By 1891, the fish had expanded its range on the West Coast as far as Alaska.

The fee for non-motorized watercraft is $3 (plus vehicle fee)
 and the fee for motorized watercraft is $5 (plus vehicle fee). On another day many years later, former fishing guide Barry Watson observed a large school of shad in Nimbus Basin in January. After shipment across the country in 8-gallon milk cans, the California Fish Commission released about ten thousand shad from the Hudson River into the Sacramento River.

It was Memorial Day 1969 and this was the first time that I had ever fished for or hooked a shad. The world has changed dramatically, much for the worse, since then. Motorized watercraft and trailer plus vehicle pass – $100.00. I had hooked a shad – but that first shad had also hooked me. American Shad Fishing in Sacramento River 4/24/2020 - YouTube

The most recent shad-specific study I’m aware of was conducted by then CDFW fishery biologist Frank Fisher in 1979. The peak time in the American is from early May to the July 4th weekend, but they can be found in the river both earlier and later in the year. (https://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/factsheet.aspx?SpeciesID=491). HOME; ABOUT MIKE; RATES; CONTACT; FISHING REPORTS. Park information: www.sacparks.net, Sacramento County Department of Regional Parks, Recreation and Open Space Administration, 3711 Branch Center Rod, Sacramento, CA. I worked the dogged battler toward me and finally landed it in the cold waters of the American River at Ancil Hoffman Park. Only 59 American shad were collected at the index stations. Of course like many laws protecting fish in California, this law has been very poorly implemented. Since then, the feisty herring have migrated from saltwater every year to spawn in the American and other Central Valley rivers. Fishing Information: Willfish Bait and Tackle, Auburn, (530) 887-0839; Fisherman’s Warehouse, Sacramento, (916) 362-1200; Elkhorn Outdoor Sports, Rio Linda, (916) 991-5298; (916) 448-6338, Sacramento Pro Tackle, (916) 925-0529. “There is evidence that while most shad spawned far upstream, some spawned in several areas in the Delta itself The catch and gonad maturation data suggest that a large percentage of the adults die shortly after spawning, although there is also evidence that some spent shad do migrate seaward.”. Fifty one years later on Memorial Day 2020, anglers were still fishing the river on a warm evening at the beginning of a heatwave. Annual Fees: Vehicle (private or commercial – $50.00 The Lower American River, however has fishing for migratory steelhead, Chinook salmon, stripers, and shad. Not only are shad caught at times in the winter or early spring by surprised anglers, but anglers will also hook spawned-out shad on the American as late as October. I was using a light spinning rod with a Mitchell Garcia reel and 4 lb. I admired the fish, an anadromous member of the herring family with a metallic body and dark spots on its shoulder, and put it on a stringer. Lake Camanche Trophy Trout, Bass Lurk Above Ruins of Lancha Plana, Reclamation announces extension of Shasta Dam raise comment period to Oct. 5. 95827.

For General Parks, Golf and Rangers Information, call (916) 875-6961. I had hooked a shad – but that first shad had also hooked me. In addition to the Sacramento and San Joaquin River systems, shad migrate into the Russian, Klamath, Trinity and other rivers. The Central Valley Project Improvement Act (CVPIA) of 1992 directed the Secretary of Interior to double the naturally spawning populations of all anadromous species, including salmon, steelhead, sturgeon, American shad and striped bass, by 2002. Mike Koe. This compares with the record abundance in the 2003 survey, 9360. The fishing wasn’t as good as it once was, due to the export of water through the state and federal water projects, other water diversions, pollution of our rivers with an array of toxins and other factors. The entire river is accessible to bank anglers and boaters, since it is located in the beautiful American River Parkway. Shad were first introduced to the West Coast from the Hudson River in New York in 1871. Unimproved gravel launching is available at Gristmill, Ancil Hoffman, Rossmoor and other areas on the river. “Their life at sea is poorly understood but their ability to return to their original spawning ground is known to be exceptional,” according to UC Davis. The salmon fishing season is set at the Fish and Game Commission meeting every spring. Boat launching: Concrete boat ramps are available at Discovery Park, Howe Avenue, Watt Avenue and Sunrise. Few studies have been conducted in California on shad populations, although studies have been conducted on them in other states where they are found. Known as the Upper American River, this is a native trout area to fish.

Salmon Fishing Reports; Steelhead Fishing Reports An earlier gill net and trawl survey from September 1963 through August 1963 by Don Stevens of the CDFW concluded that shad were abundant in the Delta only during their spawning migration. About the American River The American River flows from the Sierra Nevada to the Folsom Lake/Nimbus Dam. There is no doubt that shad are a unique fish that provide exciting action for shore anglers and boaters using darts, jigs and flies on the American and other rivers in the spring. Since that time, I have caught countless numbers of shad in the American River, as well as in the Sacramento and Feather rivers. When flows are high on the American, you can expect a significant number of fish, including those spawned on the Sacramento and Feather, to make a right turn into the river at Discovery Park. Shad, like striped bass, are a native to the Eastern Seaboard. We cover that in another fishing map. Fishing Season: The section from Discovery Park to the SMUD powerline at the Southwest Boundary of Ancil Hoffman Park, is open year round to fishing for all except for salmon. Since that time, I have caught countless numbers of shad in the American River, as well as in the Sacramento and Feather rivers. While they are most common in the spring, adult shad can be seen or caught in the American at times anglers don’t target them. “In the fall, mature shad (3-4 years old for males and 4-5 years old for females) return to estuaries where their bodies transition to the fresh water environment.” (http://calfish.ucdavis.edu/species/?uid=4&ds=241). One thing that is for sure: their numbers have declined since the beginning of state and federal water exports from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta in 1967. The shad is one of the most popular – and yet mysterious fish – that anglers pursue on California’s Central Valley rivers in the spring. This point became clear in early March of 1968, when a friend and I went steelhead fishing at Ancil Hoffman Park. The  2015 abundance index for American Shad was the lowest in history of the survey. Success was mixed, with anywhere from zero to four shad per rod, but in these crazy coronavirus times, the shad is still a fish that attracts big crowds of anglers. (http://content.cdlib.org/view?docId=kt8h4nb2t8;NAAN=13030&doc.view=frames&chunk.id=d0e2586&toc.id=0&brand=calisphere), “The Sacramento and Mokelumne River systems supported larger runs than the San Joaquin River,” said Stevens.