Get Hooked on Fishing the James River: It’s Shad Season!
Image: Andrew Knight | Hickory Shad, caught by Andrew near Ancarrow’s Landing
If you’ve driven over the 14th St Bridge in downtown Richmond or taken a walk along the floodwall on an April weekend, you’ve probably noticed the hundreds of people lining the bank, furiously casting fishing lures out into the James River. Situated shoulder to shoulder along the bank, this frenzy of anglers is met with an equal enthusiasm from the middle of the river, where dozens of boats stack up between the I-95 Bridge and the 14th St Bridge. From kayakers to canoeists, motor boaters, and even the occasional pontoon, everyone has one mission: catching the iconic shad.
For those of you new to the fishing world, you might be surprised to learn that the city-stretch of the James River (yes, the river that runs right below your feet on the T-Pot Bridge) is home to a variety of native fish, consisting of smallmouth and largemouth bass, bluegill, catfish, gar, and other traditional freshwater species. However, each spring, the James River also welcomes two other species of fish — shad and striped bass (rockfish) — that swim all the way from the Atlantic Ocean to the fall-line section of the James River (located just below Belle Isle) to spawn. These fish are anadromous, meaning they spend most of their lives in salt water but come into freshwater rivers to spawn, similar to what salmon and steelhead do in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. While Richmond doesn’t always get compared to Alaska’s picturesque coastline, this guide will help you understand how a pesky little fish can provide our city its own joyous fishing scene with plenty of room for newcomers.
— by Andrew Knight, Contributing Writer (and the brains behind RVA James River Fishing Report. Follow him @rvajamesriverfishreport!)
What is a shad?
Shad are a species of fish found on the North American coast spanning all the way from the northern tip of Canada down to the southern part of Florida. The fish are not outwardly large in size, typically weighing around two or three pounds, but they are known for their aggressive nature and strong fighting habits that make them particularly enticing for anglers. Shad have been around North America for centuries and been coined “America’s Founding Fish” because of their important role as a food source for the indigenous people.
History aside, the shad are a fan-favorite for anglers because of their sheer abundance. On a good April day fishing here on the James, it’s not uncommon to catch over 30 shad in a few hours. Yes, you read that correctly — over 30! Shad travel in massive schools (literally thousands of fish at a time) and stop to spawn right here in our hometown. They don’t typically venture too far past the first section of rapids below Belle Isle, and anglers can take advantage of a very fortunate situation.
Targeting shad is very easy, and I have witnessed many people catch dozens of these fish, with little to no prior experience. If you’re looking for a new outdoor activity or ready to take your kid on a fishing trip that doesn’t leave them bored within the first 10 minutes, chasing the shad is certainly a great place to start.
When do the shad show up?
The saying in the shad fishing world goes, “When the dogwoods bloom, the shad loom.” And if you’ve been outside recently in RVA, you’ve probably noticed that the first part of the saying is in full effect. Walking down to the river this afternoon, I came across a line of dogwood trees bursting with white flowers, and everywhere I look, it seems the spring arrived a month early.
The science of the dogwood trees blooming and shad showing up in our river is not an exact science, and the reality of the shad showing up comes down to the river temperature reaching the magic 55-degree mark. Before the recent coldspell, the river had reached 52 degrees, thanks to the two-week stretch of 70+ degree days and lack of heavy rainfall. However, most recently the river has bumped back down to the mid-40s, so we are still a few weeks away from peak season.
Yet, as an avid angler myself, I have caught a few early-season shad over the past few weeks. If you’re reading this guide and itching to get on the river, it’s worth a shot. Plus, with a few extra hours of daylight, what’s stopping you from getting outside and giving it a try?
How can I catch them?
Okay, now that you have a history lesson on the shad and new fish to add to your vernacular, you’re probably wondering, How do I go about catching these beloved fish? This is when the fun begins.
Start by going to your local tackle shop and asking for a spinning rod and reel combo. (Unless you’re a purist and fish with a fly rod and reel, you’ll know what this is if you’ve seen A River Runs Through It.) Make sure the line is relatively light, rated around an 8- to 10-pound test. Also purchase a shad spoon lure or shad dart lure (available in a variety of bright colors!).
If you’re wondering what these brightly colored lures represent, you’re not alone — and no one really knows! But it doesn’t matter. Shad aren’t actually feeding when they attack your lure but are instead defending their eggs. When they bite, they are reacting to a flash around them. For more information on exactly what these lures look like, I’ve included a helpful graphic below.
Unfortunately, these shad spoons and darts do not weigh very much, so you’ll need to attach a three-foot section of line (leader) to a half-ounce swivel weight. This way, your lure will sink down to the bottom of the river where the shad are located. It’s important to get the lures as close to the river bottom as possible — sometimes up to 15 feet deep. When you cast the lure, let it sink for about three seconds, then reel the lure in quickly and steadily.
Where do I catch them?
Now that you’ve got your brand new fishing rod and rigged up with a weight and a shad spoon, it’s time to head to the river. Luckily, locating the shad is the least of your worries, as they all tend to group together in a very specific section of the water.
Early in the season — right about now through the end of March — it’s best to park at Ancarrow’s Landing (1200 Brander St) and fish from the bank. When you arrive, drive all the way to the left side of the parking lot and walk to the river. You’ll see a trail that spits you out on the bank about five feet above the river. Don’t be alarmed if the parking lot is full of people and anglers. It’s a good sign that the shad bite is strong!
Later in the season, especially at the end of April, the best spot to target shad is around the 14th St Bridge. Park at Floodwall Park and cross the road to access the river below the bridge. I recommend walking down the paved trail about a half-mile until you go past an old train bridge. There is a spillway below the bridge, and that should be your mark to start fishing. Again, these spots get crowded, but everyone is friendly and will be excited to see you venturing to the river.
Final thoughts
As you embark on your shad fishing adventure, don’t be discouraged if you aren’t successful during your first outing. Sometimes the shad are finicky, and sometimes the person next to you just so happens to be casting at the exact right spot where all the fish are located.
You might get snagged on a rock on the bottom of the river, accidentally catch the line of the person next to you, or figure out that you’re more interested in the beautiful blue heron patiently stalking its prey along the shoreline. Whatever your experience may be, just remember to take a moment to appreciate the beauty of the James River and our city that surrounds it.
And who knows? Maybe you’ll end up catching so many shad, you’ll lose count and can’t muster the strength to cast your line out any longer. Good luck and tight lines!
Keep adventuring:
