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Once again, Bob and I went chasin' hicks! We met at the ramp at 7:45a.
As we were launching, Bob aid that we would have 35 shad by 11a. I said nothing.
It was in the mid 40's when we launched but we were well prepared with our lined pants and many layers. You see, when the wind blows down the river, like it did today, it's like a runaway A/C hitting you since the water temps today were still at 50-51.8dF.
When we got there, there was only one boat and it was Don and Dave, two seasoned "O" shad slayers.
By 8:15a, we both had our skunks off!
These were roe hicks. They were fat and feisty.
The pace was good and we were having a blast!
So were Dave and Don who ended up with 50 shad for the morning.
By 8:45a, Bob had a 9-6 lead.
By 9:17a, we hit Bob's goal of 35 shad with Bob up 19-16. Yes, it was a great hour!! So great that I only took those 3 pics.
But by now, the wind started to pick up so I decided to go up top, where I prefer to fish.
We spent about an hour up there and only caught 2 shad. Very disappointing and the wind was still a PIA.
Bob threw a rig in a tree and we were able to retrieve it. It did break the line so Bob just tied on his silver spoon. Remember this.
So we headed back down to our spot. By now, there was a guy on a paddle board fly fishing, he caught a few. Another guy was in a yak and when he came by he said, "slim pickins' today". I didn't have the heart to tell him where we stood. And there were two other small boats, neither were catching many. But they kept looking at us and fishing close by.
On the way down, Bob caught 2 shad on the single spoon.
Then we spot locked in an area where I was able to block Bob from casting under the wires. I really didn't do it on purpose (the wind was taking the back end sideways) but it was effective because I started catch a few here and there and was able to take a 30-29 lead. Then his son called and Bob had to let him know that Ernie was ahead. Bob got yelled at and was told to pick it up!
I really believe that the difference was the extra (normal) lure on the rig. While Bob caught most of his shad on his spoon, I was able to gain with my secret weapon (above the spoon).
George made this on a slightly bigger hook and it was deadly!
We kept fishing and catching and finally called it shortly before 1p as we were both starving.
I was fortunate to eek out a 44-39 victory today (will be short lived) but it was a great battle. Bob had the biggest at slightly under 18"...and fat!
Bob mentioned that if we hadn't moved up to, and stayed where we were catching them, that we certainly would have caught near 100. Oh well...
Lunch was great as always. Bob had the brat and I had a fried chicken sammie with bacon that was really good. We ate outside since it was 60dF.
This was a very satisfying day as we are still in March but we caught April numbers.
Retrieves had to vary to catch some today. If you stayed with one style, it would get slow.
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Great job and very cool to see the big girls are biting. I like to mix my rigs up with crappie jigs also. Did either of you use those bigger spoons you got? If so, do you keep the feather on it? I hope to get out with Emerson next week.
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I have not used that Tony spoon much so far but I will. Bob now favors a Hopkins like spoon that has been deadly.
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I'd like to see that. I would think those would sink too fast. I still have a few of the gold shad spoons that work good. I bought some tiny spoons I got on sale, but did not realize how small they are. More like ice fishing spoons.
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drxfish wrote:
I would think those would sink too fast. .
Nope...it's how you work it. And he works it good.
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Great report! I saw that the water temp was 50 today and was wondering what the fishing was like. This was an encouraging report. I don't think I'll be able to get out until next Friday so hopefully the shad will still be around by then.
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Another great day fishing with E followed by an equally good lunch.
The spoons are Cotton Cordell CC spoons. 2" 3/8 oz silver. They come 2 in a pack for $3.99 from Cabellas. They bear no resemblance to a shad spoon, they really do look like a baby Hopkins,
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-I would have been on the crappie, under a roof somewhere downstream.....
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bigjeffie wrote:
-I would have been on the crappie, under a roof somewhere downstream.....
Yes sir, you would!
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firemunkee wrote:
I don't think I'll be able to get out until next Friday so hopefully the shad will still be around by then.
They will be here all of April and a few days in May.
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Osprey wrote:
Another great day fishing with E followed by an equally good lunch.
The spoons are Cotton Cordell CC spoons. 2" 3/8 oz silver. They come 2 in a pack for $3.99 from Cabellas. They bear no resemblance to a shad spoon, they really do look like a baby Hopkins,
Thanks, Bob. Very cool thing you figured out. Must...resist...buying...more...fishing...stuff. Unless, of course, I am in the store.
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Great report as always! I'll stop by today (Mar 29) on my way home from Tysons to get the line wet!
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Stopped by at 1:30 and it was a blast catching some really nice shad. All fairly large. Left at 3 pm and felt extremely gratified!
Ps. Several people were taking them home to eat. Didn't know yhey were edible.
Last edited by backtofuturetoyota (Mar-29-23 12:52PM)
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Good job catching some. I know shad can be planked and smoked. Who knows what else people do.
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Any fish made into a fish ball is edible…
Great job getting some!
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One immediate difference with my new setup in gear is that the reel let's off drag so that I don't rip the hook out. I tuned it right in the sweet spot and was perfect for hooksets and fighting. Those folks at Shimano know what their doing!
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backtofuturetoyota wrote:
One immediate difference with my new setup in gear is that the reel let's off drag so that I don't rip the hook out. I tuned it right in the sweet spot and was perfect for hooksets and fighting.
That's why I like a softer rod as well.
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drxfish wrote:
I'd like to see that. I would think those would sink too fast.
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Thanks. Once Bob said what they were I looked them up.
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Nice numbers.
Trout like that sparkly little jig too. Looking at that spoon Bob threw makes me believe all my Castmasters would work too
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