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American shad fishing in Oregon freshwater

In Oregon freshwater, American shad peak June and are around May–July, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. June: Bonneville and the Willamette at Oregon City.

Now · October
Not here

Not in Oregon freshwater this month.

American shad in Oregon freshwater, month by month

  1. JanuaryNot here
  2. FebruaryNot here
  3. MarchNot here
  4. AprilNot here
  5. MayArriving
  6. JunePeakBonneville and the Willamette at Oregon City.
  7. JulyLeaving
  8. AugustNot here
  9. SeptemberNot here
  10. OctoberNot here
  11. NovemberNot here
  12. DecemberNot here

Where to fish American shad near Deschutes River, Willamette River, John Day River

Steelhead and salmon rivers, the Deschutes' redsides, the John Day's smallmouth, Columbia walleye and shad, and Cascade lakes.

Structure it holds on
RiverBridge
Towns and waters
Deschutes RiverWillamette RiverJohn Day RiverRogue RiverCrane PrairieColumbia River

What to use for American shad

  • Leader10–20 lb fluorocarbon
  • Hook#2–3/0
  • Jig head1/8–1/2 oz
  • Braid10–30 lb

Feeds in 50–72°F water, best at 58–68°F.

Questions anglers ask

When is the best time to catch American shad in Oregon freshwater?

Peak season is June. American shad are in Oregon freshwater May–July. June: Bonneville and the Willamette at Oregon City.

Where do American shad hold in Oregon freshwater?

Look on river, bridge — around Deschutes River, Willamette River, John Day River, Rogue River, Crane Prairie, Columbia River.

What is the best bait for American shad in Oregon freshwater?

Tackle: leader 10–20 lb fluorocarbon, hook #2–3/0, jig head 1/8–1/2 oz, braid 10–30 lb.

What are the rules for American shad in Oregon freshwater?

Size and bag limits and closed seasons are set by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) and change — read the current rule at https://myodfw.com/articles/oregon-fishing-hunting-regulations-and-updates before you keep a fish. A licence is sold at https://myodfw.com/fishing/licensing-info.

The current ODFW rule →Open the app for today's American shad read

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All about American shad · Oregon fresh water, the whole year

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