These photos were taken during the 48th Holyoke Gas & Electric Shad Derby which takes place every year on the Connecticut River below the Holyoke dam in western Massachusetts. It's a celebration of the return of the American shad, the largest member of the herring family, and a strong fighter in current.

 

 

 

Serious shad slayers in the river early

 

 

Here's what we're after: American shad.

 

 

A box of shad "darts" and assorted alloy, steel and tungsten weights

 

 

"Hit me! I dare ya . . . "

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

oh man stick them in a livewell and bring them down to florida for me lol snook would be on them like flies on s**t

Catch some big stipers with those!

Those are some big shad, id chop them up and use them as cut bait for big cats.