Tight lines

Annual run of American shad puts anglers back on the water after a long, cold winter

Got the itch to wet a line after a long, cold winter? Been losing your mind since the end of deer season waiting for April and May to bring back the fruitful fishing for which Lowcountry waters are renowned?

Wait no longer, because the boredom of winter is past us, and great angling action can be found just a short drive away.

Already, aluminum and fiberglass boats are getting splashed for the first time this year up in the Tailrace Canal, and rods are doubled over everywhere you look.

We're catching what?

Shad. That's right, the good ole' American shad.

Seen as a prime cut bait by many cat-fishermen, the shad is far more. These silvery, acrobatic fish provide action-packed angling in its simplest form. We're talking hard fights on light-tackle rods, drags screaming on the smallest spinning outfits.

And best of all, this type of fishing is simple enough for the entire family to share in the fun : especially children.

John Cottingham, a sales associate and weekend manager at Haddrell's Point Tackle in West Ashley, recently shared some pointers on shad fishing in the Tailrace Canal during a seminar at the store.

Cottingham agrees that shad fishing is a prime way to break out of the winter doldrums and have some great fun without having to break the bank.

"We mostly catch the American shad, but we will occasionally pick up a gizzard shad," Cottingham says. "Our fish will typically average about 2 or 3 pounds, but occasionally can reach and exceed 5 pounds.

"They can put up a nice little fight," he adds, "especially when you target them with ultra-light gear, with the true fight coming when you are able to hook up a doubleheader on the same rig."

When and where

"The Tailrace Canal is highly productive, and is probably the most common destination for shad anglers in the Lowcountry," Cottingham says, adding that anglers also can find solid action in the Rediversion Canal.

While the month of March seems to be preferred by those who have been doing it for a long time, shad can be successfully targeted as early as in mid-February.

"Early to mid-February right on through into the first couple weeks of April will be your prime time," Cottingham says.

Usually beginning sometime in February,the fish will "stack up near the dam as they push upstream to spawn," Cottingham says.

"Unlike most fish during a spawning stage, the shad will continue to still feed as they move upriver," he adds.

While many anglers have said that the bite often turns on best around midday, Cottingham finds that shad "seem to bite in cycles," leading to fast and furious action between lulls.

"Sometimes I have found that as they release water from the dam and the water level is rising in the canal, it can really turn things on," Cottingham says.

No matter the time of day, getting anchored in a good location is key to improving catch numbers.

"The right-hand bank facing the dam is prime real estate in the canal during the shad season," Cottingham says. "I like to get up near the bank to anchor, and then fish the middle (of the canal) back in to the bank, when possible.

"But you can still be productive if you have to anchor off the bank a ways, if it is a crowded day."

Cottingham cautions anglers to make sure they stray downstream of the fish sanctuary sign. Fishing upstream of that designation will result in a ticket from a game warden.

Rig me up!

Ultra-light spinning outfits are by far the most effective and common outfits for targeting shad. A small spinning reel spooled with 4- or 6-pound-test line and paired with a 5-foot, 6-inch or 6- foot ultralight rod will do the trick.

"Shad tend to have a little bit of a tender mouth and prefer to take small grubs and lures with a slower presentation," Cottingham says.

For lures, John prefers a â -ounce or 1â16-ounce chartreuse jig head or shad dart matched with a 2-inch chartreuse or white curly tail grub. He often rigs up a single grub on a 10- or 12-pound fluorocarbon leader about 18-20 inches long. He'll also sometimes use a three-way swivel or dropper loop to make a double-lure rig.

Cottingham recommends anglers use a slow, gentle presentation and make sure they don't begin the retreive too quickly.

"They usually will pick up your grubs on the fall or when you first begin your retrieve," he says.

Cottingham also strongly advises anglers to bring a good landing net.

"Trying to dead-lift a fish with a tender mouth while using ultra-light line can be difficult, to say the least," he says.

Buck and roe shad

Male shad are usually referred to as "bucks," and the females are called "roe shad" this time of year.

Many anglers consider shad roe to be a delicacy. The roe sacks can be sauteed in a few tablespoons of butter and seasoned with a variety of spices. Shad roe also can be dipped in beaten egg, rolled in cornmeal and pan fried in shortening. (For more shad recipes, click here .)

Bucks tend to be a little smaller than their female counterparts, and Cottingham has noticed that "a buck shad seems to jump and jump more often, while a roe shad will more often stay in the water during the fight."

One way to distinguish between a buck or roe shad is to gently squeeze the lower belly of a fish to test for roe. The females will release some of her eggs. A trained eye might also notice that a roe shad will be slightly swollen just behind the anal fin.

Though the roe of the shad is highly sought-after, many anglers still fillet and eat the bucks as well.

Before you go

Always remember to have a valid freshwater fishing license and all proper safety gear on board when you hit the water.

There is no size limit on the American shad, and the creel limit is 10 shad per person per day, except in the Santee River and Rediversion Canal, where it is 20 shad per person per day.

Cottingham advises anglers to be respectful to others when fishing in tight quarters on a busy weekend.

He also reminds anglers to only keep what will they will eat, and release the rest so they can spawn.

Scott Hammond, a veteran Lowcountry angler and hunter, is the assistant manager at Haddrell's Tackle and Supply in West Ashley.