It's just insane at Fletcher's right now (4/26/07)

[Flying Fish]

You have to get out there. I fished from 7 to 9.30 this morning, caught far too many hickories to count them--up to near 20 inches--and 3 Americans. The biggest American, about 22 inches, jumped 3 times, and unlike the others I've caught so far this season, it took the orange fly.

I don't think I ever went 3 casts without a strike, fewer than that if you count the white perch. Once I was 8 fish landed for 10 casts and once 7 for 10 casts, but most of the time I wasn't counting. I think it was the best day's shad fishing I've had on this river.



FF

[goose70]

I can back up your story. Your American did indeed jump and it was a beauty. I was the guy next to you who owes you the picture of the that shad. I must say, however, that you were hooked up about twice as often as everyone else. Still, even for slow folks like me, the catching was at least steady. I've never seen more huge American Shad caught at Fletchers than I did this morning.

[Flying Fish]

Jeff: It was good to meet you! I wondered if you were on TF, didn't think to ask right then. Hope to see you out there again soon.

David (FF)

[stopyra]

Yeah, up the river at CB was rediculous late yesterday afternoon and again early this morning. I haven't gotten any Americans up there yet though.

[deriesten]

Went down the Fletchers yesterday and the fish were absolutely killing anything my buddy and I threw at them that was orange or yellow from the rowboat with our flyrods. The folks that were able to fish deep were catching many Americans. The guy in the boat next to me caught 6 Americans in a row using an orange dart on spinning gear. I was catching mostly Hickories with the flyrod b/c my line didn't sink too well but I did pick up a couple of Americans including an absolute monster. I have a picture of her and would be glad to share it if someone can let me know how to attach it to a message.

Dave

[The Old Man]

Agreed, I was from shore this morning and got 15+ hickories and one American in about an hour.

Gonna go investigate CB this afternoon....

[Jeffrey Rasband]

for posting pics i use ImageShack® - Hosting Just check the option to resize the image for "websites" and upload the pic. After the pic is uploaded they provide the hotlink code which you simply copy and paste into your post. Im headed out this evening so hopefully I can demonstrate with my own 22 inch american!

[deriesten]

Jeffery,

thanks for the picture posting tip. Below is the link to the picture of the American I caught last night. The picture is not very well done b/c I was by myself at the time (isn't it always that way) and I wasn't able to catch the fish from the side but I would guess it was in the 5- lb range. I caught it on an orange/red clouser cast across the current from a rowboat just out from Fletcher's. She had me into my backing at one point and it took a good 10 minutes to bring her in! I saw at least 2 other fish of that size brought in yesterday as well.


http://img168.imageshack.us/img168/549/dscn1557ty0.jpg

[HJS]

I too fished Fletchers today, Thursday, 6:30am-1:00pm, from shore with spinning gear. I'd say the action was beyond flaming hot... perhaps nuclear hot would be the more appropriate term. Of all my years of hickory fishing, I don't think I have ever caught as many as I did today. Hickories were nice sized, mostly mediums, a dozen or two large, no jumbos though and no Americans... dang it. Believe it or not, shore fishing pressure was light to very light. There was hardly anyone fishing from shore, maybe 6 or 8 guys max from Fletchers up a half mile thru all the good water. Every suitable spot produced fast action. Lots of boats out. Water vis about 2'-3'. 1.5" orange twistertails was all I needed to use with a 3/16th bullet weight pegged 2 feet up the line. I almost ODed on hickories today!!!... gotta pace myself so I can remain upright for whats left of the run.

[Flying Fish]

I've got a feeling the run doesn't have much longer to go, maybe one more very good week, weather permitting, then winding down. I've heard tell of American shad being caught as late as the beginning of June, but I have other fish to fry by then. This season's been a keeper, though.

FF