Great video, but there are some things that are incorrect. Hickory and American shad are not plankton feeders (herring are.) Large hickory shad are caught frequently in Ocean City by fishermen targeting striped bass using large minnow imitations (gotcha plugs, soft plastics, etc.) I am not sure if the shad are actively feeding when spawning. However, the gold spoon effectively emulates the flash of small bait fish. Second, while I have caught more fish in the seam, many of my bigger shad are hooked out in the main current. I am a bank fisherman, and in order to get deeper and cast out to the current, I ordered special 1/2 ounce and 3/4 ounce shad darts from a manufacturer in Pennsylvania (I believe the Boathouse uses the same supplier.) Then I have the gold Nungesser spoon trailer. With that bigger dart, I don't get as many double header hickory shad, but I get a much larger number of bites on the spoon. I cast upstream at about 2pm, and then allow for a 10 count before retrieving. If you don't hit deeper water, you will snag.
FrenchWBB thank you so much for some really great info! I’m going to pin this comment to the very top so everybody can see it. You absolutely taught me something!!
no problem. It looks like the company (Locket's Lures) doesn't do the 3/4 oz anymore. They still will sell the half ounce. Cards of 36 darts are $27 bucks, but if you use them, order well in advance. Great darts at a great price, but the customer service isn't always on point. I just have never found anyone else that makes that 1/2 ounce dart. And when the current is ripping, I will bring a couple of 3/4 oz jigheads just to get the spoon down and rely on the spoon to do the catching work.
Great video, very informative. Thanks for posting Jonathan and emphasizing river safety and respecting the Potomac's currents. I've seen a few times river rescues teams while hiking along the Billy Goat Trail. Lots of hikers wading into the river or getting lulled by the calm waters close to shore. Great suggestion of wearing a life vest especially when fishing with kids on the shore or on slippery rocks. Excited to start fishing the shad run this year!
Great information. I fished Fletcher s a bunch of times when I was a kid with my grandfather. In 30 years I've only been back once with my own boat. Definitely going to hit it again soon.
Great video. I used to fish near the Chain bridge in the late fall on the VA side. Didn't land anything, but that stretch of the river was so quiet and peaceful (especially at that time of the year) that I didn't mind too much. Gotta take some trash bags if you're fishing from the bank though! Place is a mess. Might have to head to check out the DC side sometime soon, though.
jeez, I would have never imagined the river was that deep here. I went out once and was scraping the bottom of the row boat dude to the huge rock bar on the DC side, which was unseen when paddling. I assumed the river was that same depth across to the other side, of course a little deeper for the main current channel, but sheesh 60 ft deep?
So glad I found this video. I have been wanting to learn to kayak fish the Potomac. Safety is a huge issue especially on the Potomac. Any recommendations for instructors?
Hey John, great video! I went out there for the first time yesterday (before watching your video) and did very well - though I could have done better had I seen your video first 😜 I’ll be volunteering at the 2019 Shad Gala Veteran’s Event on April 19th. Would you mind me linking to and sharing your video to attendees and others? Let me know when you get a chance and thanks!
Kambotrout Fishing hey man thanks for the kind words! Absolutely you can use it however you want, I would love to attend that gala! Can you find me on Facebook and message me some info? Jonathan Leavitt is how you can find me!
Great video. Thanks for sharing! My son and I are going to give this a shot this April. I have a large john boat with an outboard. Any suggestions on where I can launch it and park my truck/trailer to access this area? Thanks again!
mjzrock it's all about rain fall and water temps but typically peak of the run will last until may and then start to taper off, you should be good for this weekend! Good luck
Wow Jonathan, this is some serious informative video. I have been there couple times but never really fished. These information will definitely help me. I do have a question. Its about how to access the place. So, I live in VA, I take right turn on Canal Road, pass the boathouse, all the way to dc, then turn back, then take left to the place. From the look of it, I dont know how to get in without going through all the way. Question is, can I get in there if I just com directly from VA side and somehow turn? Or is that our of the question? I just dont know how to maneuver my car to get there directly. Any tips?
