Each spring, the lower American River near Sacramento becomes host to one of the most prolific runs of American shad on the West Coast. While these anadromous fish may lack the prestige of fellow ocean-going species such as salmon or steelhead, . . .
Read Morefly fishing for shad
Podcast: Author John McPhee and His Favorite Fish
This week’s podcast guest is especially exciting to me, as he is one of my literary heroes. John McPhee is a Pulitzer Prize-winning author (Annals of the Former World, 1999), and in his numerous other books, he . . .
Read MoreFish Facts: American Shad (Alosa sapidissima)

The American shad features a silvery body, blue-green back, and dark spots starting near the top
of the gill plate and running laterally rearward, as well as a deeply forked tail.
Photo by Duane Raver, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
While salmon, steelhead, and striper runs garnish the most attention from the angling press, the annual migration of American shad offers fly fishers the chance to tangle with a brawny . . .
Read MorePhotos and Report: Casting for Shad in the Nation’s Capital

Hickory shad put up a great fight against a 5-weight fly rod.
All photos by Rob Snowhite
The 2014 shad run got off to a late start due to a cold winter with continuous cold runoff. It snowed here in the middle of April! Once the water at the fall line of the river reached the upper 50 degrees the shad, river. . .
Read MorePodcast: “Shad to the Bone”

This week there is a very special podcast offer that will save you money but you have to listen to find out and act before May 20th… Read More