Connecticut River at the Holyoke Dam

Every spring, American shad crowd into the Connecticut River below the Holyoke Dam on their way to spawn, and anglers line the banks to meet them. The Fisherman's writer calls shad the poor man's tarpon: a good one weighs only 4 or 5 pounds, but it fights far above its size. The Connecticut and Merrimack are the only Massachusetts rivers where shad can be kept, and MassWildlife lists them as the state's best bets for trophy shad.

When to fish

• April to June: the run starts in April and, depending on water temperature and flow, can last into late June or even July.
• May: the peak, and late May is The Fisherman's favorite. Expect a crowd on May mornings.

Where to fish

• Slim Shad Point (Holyoke): the spot that gets the most attention, along the main channel the fish follow to the fish lift on the Holyoke side of the dam.
• Below the dam, both banks: there are spots on the Holyoke and South Hadley sides for about three-quarters of a mile downstream.
• The rest of the river: MassWildlife calls the Connecticut the state's best bet for walleye and the only water on its list for trophy channel catfish, along with bass, carp and pike.

How to fish it

The Fisherman's writer casts a small, brightly colored jig into the current and lets it sink for a moment; his strikes came as soon as the line tightened. Don't mistake hickory shad for American shad.

Getting there

The Fisherman's writer parks off North Bridge Street (Route 116) in Holyoke and walks down a rock path below the road. The Robert E. Barrett Fishway, the fish lift on the Holyoke side, is worth a visit during the run. You need a Massachusetts freshwater fishing license; shad have a daily limit, and small lead sinkers and lead jigs are banned in fresh water. The Connecticut River has a PCB and PFAS consumption advisory: don't eat American eel, channel or white catfish or yellow perch from it, and limit other species.