The subject of fishing for Allis Shad came up on another thread but it got me researching it a bit. It seems that I have some world class shad fishing just up the road (well, about 200 miles up the road anyway)
I was wondering if anyone was up for a few days rather different fly fishing.
How about this for something a bit different.
Come and stay at my place for a day or so and try fly fishing for carp from a float tube in the lake.
Then drive together up through Brittany for the Shad fishing near Brest for a day or two.
Follow this with a day or so after bass and mullet on the fly in some of the fantastic estuaries up there.
Could be a hell of a fly fishing road trip.
Best time would be around May
Any thoughts?

Watch out for the greenies. They are protected, would it be the wrong time to target them during their breeding season. I note foto's of captures of these fish appear to disrupt the fragile scales of these fish along with the possibility of deephooking.

quote:

The allis shad is a migratory, anadromous species occurring mainly in shallow coastal waters and estuaries. During the breeding season (normally May) it enters into rivers with strong currents and stony or sandy beds in order to spawn. After spawning has occurred the adult fish return to the sea whilst the juveniles develop in the rivers and estuary in their first and second year before migrating out to sea.

Current Status

Both the allis and twaite shad are listed on Appendix III of the Bern Convention and Annexes II and V of the EC Habitats Directive. Both species are also included in Section 9(4)(a) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981), (amended April 1998), which makes it an offence to intentionally obstruct access to spawning areas, or to damage or destroy gravels used for spawning. The allis and twaite shad also continue to be protected under Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981) in respect of section 9(1) so it is an offence to intentionally kill, injure or take specimens.

This post has been edited by barry luxton: Jan 7 2012, 11:17 AM

That applies to the UK, they are not protected in France.
Nearly all allis shad die after spawning, very few return to the sea and even fewer spawn a second time so don't know where your quote came from.
http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/903/0 They are categorised as "of least concern"

Quote:
Currently large populations in France. Has declined outside France, mainly in the early 1900s,

Quote:
Anadromous. Males migrate upriver at 3-9 years. Females first reproduce 1-3 years later than males. Adults start approaching coasts at end of February and enter rivers when temperatures reach 10-12°C, usually in May. Spawning commences when temperature reaches 15°C. Optimal temperatures 22-24°C. Spawns in large, very noisy schools near surface at night. Eggs sink to bottom. Spent fish migrate back to sea, but most die after reproduction, having mated only once. Most juveniles migrate to river mouth during first summer and remain at sea until they mature. Individual fish are thought to return to their natal spawning site. At sea, feeds predominantly on plankton. In freshwater, adults do not feed and juveniles prey on insect larvae.

Catch and release is unlikely to affect their spawning, there is also no problem taking one or two to eat.

http://www.fishandfunbrittany.com/shad.html

This post has been edited by Sportsman: Jan 7 2012, 11:51 AM