Fishing and Photography by Shaon yeah it’s tricky! I come across chain bridge and either do a quick u turn with the street almost directly across the entrance or pull over to the entrance and back down. I’m not sure how legal any of those are but that’s the way most people get into there.
Damn!!! I thought I was doing it crazy way when I had to pass the place, drive for like mile or so, uturn and then comeback. But thats definitely takes the cake. lol. Thanks a lot for your reply man.
Jonathan - thanks so much for this fantastic video, great info. I fly fish, and I've got a one-man pontoon boat that I use on moving water (mostly the Shenandoah up here) -- do you think that would work in the area you describe near Fletchers? Mark Z
Mark Zimmerman - hey Mark, thank you it was lots of fun putting together. I think a one man pontoon would work, the distance from where you park to the access put in is 100yds or so of flat and open terrain. The only problem I could foresee is you have to paddle up current to get to those spots I was talking about in the video (it's 1/2 to 3/4 of a mile). I have no problem paddling my kayak and I've seen guys do it in a row boat so it can be done. The other thing which may be a issue is when you come into Fletcher's boat house from canal road you go under the C&O canal via tunnel, the tunnel is pretty old and if you cart top your boat you may run into a issue with clearance. You can call Fletcher's to ask them what the clearance is for the tunnel.
bigpapamd1 hey man thank you!! I typically have 15lb floro but depending on the current I may up it to 20. I try and go as light as I can get away with because the Shad darts have a better action. I’m not totally convinced a fluro is needed honestly, I just use it out of habit! Yeah the white perch are definitely in the same area! They typically are deeper than the hickory’s but using something like a sadiki rig you can catch them all day long!
Great video, but there are some things that are incorrect. Hickory and American shad are not plankton feeders (herring are.) Large hickory shad are caught frequently in Ocean City by fishermen targeting striped bass using large minnow imitations (gotcha plugs, soft plastics, etc.) I am not sure if the shad are actively feeding when spawning. However, the gold spoon effectively emulates the flash of small bait fish.
Second, while I have caught more fish in the seam, many of my bigger shad are hooked out in the main current. I am a bank fisherman, and in order to get deeper and cast out to the current, I ordered special 1/2 ounce and 3/4 ounce shad darts from a manufacturer in Pennsylvania (I believe the Boathouse uses the same supplier.) Then I have the gold Nungesser spoon trailer. With that bigger dart, I don't get as many double header hickory shad, but I get a much larger number of bites on the spoon. I cast upstream at about 2pm, and then allow for a 10 count before retrieving. If you don't hit deeper water, you will snag.
FrenchWBB thank you so much for some really great info! I’m going to pin this comment to the very top so everybody can see it. You absolutely taught me something!!
no problem. It looks like the company (Locket's Lures) doesn't do the 3/4 oz anymore. They still will sell the half ounce. Cards of 36 darts are $27 bucks, but if you use them, order well in advance. Great darts at a great price, but the customer service isn't always on point. I just have never found anyone else that makes that 1/2 ounce dart. And when the current is ripping, I will bring a couple of 3/4 oz jigheads just to get the spoon down and rely on the spoon to do the catching work.
I’m a kayak angler who just moved to DC and really appreciate this introduction. Awesome detail
yo this is a gem. Thank you so much. Im going to try and hook up on some shad this year. Your white board work is beyond excellent!!
Thanks man
Great video, very informative. Thanks for posting Jonathan and emphasizing river safety and respecting the Potomac's currents. I've seen a few times river rescues teams while hiking along the Billy Goat Trail. Lots of hikers wading into the river or getting lulled by the calm waters close to shore. Great suggestion of wearing a life vest especially when fishing with kids on the shore or on slippery rocks. Excited to start fishing the shad run this year!
This is an awesome video. Getting ready for the 2021 run. Super helpful.
Thank you
Great information. I fished Fletcher s a bunch of times when I was a kid with my grandfather. In 30 years I've only been back once with my own boat. Definitely going to hit it again soon.
Great video. I used to fish near the Chain bridge in the late fall on the VA side. Didn't land anything, but that stretch of the river was so quiet and peaceful (especially at that time of the year) that I didn't mind too much. Gotta take some trash bags if you're fishing from the bank though! Place is a mess.
