In France, two species of shad swim up our rivers: the feint shad and the great shad. Their habits are relatively similar but their diets are very different and this is what will condition their fisheries, which are also relatively different!
False shad: where and when?
It is important to know that shad do not migrate up all rivers, far from it. They are found in large numbers on a handful of rivers in Brittany, in the Charente, in the Atlantic Pyrenees, in Corsica and on the Rhone where a Mediterranean subspecies, the Rhone shad (Alosa Fallax Rhodanensis) lives.
Most of the rivers where migratory fishes such as shad go up are known and the most famous ones are referenced on different websites or brochures.
The downstream parts of sills or deep pools store and concentrate the shad, which ascend and cross the obstacles at night. During the day, they rest in areas where the current is less strong. The shad evolve almost constantly in schools. If you get a hit, it is sure that other shad are around! Make sure to respect the fishing distance with the crossing structures (fish passes, fish ladders, etc.).
To hope to meet a shad, it is also necessary to fish at the right time. Because shad only go up the rivers from April to the beginning of July. The periods of upstream migration vary according to the rivers and the years. The ideal is to be able to program several sessions to not miss the boat.
Lures and animations
The blueback herring, unlike the gizzard shad, feeds on small fish of 4 to 10 cm. The large shad, on the other hand, focuses on smaller prey. The shad will adopt a more "predatory" behavior, not hesitating to pursue a prey and to come and get it from afar. Very bright or colored lures are usually very effective. The strong vibrational stimuli added to these bright colors provoke the aggressiveness of the shad.
Small casting jigs (Illex Micro Slow Lazy jig for example) are very effective for casting far and animating aggressively. You can also skillfully use wobbling spoons animated in lively twitches, causing numerous reflections and flashes of light. Spinners are a classic and timeless way to fish shallow rapids.
Small sinking swimmers or soft shad lures are not to be outdone and remain effective when it comes to varying presentations to trigger aggressive strikes from these predators.
Purely aggressive attacks
Be careful though, it is not necessarily won. The American shad is a very moody fish. Like other migratory fish, they stop feeding when they go upstream to devote themselves only to spawning. The attacks on your lures are therefore purely aggressive and not food! Sometimes, shad remain stoic and unperturbed. They may taunt you by following your imitation from a distance, while sometimes they will jump on everything with great aggressiveness for relatively short periods of time. When fishing is difficult and there are few hits, know how to offer different types of stimuli by regularly changing the lure to trigger the aggressiveness of a shad.
