Embed Size (px)
DESCRIPTION
Â
Citation preview
American River Shad Field Edition 2 $5.95
Access Points
Flies
Techniques
Resources
Guides
1
American River Shad Editor
Lance Gray
Contributing Editors Lincoln Gray
Ray Narbaitz
Jon Baiocchi
Kirsten Gray
Lance Gray & Company “American
River Shad” is published only once
with updated material being added
when changes accrue. Updated
issues are available as a new
handbook available on our website
or where sold.
Handbooks Go to our website for a current list. Only
electronic versions are available. Price is
$5.95 a copy. Or you can call or email us
at any time the contact information is
listed below.
Product of the U.S.A
Advertising Contact:
Lance Gray
530-517-2204
Kirsten Gray 530-517-2081
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 962
Willows, CA 95988 530-517-2204
Street Address: 1079 Northgate Drive
Willows, CA 95988
www.LanceGrayandCompany.com
3 3
4
Context Boney ‘Bows Page 5 Written By Lance Gray
American River Map Page 23
Equipment Page 29 Rigging Setups Page 34 Ryan’s Shad Dart Page 35 By Lincoln Gray
Flies Page 37 Lodging & Eatery’s Page 39 Fly Shops Page 39 Agencies Page 39 Water Flows Page 39 Online Sources Page 40 Fly Clubs Page 40 Guides Page 41 Cover Photo is by Lance Gray American River Upper Sunrise
4
Boney “Bows Written by Lance Gray
Originally Printed in California Fly Fisher
4 5
Lance Gray Photo
6
7
It was a balmy spring day in early May. I was driving my old truck along
Highway 45 which meanders along the Sacramento River. I was headed to Chico
to pick up some fly tying materials from my brothers fly shop. I was day dreaming
just minding my own business, “driving like an old man” as my wife utters every
now and then. I caught myself humming – sometimes singing to the country
melody crackling from the radio. When all of a sudden I saw it! Every year it
amazes me, my heart raced; my thoughts scrambled instantly and my hands
trembled. What I saw was cotton floating from the trees. All I could think about
was Shad - Poor Man’s Tarpon, Boney ‘Bows, or whatever you call them. It was
Shad time!!!
8
Lance Gray Photo
Shad constantly astonish me every year. Of course you contemplate about upcoming hatches, runs and locations you’re planning to fish. There’s something about realizing that the moment is here. Now – it was time! Relax, I told myself out loud. It’s only Shad. A time of the year that reminds me of my youth, friends, fishing pals not with us any longer. It’s a special time of reflection and remembering. It’s also about pure delight of the grab. My thoughts shifted suddenly to integrated shooting heads, heavy 3x tippet, shad flies (do I have enough). My mind became a blur with preparation.
American Shad History The American Shad (Alosa sapidissima) are not native to the west coast. On June 19, 1871 the famed fish culturist Seth Green left New York en route to California with milk canisters filled with 12,000 shad fry. These makeshift fish incubators holding the Hudson River strain traveled by train through hot terrible weather and poor water conditions. At times Green had to purify the water by hand, pouring pails of water into other pails until the water was purified. The 10,000 shad fry that survived the trip were turned loose from their tin
9
Lance Gray Photo
prisons in the small city of Tehama at the Sacramento River’s edge. A couple of years later in 1873 the California Fish Commissioner B.B. Redding offered a reward of $50 for the first adult shad to be caught on the Sacramento River. The reward was paid! The fish have adapted to the west coast, flourishing up and down the Pacific Ocean. Many of the largest runs are seen in the Columbia and in the Sacramento River systems, with fish ranging clear up into the lower Snake River. In California shad runs are found on the Sacramento, Lower Klamath, Trinity, San Joaquin, American, Feather, Yuba and Russian rivers. Fish start to enter the fisheries in late April and peak in June and July during the spawning period. Spawning is a little different than other anadromous species; the shad don’t make a nest in the gravel. They spawn by the female shad releasing her eggs on the surface of the water and males’ fertilizing the eggs while they float in the water, this process is referred to “Broadcast Spawning”. The eggs then fall to the gravel bottom to hatch. The fry stay in the river growing until the
