to Manitron for letting me know the shad run had started up the CT River a couple weeks ago.

We couldn't take advantage of it until now, but today my younger son and I drove down to Chicopee and fished the Chicopee River for a few hours.

Beautiful day - - sunny, blue skies and about 60 degrees.  The water was a bit high for my taste, but not bad for this time of year.

I did a bit of small mouth fishing with worms early on (while my son concentrated on shad from the beginning), but didn't turn up any, so I switched over to targeting shad with darts, leafs and spinners.

We lost quite a few shad darts and maple leaf lures, but eventually my son hooked and landed his first shad (a 17" specimen).

 We also made a side trip to Arnold's Meats and bought a couple pounds of alligatorvv for a fantastic stew recipe that my wife makes.

Got out last nite and did-em again  This just seems to be a lucky season so far. Every trip has been dandy with the weather, the conditions, and let's not forget the fish. Got 30 of these guys last nite. Fished only shrimp. Getting a bunch in the freezer so maybe time to focus on some gills.

Be up wen-sun next week fishing 5 days there

I'm guessing lakers of that size that feed primarily on smaller Lake trout or stocked rainbows? Amirite?

I would still assume the assault big schools of smelt and perch

 They are in everything including the water you drink and the air you breath
 Been around since the 40s ,
 97% of all humans have it in their system , according to the WHO
 I’m not worrying about eating fish and game