The Shad Are Here! Roanoke River Hickory Shad Fishing

Yes the shad are here. They are a little early (in numbers) as today is February the 24th, 2012 but I have caught them as early as February the 13th and 17th in 2002. I  only had the afternoon off and because of severe winds and storms, that meant bank fishing within 1 1/2 hrs from home. That also  left 4  or 5 good choices  within easy driving distance.
1. I could hit my white shad hotspot
2. I could go to Wiggins Mill
3. I could go to the neuse
4. I could go to weldon.
5. I could go to the Tar in Rocky Mount.

I chose Weldon as it would be easy to get back into the car if a sudden storm came through and my "hotspot" is a decent walk from the car,  and with lots of overhanging trees I was worried about "widow makers".

I arrived at River Falls park at aprox 4pm and there were just 3 other fishermen there. The Roanoke river was very low today with a temperature of 52 degrees.  I quickly caught 3 little ones on pink headed white jigs. I always use 2 for shad and start out with a chartreuse and white jig to see what color they want. Today they hit the white one 75 percent of the time. ( see http://mackinncblog.blogspot.com/2009/09/poor-mans-tarpon.html )   Here is a picture of my first shad for 2012. A small one but still a shad.

The guy beside me caught a small striper so I put on a tube jig and caught this monster!

About 50 percent today were small like the first one and most of the rest were like this one

I then managed to catch this beast of a striper out of the ole Roanoke River but had to let it go as it was over the slot!

" Weldon, N.C.  Rockfish capital of the World " 

It probaly Ranks as  one of the best spots around for Hickory Shad too.

Actually, I did manage 2 stripers. One very small,  and one  that was about 2 lbs that i shook loose at the bank.
A bad picture but my first striper for the year of 2012.

The bite was very hot right at dark but a big downpour got me so I left as I quickly released a small hickory. A nice way to end the afternoon.

Not a great day today as far as numbers of shad caught but anyday you can catch shad is a great day. I caught right at 15 shad, 2 stripers and the one lone largemouth   and,  I actually only shad fished about 1/2 the time. Weldon Shad , get there if you can.

 

Mack