When do you think the shad derby should be held!

[Ron]

Today there was a conflict of intrest on when the shad derby should be held! A lot of people talked , and said they felt the shad derby should be held the week-end before momorial day, and on momorial day week-end. The derby has been held on those week-ends for over thirty years. The records for those years also had much larger shad weighed in as winners. The bigger issue at hand is the derby is now being held on the week-end of mothers day. I know alot of people who do not come down and fish, because they stay at home with there spouse. I feel that more people would fish on the week before and on momorial day week-ends. The president (jack) of N.E.S.A. Thinks the derby should stay the way it is now (on mothers day)
Today on the river bank at slim shad point, some members voiced there opinions about when the derby should be held. In this discussion (jack) said he had taken a survey of about 100 people. The funny thing about that is seven of the members that were fishing said they were never asked anything about this. Well here we go, this is our oppertunity to voice our opinions of when the best time would/should be. If enough people respond to this message, maybe a real survey can be conducted. Thanks for taking the time to read this lenghty message.

[YOTE BUSTER]

I don't think it makes any diferrance.I took a ride to the dam area and only saw 5 boasts maybe 15 guys fishin from shore.Back when i use to go you had to fihgt for a spot on land or the water.Looks like its a dieing derby to me

[Fishstory]

there is not a chance in HELL that I will be going to a shad derby on Mothers Day!!! Not unless I want this to happen Bash1 Bash1 Bash1 Bash1 Bash1 Bash1 Bash1 Bash1 Bash1 Bash1 Bash1 Bash1 Bash1 Bash1 Bash1 Bash1 Bash1 Bash1 Bash1 Bash1 Bash1 Bash1 Bash1 Bash1 Bash1 Bash1 Bash1 Bash1 Bash1 Bash1 Bash1 Bash1 Bash1 Bash1 Bash1 Bash1 Bash1 Bash1 Bash1 Bash1 Bash1 Bash1 Bash1 Bash1 Bash1 Bash1 Bash1 Bash1 Bash1 Bash1 Bash1 Bash1 Bash1 Bash1 Bash1 Bash1

[Ron]

To YOTE BUSTER, I dont think that the derby is dieing at all. I do remember in the past years that the river banks were lined up with people everywhere. There was hardly a place to fish. When i frist started fishing for shad as a kid, it was hard because no matter where i went i could not get a good spot. I had to just get right in the way of other people to fish. No one said much because i was a kid. This week-end itg was sad to see that there was only a hand full of people at the holyoke point, and at the chicopee river. Maybe the reel reason the numbers are down is because most peolpe stay at home on MOTHERS DAY, and the derby is now not scheduled on Momorial day so they had all ready made plans to go elsewhere(camping, etc.) I think if the derby was put back to the original week-ends, the week-end before Momorial day and on Momorial day week-end more people would show up. The Shad Derby is a big part of my fishing season, I love it. I also feel that alot of other sportsman feel the same, so lets get together and get a real survey of when the Shad Derby should be held. Ron

[fisher16]

I think if the derby was put back to the original week-ends, the week-end before Momorial day and on Momorial day week-end more people would show up. The Shad Derby is a big part of my fishing season, I love it. I also feel that alot of other sportsman feel the same, so lets get together and get a real survey of when the Shad Derby should be held.

I support your idea Ron. I think that the reasons the number of people are down are due to the holiday weekend and the significant amount of rain we had over the course of this month.

If I look back on this month. I personally only fished the river maybe three times this monthCry1 Question1 . On an average May I fish at least three to four days a week.Grinning1 I think the high water unsafe conditions kept alot of people on the seesaw about making a trip to the Ct. River. Although the river has dropped now I think they just made other plans and stayed home.

I also feel that this is not a dieing derby thru the years of fishing it I've met people from Maine, New York, New Jersey, Vermont, New Hampshire, and have seen some of them back from time to time them along the Holyoke/South Hadley side by the dam trying there luck.

[Ron]

Thanks Fisher16 for the quote! I was starting to think that no one cared!
There were 47 views of the original message i posted, and only three people posted their opinions. One was kind of negative about the sport.
Come on people if you love this sport and you have an opinion about this message THEN MAKE A POST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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[YOTE BUSTER]

Iwasnt being negative i was only putting in my 2 cents worth of what i have seen going on down there over the last 5 years.But i did give you a opinion.Smoke1

[Ron]

I was not trying to be negative about your opinion either. It is your opinion, and i respect that. Like you said you did respond and made a post. Thanks.
I think that if we get the Derby back to the original dates, we will see a bigger turn out of people.

[Toad]

I think the shad derby should be held during the shad run.