Columbia River Shad

[Salmonhawk]

What's happened to the shad run on the Big C? As of this weekend the count over Bonneville was a mere 3500 or so. Last year at this time it was 50,000 and that was considered poor. In 2009 we had 383,00 by this time. Does this have something to do with the 5 day a week 9 week long commercial shad fishery on the lower Columbia?

[baddawg]

What's happened to the shad run on the Big C? As of this weekend the count over Bonneville was a mere 3500 or so. Last year at this time it was 50,000 and that was considered poor. In 2009 we had 383,00 by this time. Does this have something to do with the 5 day a week 9 week long commercial shad fishery on the lower Columbia?

Naw, couldn't be the commies! Probably poor ocean survival, sea lion predation, loss of spawning habitat, or most likely the stinking sport fishermen are taking way too many shad!