THE ULTIMATE ANGLING BUCKET LIST

for them instead of removing the
many obstacles most rivers have these
days which are responsible for
keeping their population numbers so
low.
My most recent encounter with shad,
again mainly twaites but potentially
also the odd allis too, was fishing with
Dave Lewis at the mouth of the tiny
River Monnow just prior to its
confluence with the River Wye, where
again, a small shiny spinner would
produce hit after hit.
Having caught both species before,
Fly fishing for Shad, River Monnow
and knowing exactly what to expect,
on that occasion I also packed a seven weight fly rod paired to a floating line and a selection of small
gaudy silver streamer lures.
It was a bit difficult casting due to the location with its tree's and other vegetation, but when the lure
went out on a decent line, again, it was every egg a bird.
Unfortunately, as I say, those opportunities are now gone, which I fully appreciate and support. I'm just
glad I was able to legally sample what both species had to offer before the necessary restrictions were
put in place.
ALLIS SHAD Alosa alosa
Bucket List status – result
All that needs to be said with regard to
the allis shad has already been
discussed under the twaite shad
heading above. So in the interests of
none repetition, that will not be
explored again here. One thing
however which does need to be
discussed is the identification protocol,
as colouration is broadly similar to the
twaite shad with blue on the upper back
and silvery white below.
Allis shad, if they have any markings at
all, have just a single dark spot behind
the gill cover. Unfortunately, absolute
Allis shad below, Twaite Shad above
identification can only be made by the
destructive process of counting the gill
rakers on the first gill arch, which for an allis shad will number between eighty and a hundred and thirty,
and for a Twaite Shad, forty to sixty.
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