14.May: I arrived at the Wall about 11:45 am, a handful of regulars were plying the water. No reports of shad, and only a few alewives. The river was down still more, and when the tide changed later in the afternoon, an old piling was exposed at the far left of the Wall. The current, such as it was, was lackluster. I lasted until 4:pm, and a few alewives mouthing the weights, was all the action I could muster. I saw only 4 shad caught today. Scuttlebutt from the cast of regulars is that the shad moved north quickly with the high water we had following the rains, and snowmelt. IDK if there is any credence to the speculation, but the season seems to be about played out. I'll keep at it until the cotton fouls the rivers, line, and tackle.

Terminal tackle, same-same as the last couple of trips out. Tight lines!

Hope you're feeling better. I enjoy your reports.

Late reports:
17 & 21.May: I went to Rocky Hill and Cromwell for nada.

22.May: I stopped by Cromwell just before 4:pm after work, but the one shadaholic fishing hadn't gotten so much as an alewife. So..off to Rocky Hill, arriving shortly after 4:pm. The cotton was on the water, but despite the rain on Saturday, the river was mostly clear of debris, except for the damned cotton. I started out fishing alone on the boating dock (fisherman's dock still wasn't in), except for a couple of kids soaking chicken livers for cats, across the way on the RH Fire Dept. boat dock.

About an hour after I started casting practice, Bill and Miguel showed up. We fished together for another hour, before supper called me off the dock. Dylan showed up as I left. We all got nuthin' for our efforts. Well not all of us, Bill and Dylan targeted Crappy and were doing pretty well with the panfish. By then the cotton was starting to float by in mats.

23.May: I arrived at Cromwell (didn't want to deal with the cotton in RH) about 4:25 pm. There were a few shadaholics at work, and as I parked, one was playing a shad, and the another was wandering in circles looking for a landing net, LOL! I grabbed my net and landed a middlin' buck shad, maybe 2#; his 3rd shad of the day. Within a few minutes a 3rd regular also hooked up. Blessedly, the cotton was scarce.

About an hour later 3 of us hooked up at the same time. While I was fighting mine, I helped net shadaholic #1's 4th shad. Shadaholic #2 landed a nice big white perch. Eventually one of them assisted me with the net to land a nice long, but spawned out roe. About a half-hour later I landed a small schoolie striper. All in all, about 6 shad were landed, most released, but a couple went to a guy who wanted to smoke them. I hope he remembers my contribution...

24.May: I arrived at Cromwell about 4:15 pm. The river hadn't fallen much since Sunday, and remained relatively clear of cotton, and other flotsam. A few alewives made an appearance, and a regular down towards the middle of the wall landed a middlin' shad. I had one short hit with 3 solid headshakes before the line went slack, and C&R a few alewives. Until about 5:45 pm when I had a hard grab that set it's own hook. It gave my drag a work out (love that sound!), but we got him in the net. A long, thin buck, at about 2# maybe a bit more. I had been talking fishing with one of our security guards at work, and she asked me to remember her. Today I did, and will bring her the fillets tomorrow.

Terminal tackle: 1 oz drail over 3' 12# flouro (I went up from 10# due to too many fouled leaders in the windy, of late, conditions), and a hammered silver in candy corn colors. To be fair, I threw a few other patterns, but candy corn seemed to be the most successful. YMMV, and invariably will...

The season is winding down, but there is still a little life left in it. Get 'em while we can, and tight lines!

25.May: I was on the Wall by about 4:15 pm. One lone regular had his usual spot staked out, and no one else in sight. He reported there was virtually no current, but that he had caught a shad earlier in the afternoon, but none since. Not even an alewife. On my 2nd cast I had a short hit and a couple of headshakes. A few casts later, I was bringing a small buck to the net by 4:30 pm. Sweet! After a Kodak Moment™, he went back in the drink. About 5:pm, I had a good hookset, but it was too light to be shad, and too heavy to be an alewife. It turned out to be a little bronze back, not the white perch I was expecting.

By the time I left at 5:30 pm, the regular had left, and been replaced by another. He was soaking sandworms about 1/2 way down the Wall, and casting for shad up near me. He C&R a 23" schoolie, but that was it for the short time I was there.

Terminal tackle, same-same. I'll be out again today after work, chasing whatever shad are remaining. Tight lines!

I went to Barts upstream from the RR bridge with a friend of mine, caught 7 or 8 in a few hours!This was about 2 weeks ago using Willow leafs
The water was clear and dropping