Members of the herring family, shad make up for their relatively small size with amazing fighting characteristics. They pull as hard as the toughest smallmouth bass and jump like the wildest rainbow trout. The smaller hickory shad, which average about 2 pounds, are much more common than the beleaguered American shad, so they provide most of the sport fishing action. Shad will hit small, brightly colored jigs and flies, as well as shiny spoons. The best fishing typically comes in the morning and evenings, but fish can be caught through the day.
Parking areas are another good indicator of hot shad fishing spots.
When the shad are in, they usually draw a crowd. With forecasters calling for gradually warming temperatures this week, Saturday could bring the kind of hot prespawn bass action Virginia anglers have been waiting for. For more than 100 two-man fishing teams, figuring out the hot pattern could lead to a big payday. The top prize money is provided by the tournament's sponsors. The best part is what happens to the other 20 percent of the entry money.