migration back to the sea in the fall. The young shad range in size from 1.5 to 4 inches long. The Grab This year I was fortunate to pass along the Shad grab to my 10 year old son, Garrett. We went out to the Sacramento River and fished a place that I have fished for years. The run holds a special place in my heart; it wasn’t for being a place that I passed my youth wetting lines and drinking beers with friends. But, it was the place that I landed my first Shad growing up. It was a hot evening; the sun was still high in the sky as we reached the private run. Garrett and I both wadered up and set up our rods. He buckled his chest waders and I handed him the X-Axis Switch Rod that was ready for his first cast (he is a good caster). I set him in the perfect spot in the water. His first cast with the integrated shooting head was a little sloppy, but it reached roughly 50 feet. I explained to him that at the swing is usually when the fish grabs the fly. I whispered in his ear, be prepared. The grabs were slow. Even I was getting a little restless. Garrett was being a trooper, casting really well, each cast no more than 50 feet or so. Then out of the blue, all I heard was a loud - WOW!! I looked upstream and his rod was doubled over. I started to coach him - reel in, lift your rod, move your
10
10
11
Lance Gray Photo
12
rod tip down and too the right! I think I was more excited than him. He would just say, “I got this Dad.” He did! Garrett landed a beautiful Shad. He just looked at me smiled and gave me knuckles. It was a magical moment in our relationship. Moments like that are absolutely perfect. Garrett complained that I was taking too many pictures of him. He was getting a little agitated with me. He just looked at me and said, “Dad we need to fish, I need to get another grab”.
Sacramento River Fishery With hundreds of thousands of shad, the Sacramento River and her tributaries
is the place to fish for these split tail motor boats. The Sacramento River itself holds the greatest numbers of shad with the American being second, Feather and Yuba rounding out the bottom two. The Sacramento River has limited access for wading anglers. In the old days (20 years ago) there was plenty of public access but, with vandalism and theft occurring on farmers land – gates have gone up and access is limited. There is still access – especially by boat. Wading anglers have to rely on places that are popular. Verona Bar, Colusa channels and areas like the Wash Out in Chico, or up at Woodson Bridge just east of the city of Corning. Anglers that have boats can explore the entire river, anchoring up or beaching the boat and finding runs that are easily fished.
13
Lance Gray Photo
The American River holds the best and greatest access areas for wading anglers. The upper river has many access points, from Watt Avenue all the way up to Sailors Bar. Areas are easy to wade and fish. Long runs can be found to fish and with a little exploration crowds can be reduced greatly. Some areas like upper Sunrise are extremely popular with some anglers camping out on spots. Boat access is also good on the American with many boaters running drift or pontoon boats.
Using boats to find areas to fish is the best way of breaking from the crowds. Anglers fishing the American have a wide variety of runs and riffles to fish. Many anglers use switch and short spey rods as their weapons of choice. The Yuba and the Feather Rivers have limited access for wading anglers. Again boats are a great advantage. On the Feather River Palm Riffle and Lower Kester Riffles hold shad and are accessed by wading anglers. Motorized boats are used to navigate the lower river from Gridley to Verona (confluence with the Sacramento).
14
Lance Gray Photo
15 Lance Gray Photo
16
The Yuba has even fewer access points for wading anglers. Many anglers again use jet, drift pontoon boats to navigate the water to find good shad runs. Fishing for Shad Shad hold in runs where the current is at “Walking Speed”. Not too fast or to slow. A good walking speed coupled with 6-12 feet deep water is ideal. They can hold in front of riffles in resting water, in a middle of a run where they have the depth and current speed to spawn or in areas that are channelized. They also hold in areas that have a dramatic water depth change. From a hole that is twenty feet deep to a riffle that is 3 feet deep. These areas are good when the Shad are traveling. The Shad hold in the deeper water and then shoot into the shallow riffle and usually don’t stop until they reach deeper, safer water that they can rest in; aka -holding water. Shad need to feel comfortable in the holding areas. They are always wary of birds and other predators (stripers). This is when the fish will move up and down in the water column within the holding areas. In the 6-12 feet deep with walking speed current fish are usually found three quarters of the way down the water column in full sunlight– so closer to the bottom. As the sun goes down and there is less sunlight on the water the fish rise in the water column and start to go in active spawn mode.
