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| Shad Run on the Potomac April 24 - As of this morning the shad run is in full swing in the DC portion of the Potomac. Both hickories and American shad are reported by Ray at Fletcher’s Cove. The action was slow yesterday (April 23) according to Lynn Scholz and Tom Mann, but as the water continues to clear, we hope the fish will be more cooperative. Generally the run occurs soon after the water warms in the spring in early April and runs into the first two weeks of May. A cold snap or high water can slow things down. Conditions are quite good at the moment. The best way to get some action, for fly fishers especially, is to rent a boat at Fletcher’s and anchor just north of the cove at a spot near the seam of the current of the main channel on the DC shore. The hickories run mainly along that seam nearer the bottom than the top of the water column. Americans tend to run in deeper and faster water further out. Fletcher’s is great because the river narrows just above it and funnels the fish into a smaller area. Most of the fish run as far as Chain Bridge; some make it quite a bit farther, especially as in recent years Little Falls Dam was altered to make it easier for fish to reach the waters above it. All shad fishing is currently catch-and-release. You’ll need a DC fishing license, available from NCC-TU at chapter meetings or at Fletcher’s Cove. An annual resident license is $10, non-resident is $13. Further information is available from Fletcher’s at 202 244-0461 or go to DC Fisheries. Fletcher's also has a fishing report on it's website, which may or may not be up-to-date. |
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