It’s a three hour drive to Weldon, where I was to meet Chuck. I got a call when I was just ten minutes from the launch ramp. “Ya’ll better hurry the heck up – we’ve released 50 already.” Sure Chuck! The last ten minutes of the drive seemed like a hour. Soon enough, I was standing at the floating dock with new tackle in hand, watching my partners pull anchor on the little skiff. Two minutes and 200 feet later I was casting, but not catching. What did Chuck say about 50 fish?

Shad are temperature sensitive in chilly spring water. Often, anglers get a first light bite, but fish start hunting for warmer zones as the day progresses. The Roanoke is tree lined and has high banks, so hot spots change often. We were anchored in shade and it was time to move. The first sunny patch that Chuck stopped on, produced a few fish for us, but Chuck was not satisfied.

Chuck and Al were a well oiled, boat moving team, so I chowed down on their food while cheering them on. Each re anchor produced more fish and more trash talk then the previous. Many fish were over three pounds, a real fight on such light gear. Finally, we were in the zone! We would cast cross current, count to five, strip, trash talk, hook-up, release and repeat.

There is no better way to celebrate spring then to tighten up a dusty cast stroke, while releasing mini tarpon, talking trash and inhaling day old donuts!