Shad smolt migration

[Pez Vela]

I recently read an article saying that after a good Fall storm, (like we had this past weekend), the millions of shad smolt (1-3” baby white bait fish) will start their migration down the Columbia River to the sea. That’s all I needed, along with a good weather forecast (light winds and 62* today!) to grab my fly rod and head upriver.
I didn’t see any shad migrating, but did find a few smallmouth bass that were hungry. Think I got 5-6 to the net, and missed (or broke off ) as many. Biggest was a solid 16-17 inches that fought like it was much bigger. The one I broke off was a pig!
So… a fun couple hours, and good to be on the water again.

 

[Billy]

Fall baitfish bite is hard to beat!

 

[Shad]

If you do find fish feeding on shad, they will likely be the kind of reckless biters that make for days of legend. They make fantastic bait for Chinook and sturgeon. They have big, shiny scales, and their belly bones keep them intact and presenting well much longer than the herring and anchovies that are the norm.

I've never heard much about people targeting the smolt outmigration, but it's probably something you want to get in on if the opportunity presents itself. I like your thinking here...

 

[Paul_]

From my observations the shad smolt outmigration starts in mid August and peaks at the end of September.
A little below where you were fishing was good for bass and Pikeminnow in early October.

 

[Brian in OR.]

Where the heck do the shad spawn in the Columbia river system?

 

[Jim F.]

September was always prime backwater gurgler & streamer Shad time with lots of great topwater action as the Smallies were going nuts!

 

[Buzzy]

Where the heck do the shad spawn in the Columbia river system?

That's a good question: Shad stack up in the right and left bank fish ladders at Priest Rapids Dam but do not migrate out of the ladder into the Priest Rapids reservoir. So they don't spawn upstream of Priest Rapids (how's that for not answering your question?).

 

[Pez Vela]

From my observations the shad smolt outmigration starts in mid August and peaks at the end of September.
A little below where you were fishing was good for bass and Pikeminnow in early October.
View attachment 171908

Thanks for the information, Paul. I might have been a month late, but the fish were still hungry. I’ll try it again next year a month or so earlier. Pretty hard to beat the Spring when they’re getting ready to spawn!