This Shad run is getting out of hand...

[Phil Lilley]

At first, I was complaining we we're seeing shad come over the spill gates.  Now we're ready to see them stop coming over.  They've flooded the upper lake.... continuous flow of shad flowing through.  Good thing I think they should shut down the gates tomorrow, Tuesday at the latest.

It's been tough fishing for most people, not really because of the shad but the amount of water being released.  It's just tough to get the bait to the bottom, handling the boat and getting things just right for a good bite.

Caught 2 trophies on One Cast yesterday -

 

 

I think we're going to see quite a few big trout caught in the coming weeks because of the shad.  It's giving them a good boost of growth too.  Shad and the hoards of scuds - they're getting some good protein every day.

[Gumboot]

Phil

What makes shad susceptible to coming over the dam this time of year?  I would think water temps have stabilized to the point that's not going to stun them?  Don't they normally go upstream?

On your last fishing report you mentioned lack of big brown trout.  Guess I haven't kept up...what caused the mortality. 

[Phil Lilley]

Just having the gates open - if any fish get close enough to get sucked over, they make the 200 foot fall.  That stuns, kills a lot of them but many survive.  For days, we didn't see many come over.  Then, they came and they really haven't stopped for, what, 5 days now?  What we have to do is find something to use that makes them eat.... they are still eating scuds.  Our white jigs tend to get lost in the hoards of real shad.  I didn't color jig works sometimes.  Blake found that dragging a small stick bait on the bottom works good - did at least last evening.  I drift a 1/25th ounce jig, 2 lb line, last evening below Fall Creek and actually did real good.  Threw it out to the side and let it just drift, no working it, no reeling.  I did stay close to the inside of the bend, close to the docks.

Browns - there was a fungus that killed a good number of mature browns and some rainbows.  Not sure how many, what percentage...  We are catching some browns and they will show up now the shad are running.  Time will tell.  MDC may do another spring shock survey...

[Phil Lilley]

Gates will either shut all the way down or partial tomorrow - is my guess.  Table Rock will be down to 917 feet by tomorrow.