Shad school up so when you find fish, it’s a good indication of a holding water area. Fish will move in and out of the holding areas while they travel up stream. Areas that hold Shad will consistently hold Shad throughout the season, as long as water flows don’t change. If the water rises or drops the angler must adjust with it. Once the Shad go on spawn, traveling fish drop dramatically, anglers must fish areas that consistently share the above ideal characteristics. Shad love a swinging fly. Swinging flies is the easiest and oldest style of fly fishing. Swinging flies for Shad is done by using a sinking line. The angler cast the line straight out from them and let the fly swing completely across the current with a tight line. The cast should end straight below you, downriver. Many anglers twitch the line as it swings across, other hold steady with the swing and add twitches as it hangs straight down stream. Others throw a mend into the line and have the fly zip across the water column at the end of the swing. The biggest and most important part of hooking Shad is getting the fly at the right spot in the water column and that starts with the right sink rate. In the 6-12 foot deep walking speed water a type 4 (4 ips) sinking line is ideal. If you don’t hit fish after multiple casts then you can change to a type 6 (6 ips) and fish deeper, or you can go lighter to a type 3 (3 ips) and fish shallower in the water column until you hit fish. Using multiple sink rate heads or tips is mandatory, with either single or two handed rods. 17
18
Lance Gray Photo
19 Lance Gray Photo
20
The Equipment Single hand or two handed rods can be used for Shad. A single handed 6-8wt fast action rod with a fighting butt is ideal. A 6-8wt two handed rod either a switch or a short spey is a perfect choice for the two-handed rod anglers. These rods have power to lift sinking lines from the water and power to cast them into the wind. Anglers must have a good solid reel with a nice smooth drag to protect tippet from lightening runs and bursts from the Shad. Single handed rods should be matched with shooting heads, intergraded shooting heads, sink tips or floating lines tipped with sinking Versileaders. Any variation will work. The shooting heads and Versileaders will give anglers the advantage of changing sink rate tips/heads to match depth of water. The intergraded shooting heads and sink tip lines are for the ease of casting.
Whichever system you choose – you need to match the depth with the sink rate of the line. Two handed casters can use a Skagit or Scandie, shooting heads or intermingled shooting heads. Skagits and Scandies should be matched with proper sinking Versileaders or MOW tips. Leaders are simple as they come. I like a 4 foot two part tapered leader, tippet ranging from 10 to 8 pounds. They’re easy to build, 2 feet of 15 and two feet of 10 or 2 feet of 12 and 2 feet of 8, your choice. Marry the two pieces of
tippet with a grip knot or the blood knot. Another great leader system is to use the middle portion of your worn trout leaders. Simply cut the butt section off and you have a nice simple leader to use for Shad. Flies are another animal when it comes to Shad. They’re many different and local patterns out there. Many anglers tie their “secret” Shad fly. In all cases the fly should be on a good de-barbed hook. Having hooks bend or break is not good and Shad stress every piece of your equipment. Some great flies for Shad are the Green Death, Simmon’s Shad Fly, Gray’s Ice Candy, Shad Dart and the Bloody Maria. Top colors for flies are chartreuse and orange.
21
Lance Gray Photo
22
Lance Gray Photo
23
24
25
Sage ONE Fly Rod The Sage name is always known for quality. The ONE rod is the flagship offering that may redefine the “all-around” rod category, where precision casting accuracy is needed over a wide range of conditions. Hand crafted from our Konnetic technology three long years in the making, the ONE rod is a game changer. Your game. Its fast action incorporates a built in sweet spot, making the ONE rod the ideal choice for experienced and aspiring casters alike. These rods have it all – quality Sage products, great casting ability, sensitive tips, fast actions and fish fighting strength. The 796-4 rod combines a powerful butt with a fast action tip. www.sageflyfish.com Retail price is $785.00.
