Kennebec River Shad Fishing
Fish the Kennebec Shad Run
Each spring, American shad push in from the Atlantic and stack up in the Kennebec. They run roughly 16 to 25 inches, chrome-bright and fresh from saltwater, and pound for pound they are among the hardest-fighting fish in Maine. The run is short and it moves, and we are on this river all spring, so you are not spending your trip searching for fish.
Depending on the week, you may target:
- American shad
- Striped bass
Striped bass follow the same bait upriver, so a good shad evening often turns into a striper evening without moving the canoe.
Trip Essentials
What’s Included and What You May Catch
A hybrid trip: we use the canoe to reach water most anglers cannot get to, then wade the gravel and ledge where the fish are holding. Your shad trip includes:
- Guided by a Registered Maine Guide
- Four hours, morning or evening light
- Canoe access plus wade fishing
- Rods, reels and terminal tackle on request
- Shad darts, flutter spoons and shad flies
- Non-alcoholic drinks and a shore snack
Your Main Target
American shad
Striped bassAlso
Shad start showing around the first of May and stay into July, with the best of it through June as the water warms. They move with flow and temperature rather than the calendar, so we watch river levels daily and book trips tight to the fish. Fly rods and light spinning gear both work, and it is a genuinely good trip for a first-timer.
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Join Us On Your Next Guided Shad Trip
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Let’s Plan Your Shad Trip
Booking & Policies
How cancellations work
- Free rescheduling 30+ days outCancel 30 or more days before your trip and your deposit moves to a new date.
- Inside 30 days, the deposit is keptIf you cancel with less than 30 days’ notice, or don’t show up, the deposit is forfeited.
- If we cancel, you chooseIf we call a trip off for weather, unsafe conditions or any other reason, you pick a new date or a full refund.
How you pay
- 50% deposit holds your datesRequired for every trip and non-refundable. Pay it by Venmo, check or cash.
- Balance due at the start of your tripPay the remainder on the day by Venmo, check or cash.
- Nothing to pay to askSending an enquiry is free. Nothing is taken until we confirm your dates.
Before You Book
Common Questions
When is the Maine shad run?
Shad start showing around the first of May and stay into July, with the best of it through June as the water warms.
What does a shad trip cost?
A four-hour guided shad trip starts at $350.
Why book a guide for the run?
The run is short and it moves. Being a week early, a week late, or a hundred yards off the holding water is the difference between a bent rod and a long afternoon.
How do you schedule trips?
Around the fish rather than the calendar. Dates through May and June go quickly.
From the Field
Guide Notes on This Trip
Tips and stories from our guides that pair well with this adventure.