Might have to head to check out the DC side sometime soon, though.
OTPFishing thanks!
Outstanding beginners guide thank you
I’m glad you enjoyed!!
I also agree on the colors of the darts. One thing, gold spoons are awesome, but on murky water days, a silver spoon sometimes is better.
FrenchWBB you are 1,000% right!
This is an excellent video. Thanks for the details!
That very last little clip of people on the Virginia side really shows that seem and the reverse current.
jeez, I would have never imagined the river was that deep here. I went out once and was scraping the bottom of the row boat dude to the huge rock bar on the DC side, which was unseen when paddling. I assumed the river was that same depth across to the other side, of course a little deeper for the main current channel, but sheesh 60 ft deep?
So glad I found this video. I have been wanting to learn to kayak fish the Potomac. Safety is a huge issue especially on the Potomac. Any recommendations for instructors?
Great video man!
Jacobl Hammonds thank you!
Hey John, great video!
I went out there for the first time yesterday (before watching your video) and did very well - though I could have done better had I seen your video first 😜
I’ll be volunteering at the 2019 Shad Gala Veteran’s Event on April 19th. Would you mind me linking to and sharing your video to attendees and others?
Let me know when you get a chance and thanks!
Kambotrout Fishing hey man thanks for the kind words! Absolutely you can use it however you want, I would love to attend that gala! Can you find me on Facebook and message me some info? Jonathan Leavitt is how you can find me!
Great video. Thanks for sharing! My son and I are going to give this a shot this April. I have a large john boat with an outboard. Any suggestions on where I can launch it and park my truck/trailer to access this area? Thanks again!
bwb0802 I really think your only place is roaches run down by the airport. Fletcher’s will not let you launch any boats at their ramp.
Great video! How long with the Shad be in town? I'm hoping to get out there this weekend. Thanks for the great info!
mjzrock it's all about rain fall and water temps but typically peak of the run will last until may and then start to taper off, you should be good for this weekend! Good luck
Wow Jonathan, this is some serious informative video. I have been there couple times but never really fished. These information will definitely help me. I do have a question. Its about how to access the place. So, I live in VA, I take right turn on Canal Road, pass the boathouse, all the way to dc, then turn back, then take left to the place. From the look of it, I dont know how to get in without going through all the way. Question is, can I get in there if I just com directly from VA side and somehow turn? Or is that our of the question? I just dont know how to maneuver my car to get there directly. Any tips?
Fishing and Photography by Shaon yeah it’s tricky! I come across chain bridge and either do a quick u turn with the street almost directly across the entrance or pull over to the entrance and back down. I’m not sure how legal any of those are but that’s the way most people get into there.
Damn!!! I thought I was doing it crazy way when I had to pass the place, drive for like mile or so, uturn and then comeback. But thats definitely takes the cake. lol. Thanks a lot for your reply man.
Jonathan - thanks so much for this fantastic video, great info. I fly fish, and I've got a one-man pontoon boat that I use on moving water (mostly the Shenandoah up here) -- do you think that would work in the area you describe near Fletchers? Mark Z
Mark Zimmerman - hey Mark, thank you it was lots of fun putting together. I think a one man pontoon would work, the distance from where you park to the access put in is 100yds or so of flat and open terrain. The only problem I could foresee is you have to paddle up current to get to those spots I was talking about in the video (it's 1/2 to 3/4 of a mile). I have no problem paddling my kayak and I've seen guys do it in a row boat so it can be done. The other thing which may be a issue is when you come into Fletcher's boat house from canal road you go under the C&O canal via tunnel, the tunnel is pretty old and if you cart top your boat you may run into a issue with clearance. You can call Fletcher's to ask them what the clearance is for the tunnel.
gr8t video, 2 ??? what lb leader do you use when shad fishing and do you fish for white perch the sane area as the shad ???
bigpapamd1 hey man thank you!! I typically have 15lb floro but depending on the current I may up it to 20. I try and go as light as I can get away with because the Shad darts have a better action. I’m not totally convinced a fluro is needed honestly, I just use it out of habit!
Yeah the white perch are definitely in the same area! They typically are deeper than the hickory’s but using something like a sadiki rig you can catch them all day long!