Spring 2025 Rappahannock Fall Line Hickory Shad & Striped Bass

There is great deal of history linked to the Rappahannock River shad run. Pre-contact Indigenous cultures fished at the Fall Line in Fredericksburg, and shad were an important part of the local economy during the Colonial Era. The decline of Chesapeake Bay shad populations in recent decades is the focus of many ongoing scientific efforts, especially as it relates to centuries of local subsistence fishing. Thankfully, the Hickory shad run each spring in Fredericksburg is still very healthy and a great way to experience the thrill of fly fishng.