Hickory shad are the smaller, feistier cousins of the American shad, and they bring a burst of light-tackle fun to the spring. As a member of the herring family they run the rivers and estuaries to spawn, and unlike the plankton-feeding American shad they readily chase small lures and flies, striking hard and leaping.
What they are
Hickory shad are slim, silvery herring-family fish with a projecting lower jaw and a dark shoulder spot, smaller than American shad. They travel in schools and, importantly for anglers, they eat small baitfish and will attack a lure.
Where, when, and how anglers use them
Look for hickories on the spring runs in coastal rivers, estuaries and around river mouths. They are a blast on small shad darts, tiny metals and flies, jumping and running like miniature tarpon. They also serve as bait and forage: a live or cut hickory is a fine striped bass bait, and bass and blues eat them where they overlap.
Tip When the hickories are in, downsize and speed up. A small dart or fly retrieved with quick, erratic strips draws their reaction strike, and light line makes their jumps and runs all the more fun.