Montreal Shad

Posted on July 29, 2010

Since I landed my first tarpon two years ago, I have been searching for the exact same thrill - a fish that hits hard, pulls loads of line, and has the ability to jump like no other.

While the American shad don't grow to a fraction of the size of a tarpon, the biggest member of the herring family is pound for pound one of freshwater's toughest fish. An andronomous fish, just like a salmon, shad spend their time in saltwater and arrive in fresh water rivers to spawn in the spring (runs are from mid-April to late-June and usually last for two or three weeks) then return back to the ocean.

In the Montreal region, there are two places you can catch shad - the Carillion and Pie IX dams. It's no secret that anglers are shoulder-to-shoulder on shore and boats are tight together during the peak period; however, most anglers will hook a few fish in a day when the fish are running.

For bait, you need to see some of the locals who make "shad darts" which is a long and slender jig that can be worked two ways.

• The first way is to cast the jig at a 45-degree angle in heavy current and jig it off the bottom while the jig drifts with the current.
• The other way is to cast the jig out to the edge of the current and reel in the dart with a straight retrieve. Using a longer rod will help you cast out your lure further and you can experiment with different sized jigs.

There can be many snags, so be prepared to lose a few lures while you are on the water. Remember you can cast a heavier lure further but it will also have a greater chance of snagging the bottom.

While filming with Big City Fishing, Tim and I set up to capture a fish that is only in the water system for a few weeks. I had read all the hype and it was finally time to have a shot at these great fish. We booked a guide, Mike Seguin who had provided me with all the info I needed to catch shad. We were meeting Mike at noon but decided to fish with the crowds from shore in the morning. Our decision was the right one, and my line was screaming about 20 minutes after setting up shop. Angler's everywhere were hooking up, often at the same time when the schools would pass within casting distance. At times the schools were so thick and the multiple hook-ups ended in multiple tangled lines- hey but that's part of urban fishing!

After lunch, we hopped into Mike Seguin's Lund and fished closer to the dam. Mike has been guiding these waters for years and most of his clients are repeat customers and after battling American shad I can understand why.

We tried a few different techniques: first we anchored in a calm rock-filled spot, casting our darts to the heavy current. The fish would hit all over, some even following right to the boat like a musky. We landed a few fish but then decided to try another method of catching these hard fighting fish. We anchored right in the current and let our jigs hang in the fast moving water. Although this way requires less work on the angler's part it is very productive and a great way to get kids on to these great fish.

It's always nice to head out and target a new species of fish. With the Montreal Shad, I've added a new one to my favorites and return to Montreal next year once they start running again.

Special thanks to Mike Seguin for taking us around and for Fishing Stuff for the rods!

Jamie Pistilli
www.bigcityfishing.com
www.fishchelsea.com

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