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 National Capital Chapter Trout Unlimited 2009 SHAD REPORT #1 April 1, 2009 The opening of the annual Cherry Blossom Festival is always a good time to get excited about that more important celebration on the Potomac, the shad run! We're sure that many of you have already wet your lines but things are just getting started. The National Capital Chapter of Trout Unlimited has kept you informed about the run for many years now. All you have to do is check your Inbox for our reports. When you've had a good day let us know about it by emailing a report to the Chapter. Find these same reports at the chapter website. As always, our focus will be on Fletcher's Cove, home base for some of this country's best urban fishing. The American shad runs of the last two years have been spectacular here, but the runs of hickory shad and river herring have caused some worry. What will this season bring? Guest Services, Inc, the Cove's concessionaire, launched the rowboats last week and began rentals over the weekend. The first customers found the river rising from recent rains -- just what the doctor ordered. On Sunday, angler-in-residence Mike Bailey took a couple of hickories and a very early American shad straight out from the dock, almost to Virginia. That's what happens when you have August water levels in March. Things are about to get better. The Potomac is expected to crest at Little Falls on Tuesday night and should stay well below "action stage" levels, even with additional showers this week. [NB: "Action stage" is when the gauge runs at five feet or more, at which point Fletcher's no long rents boats.] Fletcher's Cove will be energized by the new flow, at least when water clarity returns. Water temperatures have increased nicely in the last few days to the mid-fifties but may drop again. If the river stays low after the storm wave passes, don't hesitate to look further up the gorge in the area of Chain Bridge. We've heard about some decent early season hickory catches up there and believe there was a large American shad taken in the third week of March! Shad will bypass Fletcher's Cove when it becomes lake-like and will hold near shore just off of the stronger currents. Be careful and look for the best shore access at low tide. We've told you about some useful websites in the past and list them for you again below. Contact Fletcher's at 202-244-0461 for up to the minute information on river conditions and shad. You can get your DC fishing licenses and shad darts there. For the Little Falls gauge height, water temperature and conductance see the US Geologic Service page. For the tides on the Potomac at Fletcher's Cove see the Potomac River page of Saltwater Tides Online. Make sure to select "Chain Bridge, DC," and the month and day at the bottom of the page. For predictions of future water flows on the Potomac at Little Falls see the Advanced Hydrological Prediction Service of the National Weather Service. If you find these reports helpful and you have not already done so for this chapter year, please consider making a $15 voluntary contribution to the chapter (payable NCC-TU, mail to the address below). Good luck this year,and we hope to see you on the river! Mark Binsted NCC-TU PO Box 42291 Washington, DC 20015 |
With thanks to Richard Bernabe for various photos throughout the website: © 2009 RichardBernabe.com Privacy Statement |