Fly fishing for Shad, commonly referred to as "poor-man's Tarpon," is one of the most exciting angling opportunities in the Central Valley.
Shad are known for their acrobatic battles and unwillingness to ever quit fighting once hooked. These silver-sided fish average 2-3 pounds, but are so strong they often feel more like three or four times their
size, as they run, jump, run, jump, run, jump, thrash, thrash, thrash. Even better, once you've found a school of shad, it's not uncommon to hook dozens of fish in a short period of time, or until your arm gets tired.
We target Shad using jet boats to access various riffles in the Lower Sacramento River, south of Red Bluff.
Our guides will generally either pull up to productive riffles and runs, where anglers wade the flat, easily-waded gravel, or anchor the boats above deeper runs that cannot be accessed from shore. Casting shooting-head and sink-tip setups with single or double-handed rods is the most effective technique, and once a school of fish is found, the action is often hot and heavy until your arms are sore.
Shad fishing is done primarily by swinging flies on sink-tip or full-sinking lines, similar to traditional steelhead style fishing. In fact
steelheaders have come to love shad fishing because it's the same style of fishing with a lot more action. And it's a great way to fish the popular two-handed spey rods, which enable anglers to cover more water and hook more shad on the broad Lower Sacramento River.
As if a day full of catching exciting Shad one after another isn't enough, there are often bigger, even more powerful Stripers chasing them around. Shad anglers occasionally hook into Stripers, and sometimes Shad and Striper trips can even be combined.
Our guide staff is among the best in the industry, and our guide and Private Waters management team will work hard to make sure that you're placed with the right guide for your specific needs. We've been putting together guided fishing trips for three decades, and have the experience to coordinate a memorable day on the water for just about any group. Over the years, we've developed a few guidelines to help ensure that your trip is as successful as possible.
We can work with you to select a guide that's matched to your skills, interests, their
specialty or, perhaps, the equipment involved. Some of our guides are more instruction-oriented than others and are better suited for the novice wanting to combine a day of guided fishing with a learning experience, while others just plain know how to catch fish.
If you have a specific request or have been with us before, we can help reserve guide dates with one of your favorite guides based on that guide's specific availability. If not, we're happy to hook you up with one of several of our guides who specialize on our Northern California freestone streams.
Package Cost:
The cost of the full-day guided shad package is:
Jet Boat:
• $500 per day (1-2 anglers per boat)
• $550 per day (Package deal, including flies, tackle, & equipment)
• $100 per add'l angler (4 maximum)
Inclusions:
Included in your guided angling package for Seasonal Shad is 8-10 hours of guided fishing with lunch provided.
Non-Inclusions:
Not included in your guided angling package for Seasonal Shad are fishing license, waders, rods/reels, and terminal tackle (flies, tippet, etc.)
Package Deals:
If you are just getting started in the sport, or will be traveling and don't want to hassle with dragging along all of your gear, you may want to consider our guide trip "Package Deal." This inclusive option is only an additional $50 per day, and with it the guides will provide the necessary rods, reels, flies, tackle and
equipment to ensure that you have the right gear and flies for the day. If you're an experienced angler and/or fly tier, call ahead and we'll let you know exactly what flies are producing so you can be sure to tie them beforehand or bring them along.
Third & Fourth Anglers:
Although fishing more than 2 anglers to a guide is feasible on jet boat trips, it may not be the best situation, especially for less experienced anglers. We recommend a maximum of 2 anglers per trip for most groups.
Travel Insurance:
The Fly Shop® is not in the insurance business, but we recommend Travel Guard coverage as a service with a desire to see your best interests protected. It is impossible to know when an unfortunate situation (loss of luggage, fly rods, illness in the family, or an accident) may occur. However, such things can and do happen, and this insurance can provide a means of recourse against non-refundable financial losses. Click HERE for Travel Guard's Policies and more information
The Lower Sacramento River is open to fishing year 'round, but Shad are only available in the river at certain times of the year. We've discovered that June and July are the best times of year to target Shad on the fly rod.
June and July:
Shad migrate upriver to spawn, much like their anadromous cousins the salmon and steelhead of the Central Valley. They typically begin to show in the lower sections of the Sacramento River system in late spring, and begin to amass in the river near Corning each summer by the end of May or early June,
staying in the river throughout the months of June and the first half of July.
Midsummer in the Central Valley can be hot, with daytime highs often breaking 100 degrees. Our guides beat the heat by either starting early in the morning and getting off the water before it gets too hot, or by starting late and fishing into the cooler evening hours. In addition, the jet boats serve a double function as speedy transportation from one fishing spot to the next and as a giant air conditioner, sending refreshing cool air whisking past angler's sweat-lined brows during the hotter parts of the afternoon.
Most of our shad fishing trips launch from the Woodson Bridge Recreation Area in Corning, 45 minutes south of Redding.
Many of our shad anglers choose to stay in Corning, while both Red Bluff and Redding remain close enough for convenient day access for extended stays in the region.