featured GEAR
29
Galvan Fly Reels The Galvan Torque Reel is simply seamless. A great reel, that holds up to the rigors of the fly fishing environment. Super smooth drag with tons of line capacity. Low start up inertia is what it is all about with still water fish. Retail price is $325.00-$500.00. http://www.galvanflyreels.com/
30
RIO Striped Bass 26ft Sink Tip A complete series of fly lines developed for the striped bass angler. RIO's striper series of lines are built for the modern striper angler, with easy casting, front-loaded heads. This is a series of 26 ft long sink tip lines with intermediate running lines. Each sink tip is density compensated and allows anglers to stay in touch with the fly, even when deep. (These lines replaced the Striper DC lines) Retail price is $74.95 www.rioproducts.com
31
Shad Setup
Butt Section
Fly Line 4 feet 2-3x Tippet Fly
______ __ _____________________________________________________________
http://www.sierrastreamflyshop.com/
22
The leader for Shad is simple. A start piece of tippet material is all that needed. The
trick is not having a super long leader. You are using sinking lines. So to keep the fly
with the sinking line you must use a short leader. If you use to long of leader you will
stray from the sink rate that you’re working with. This defeats the purpose.
34
Phil’s Shad Fly Designer of this remarkable go to pattern for shad is Phil Ryan. Phil designed this pattern way back in the 70’s when shad fishing was very much at its peak. This fly can be tied in many different color combinations and in different weights. For example, using a tungsten bead or a 1/8 oz. jig head will help to drop the fly into and keep the fly in the strike zone longer, especially while using the swing method. The fly is one of the best go to patterns while fishing California rivers for shad, so tie up a few and have fun!
Material List
Ryan’s Shad Dart Hook: Eagle Claw 1197N Size 6 Bead: 5/32 Silver Bead Tail: 15 Strands Pearl Krystal Flash Thread: Danville Fire Engine Orange 6/0 Body: Silver Tinsel Orange Edgebright Collar: Danville Fire Engine Orange 6/0
“Ryan’s Shad Dart” By Lincoln
Gray
35
Tying Instructions
1 – Smash barb down place 5/32
Silver Bead on hook and place in vise
2 – Tie in 15 strands of Pearl Krystal
Flash right behind bead extending ½
inch from hook bend as the tail.
3 – Tie in Silver Tinsel and tie back
to bend of hook. Tie in strip of
Edgebright material and tie back to
1/8 from bend of hook. Wrap silver
tinsel forward to create body, tie off
behind bead. Wrap Edgebright
forward to create body, leaving a
silver tag at bend of hook. Tie off
behind bead and form collar with
thread.
4 – Head cement collar.
36
Ryan’s Shad Dart Hook: Eagle Claw 1197N Size 6 Bead: 5/32 Silver Bead Tail: 15 Strands Pearl Krystal Flash Thread: Danville Fire Engine Orange 6/0 Body: Silver Tinsel Chartreuse Edgebright Collar: Danville Fire Engine Orange 6/0 Ryan’s Shad Dart Hook: Eagle Claw 1197N Size 6 Bead: 5/32 Silver Bead Tail: 15 Strands Pearl Krystal Flash Thread: Danville Fire Engine Orange 6/0 Body: Silver Tinsel Orange Edgebright Collar: Danville Fire Engine Orange 6/0
Flies Flies are always changing; tiers are always developing patterns and playing with new materials. The Shad patterns listed below are of flies that work! Some have been around for years, others are new – some are improved every year. A work in progress, they’re the best of the best.
