The annual run of American shad up the Columbia River is building steam. Over a 100,000 shad a day are being counted at the Bonneville Dam fish ladder. Marc Bush, owner of Twisted Waters Guide Service, recently took two clients shad fishing near Beacon Rock State Park and the two, Drew Monsey and his father Martin, caught 104 shad in short order, with Drew out fishing his dad by 11 fish. Â If you would like to book a trip with Bush you can go to his Facebook page or his website at www.twistedwaters-gs.com.
You don’t need to have a guide to have success catching shad. Two great places to fish for them from shore are just below Bonneville Dam and also below the John Day Dam. Simply cast a 1/16-ounce jig or shad dart and use anywhere from ¼ to ½ ounce of lead above it (depending on the current). Then, let it swing downstream with the current and wait for a bite before reeling in the jig and casting again.
Shad typically run between one and three pounds but they are scrappy fighters and fun to catch.  Kids in particular enjoy the non-stop action when the shad run is going strong. The state record for shad is a 3.85-pound specimen caught by Tom Magnuson out of the Columbia River in 2005.
Some anglers will keep the shad to eat but others (myself included), cut these fish in half and use them for crab bait. They are a very oily fish and work very well when it comes to attracting crabs. Shad also work well as bait for sturgeon fishing and for catfish too. Â
John Kruse – www.northwesternoutdoors.com and www.americaoutdoorsradio.com