Hotels & Motels (Corning):
Rolling Hills Casino (Vagabond Inn)
2657 Barham Avenue
Corning, CA 96021
Phone: 530-824-3220
Website: www.rollinghillscasino.com
• Rolling Hills Casino offers a couple of options for lodging, as well as RV sites, as well as good restaurants, spa facilities, golf course, and more.
Rolling Hills Casino – (Ramada Inn& Suites)
2645 Barham Avenue
Corning, CA 96021
Phone: 530-824-8300
Website: www.rollinghillscasino.com
• Located near Rolling Hills Casino, which offers a couple of options for lodging, as well as RV sites, as well as good restaurants, spa facilities, golf course, and more.
Best Western Inn Corning
2165 Solano St
Corning, CA 96021
Phone: 530-824-2468
Website: www.bestwesterncalifornia.com
RV Parks & Campgrounds (Corning):
Woodson Bridge State Recreation Area
• For reservations or information, call 530-839-2112.
• Access to the river, shaded campsites, RV hookup, the park is on South Avenue just three miles west of Highway 99 at Vina, or six miles east of interstate 5 at Corning.
Hotels & Motels (Red Bluff):
Comfort Inn
90 Sale Lane
Red Bluff, CA 96080
Phone: 530-529-7060
Website: www.comfortinn.com
• Convenient location near I-5 and the Red Bluff launch site, restaurants within walking distance.
Best Western Antelope Inn
203 Antelope Blvd
Red Bluff, CA 96080
Phone: 530-527-8882
Website: www.bestwestern.com
• Convenient location near I-5 and the Red Bluff launch site, restaurants within walking distance.
Hotels & Motels (Redding):
Best Western Hilltop Inn
2300 Hilltop Drive
Redding, CA 96002
Phone: 530-221-6100
Website: www.thehilltopinn.com/flyshop.html
• The Best Western Hilltop Inn is a long-time standby for fly fishers staying in Redding, and one of our favorites. It has one of the best restaurants in town - CR Gibbs Restaurant & Bar - and a great Angler's Package specially catering to guests of The Fly Shop®.
Hilton Garden Inn
5050 Bechelli Lane
Redding, CA 96002
Phone: 530-226-5111
Website: www.hiltongardeninn.com
• The Hilton Garden Inn is a great choice for lodging in Redding, with discounts available for guests of The Fly Shop. They are just down the street, have a good restaurant, and even have rooms with views of the river.
Hotels & Motels (Redding Cont'd):
Red Lion
1830 Hilltop Dr
Redding, CA 96002
Phone: 530-221-8700
Website: www.redlion.rdln.com
• The Red Lion has been hosting fly rodders in Redding for decades. They offer a discounted rate for guests of The Fly Shop, and they also have airport shuttles, a good restaurant and popular lounge, and a central location within walking distance to many great local eateries.
Oxford Suites
1967 Hilltop Dr
Redding, CA 96002
Phone: 530-221-0100
Website: www.oxfordsuitesredding.com
• Oxford Suites has big, clean, comfortable rooms for a good price, along with complimentary buffet breakfast, central location, and a short walk to some great Redding restaurants.
Super 8
5175 Churn Creek Road
Redding, CA 96002
Phone: 530-221-8881
Website: www.super8.com
• The Super 8 is just up the road from The Fly Shop and not far from the Bonnyview Boat Ramp. It's rooms are clean and reasonably priced, with a convenient location.
Gaia Hotel & Spa
2900 Alexander Ave
Anderson, CA 96007
Phone: 530-365-7077
Website: www.gaiahotelspa.com
• The Gaia Hotel & Spa in Anderson is one of the newest hotels in the area. It's eco-friendly design is relaxing, and combined with a great bistro-style restaurant and spa it's more than just a place to stay. The Gaia is right on the river, and offers discounted rates for guests of The Fly Shop®.
Bed & Breakfasts (Redding):
Tiffany House
1510 Barbara Rd
Redding, CA 96003
Phone: 530-244-3225
Website: www.tiffanyhousebb.com
• The Tiffany House is our favorite bed and breakfast in town. It's located in a quaint residential neighborhood would spectacular views of the entire city.
Bridgehouse Bed & Breakfast
1455 Riverside Dr
Redding, CA 96001
Phone: 530-247-7177
Website: www.reddingbridgehouse.com
• The Bridgehouse is located near downtown Redding with some great river views.
RV Park & Campgrounds (Redding):
Sacramento River RV Park
6596 Riverland Dr
Redding, CA 96002
Phone: 530-365-6402
Website: www.sacramentoriverrvresort.com
• Lots of shade, boat ramp and other river access, sites for tent camping as well as RV.
JGW RV Park
6612 Riverland Dr
Redding, CA 96002
Phone: 530-365-7965
Website: www.jgwrvpark.com
• Very clean, river views.
To make a reservation, please give us a call at 800-669-3474 during business hours any day of the week, or email us at nick@theflyshop.com anytime. We can give you the answers you need, detailed explanations to questions you might have, or check on availability and confirm your reservation in minutes.
©1978-2016 The Fly Shop®