37
Alan’s Green Death Hook: Eagle Claw 1197N Size 4-6 Eyes: Silver 5/32 Bead Chain Eyes Thread: Danville Flatwaxed Fire Engine Orange & Danville White 6/0 Tail & Wing: Pearl Mylar Tubing Unraveled Body: Silver Tinsel Chartreuse Edgebright Hackle: 2 Turns Chartreuse Saddle Hackle Collar: Fire Engine Orange Medium Chenille
Ching’s Bloody Maria Hook: TMC 2457 Size 10 Bead: 3/32 mm Gold Bead Thread: Danville Red 6/0 Tail: 16 strands UV Pearl Krystal Flash, UV Ice Dub and 2 Strands Pearl Flashabou Mirage Body: Danville Red 6/0 Rib: Chartreuse BR Wire Head: Danville White Thread
28
38
Lodging Hyatt Place Rancho Cordova 10744 Gold Center Drive Rancho Cordova, CA 95670 (916) 635 4799 http://sacramentoranchocordova.place.hyatt.com/ Fairfield Inn Suites by Marriott Rancho Cordova 10745 Gold Center Drive Rancho Cordova, CA 95670 1-800-228-2800 http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/sacfs-fairfield-inn-and-suites-rancho-cordova/ Red Lion Inn Sacramento Rancho Cordova 10713 White Rock Road Rancho Cordova, CA 95670 (916) 631-7500 http://www.redlion.com/our-hotels/california/rancho-cordova/ Restaurants II Forno Classico 2121 Golden Centre Lane #10 Gold River, CA 95670 (916) 858-0651 http://ilfornoclassico.com/ Jack’s Urban Eats 2137 Golden Centre Ln Gold River, CA 95670 916-852-8291 http://www.jacksurbaneats.com/locations/
Fly Shops Fishwest (Kienes) 2654 Marconi Ave. Sacramento, CA 95965 916-486-9958 www.kiene.com American Fly Fishing 3523 Fair Oaks Blvd. Sacramento, CA 95965 916-483-1222 www.americanflyfishingvacations.com Fly Fishing Specialties 6360 Tupelo Drive Citrus heights, CA 95965 916-722-1055 www.flyfishingspecialties.com Agencies California Department of Fish & Game 1416 9th Street, 12 Floor Sacramento, CA 95814 916-445-0411 www.dfg.ca.gov
Water Flows California Department of Water Resources Water Flows Department of Water Resources 1416 9th Street Sacramento, CA 95814 Mailing Address: P.O. Box 942836 Sacramento, CA 94236 39
(916) 653-5791 www.water.ca.gov American River http://cdec.water.ca.gov/stagePlots/afo20.png Online Resources Kiene’s Fly Shop Bulletin Board www.kiene.com/forums California Fly Fishing www.california-flyfishing.com/ Dan Blanton’s Bulletin Board www.danblanton.com/bulletin.php
Fly Clubs California Fly Fishers Unlimited PO Box 162997 Sacramento, CA 95816 http://www.cffu.org/
Fly Fishers of Davis P.O. Box 525 Davis, CA 95617 http://www.dcn.davis.ca.us/go/ffd/ Granite Bay Flycasters 4120 Douglas Blvd. #306-356 Granite Bay, CA 95746-5936 www.gbflycasters.org
40
Guides Lance Gray & Company P. O. Box 962 Willows, CA 95988 530-517-2204 www.lancegrayandcompany.com NorCal Fly Fishing 2654 Marconi Ave. Sacramento, CA 95821 916) 539-3474 www.norcalflyfishing.com Hogan Brown 530-514-2453 [email protected] www.hgbflyfishing.com www.hgbflyfishing.blogspot.com
Andy Guibord 916-849-1529 http://andyguibord.wordpress.com/
Maury Hatch 916-716-3474 http://www.firsthatchguideservice.com/index.html Steve Santucci Guide Service 1601 D Street Hayward, CA, 94541 650-333-4704 http://www.stevesantucciguideservice.com/home.html Bill Lowe’s Guide Service 916-716-0750 www.billloweflyguide.com California Magazines California Fly Fisher http://www.calflyfisher.com/ Sierra Fishermen Magazine http://www.sierrafisherman.com/
41
43
Handbooks
Lance Gray & Company’s Handbooks is for the fly-fisher looking for an edge when it comes to a fishery, fishing area(s) or species of fish. It is designed for beginners to intermediate anglers. The information inside the handbook has been collected over many years with tried and true techniques and equipment.
The handbooks are designed for Northern California – but may be stretched to other areas from out of state to international waters.
Education of the fly-fisher, protection of watersheds and supporting the fly-fishing communities is the only goal that Lance Gray & Company has intended with these handbooks.
Fly fishers will be able to purchase the online Handbooks at the Lance Gray & Company’s website. The handbooks will be available online in a flip magazine format. On a hand held devices in a slide format. The price for each handbook is $5.95. To buy handbooks click the link below.
Handbooks Lake Almanor Hex Hatch The Feather River Low Flow American River Shad
44
