turned on. We've had 100+ fish days just about everytime. Plenty of herring too. I think we've caught about 15 big white's this year and a couple hickories in the 2#+ catagory. Plenty of fish if you can find a place to throw the hook! Watch out for 4oz pyramid sinkers launched from the bank.

[greg653]

Just an FYI for those looking for shad in the Mattaponi, floated from Zoar to Aylett, 5 guys fishing hard, had 4 shad follow lures, but not a single fish. Same thing week before Easter ! Guessing that the river isn't quite warm enough to hold numbers. Did hook up with a nice chain pickerel though. Other than that, a beuatiful float.