[yodaddy]

Anyone catching any yet? I haven’t been in years.

 

[Old Hunter]

They are being caught in the Neuse (I caught one in the Trent) and the Tar Rivers. Best action has been at New Bern. I saw one picture of one Shad already caught in Weldon. The early arrivers are here, should be a real nice 4-6 weeks coming up now. OH

 

[badankles]

Thanks for letting us know. I'm looking forward to getting into the shad this year.

 

[yodaddy]

Thanks for the reply 😊 I need to get out soon

 

[NCfishingKing]

I'll be out today fishing for them

 

[TomnNC]

They're here...
Went out yesterday and when I switched from targeting stripers to shad, wow. What a blast! Non stop action.

 

[badankles]

@TomnNC so good to hear it. It was slow just last week Thursday, and to hear just three days later...

 

[Old Hunter]

Yesterday (3-13-23) in Williamston and Weldon, my buddy Jim (gray jacket) and me (blue jacket). We started out on the lower Roanoke in Williamston in the morning, only one Shad caught by Jim right as we were leaving, we fished there an hour. Had lunch and drove up to Weldon. We fished at the boat ramp area an hour (2:30-3:30), it was overcast, cool, with the fish biting well. I caught 9 Hickory Shad in that hour, lost one of them at my feet (self-released as Jim says), my lures got hit several more times with hooking the fish, lotta fun. Almost like a Conga Line at times but all anglers helpful and courteous to each other while we were there. Every fish I caught was on the same rig, pink/white 2” grub on top, pink/white HoneyHole flutter spoon on bottom, close to 50/50 on which one the fish hit. Fun day for sure. OH

 

[TomnNC]

Awesome job Hunter. Funny thing, I took the reverse path 2 weeks ago. Went up to Weldon, only caught a few and saw a few caught. Ran down to Williamston a few days later and sleighed them, even got doubles. The locals tell me the bite should continue thru March down there. I wonder how much temperature plays a role in the bite.

Yeah, it was cold.

This is my first year fishing Shad and I love it. They are totally awesome fighters and jumpers.

 

[badankles]

Whoa, guys. Nice. Thanks for the reports. I wasn't sure how the bite would be with the cold weather.

 

[Old Hunter]

Stopped by the Tar River in Greenville yesterday after having lunch with a customer. Fished the pier at the Town Common for 20 minutes and caught one 15” Hickory on a chartreuse dart. Pretty slow there, young USAF Sergeant from Goldsboro was fishing before I got there and had caught nothing, I told him about the Falkland ramp and he followed me there. Fished one hour, he caught at least six and I caught two, again all on chartreuse (these all on 2” curly tail grubs). Lots of folks at Falkland, the Sergeant schooled everyone though, most folks caught a couple or three in the hour I stayed. I was glad to show the young guy a new place and that he did well. No boats on the river, all bank anglers yesterday. OH

 

[nc35hunter]

Yesterday morning in Weldon they were really biting the first hour of light, slowed down just a bit but still caught them pretty steady til I had to leave about 9 o clock.

 

[Old Hunter]

NC35hunter, glad to see the catching is holding up in Weldon, that is usually one of the best places to Shad fish. Has anyone fished for Shad in the Cape Fear River at Lock #1 or #2 so far this season? I have an easy goal of catching Shad (Hickory or American) in each of the four major river systems this season; so far I have fished and caught in the Roanoke, Tar, and Neuse (as well as a few tributary's). I need to catch in the Cape Fear but have never fished in that river. I will go by car while I'm out traveling (selling building materials) - I can stop by anywhere I can get to for 30 minutes to an hour. Love to catch one in the Cape Fear. Thanks, OH

 

[TomnNC]

I convinced myself not to go this past weekend because of the cold front that came thru and reports that the bite was slow. However, when Friday afternoon rolled around, I was getting the itch otherwise known as fishing withdrawal. Against my better judgement and accepting the fact that fishing likely wouldn't be good, I headed out around noon to South Roanoke river, one of my new favorite spots chasing one of my new favorite species - Hickory Shad.

Arrived at the ramp around 2, headed over to my "top secret" spot. Cold, cloudy, the water 52 degrees. Hooked my first shad after a few casts and knew the trip down wasn't a waste of time. I've only been down here a few times but it seems each trip, the shad get bigger and the females fatter. The cold makes them tougher to catch, but they are still there and they will bite. Despite the cold, the fight is as good as ever.

I planned to mix it up a bit with this trip and set a goal of 20 shad, then fish for rock. Ended up with 23 because I simply love catching these guys and have a hard time stopping, then moved to another spot. I was fortunate to catch this fat lady that gave a awesome fight. The final pic is a Blue Heron riding down the river in a pretty swift current on a log. Too funny.

Great day down East Saturday. I know I will have to start shifting my focus West soon. I'll really miss this place, till next year.