.... but I don't know diddly about shad and hickories. I have a vague recollection of shad being a big thing in the Connecticut River when I lived in the Hartford area thirty plus years ago, but beyond that, I can spell it and that's about it.

Are you fishing one of the rivers in the D.C. area ?? or on the salt ??

John

P.S. Please stay friends with the fishing gods so when you come to Montana this summer they are in a good mood !! We're gonna need all the help we can get.