In years past, the shad run on the Potomac at Fredericksburg would almost be over by now, but this year, it hasn’t really started. Mark Scott said he drove to Fredericksburg to try for shad last week and never saw a fish. He said that locals noted that the herring haven’t arrived, and they are usually ahead of the shad. Mark also said the water was extremely low.
The shad runs are still in various stages throughout the freshwater rivers across the region. With very little rainfall this spring, flows are fairly low in the larger rivers. Rain and high water tend to push the shad upstream and that has happened yet. The water in most rivers is very clear, so shad are staying in deeper waters when there is a high sun. A few white perch are beginning to show up, but most are small.
On the Potomac, anglers are finding lots of post-spawn stripers. Lots of school-sized fish are moving into their normal summer locations.
Elsewhere, a wicked cold front put the damper on much freshwater fishing, but when it passes through, things will pick up again. Crappie are about through spawning but bluegills are beginning to fan out beds in warmer, smaller ponds. Smallmouth are biting but the water is low.
