Fly fishing for Shad, commonly referred to as "poor-man's Tarpon," is one of the most exciting angling opportunities in the Central Valley. Shad are known for their acrobatic battles and unwillingness to ever quit fighting once hooked. These silver-sided fish average 2-3 pounds, but are so strong they often feel more like three or four times their size, as they run, jump, run, jump, run, jump, thrash, thrash, thrash.

We target Shad using jet boats to access various riffles in the Lower Sacramento River, south of Red Bluff. Our guides will generally either pull up to productive riffles and runs, where anglers wade the flat, easily-waded gravel, or anchor the boats above deeper runs that cannot be accessed from shore. Casting shooting-head and sink-tip setups with single or double-handed rods is the most effective technique, and once a school of fish is found, the action is often hot and heavy until your arms are sore.

As if a day full of catching exciting Shad one after another isn't enough, there are often bigger, even more powerful Stripers chasing them around. Shad anglers occasionally hook into Stripers, and sometimes Shad and Striper trips can even be combined.

Season...	Mid-May through July
Species...	Shad (and some Stripers)
Fee...	$410 for up to 2 anglers
Occupancy...	2 Anglers maximum per guide
Includes...	8-10 hours of guided fishing with lunch provided

Comments and questions are welcome.
Please contact me at michael@theflyshop.com or call 800-669-3474

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