We caught the meat at Willard today.

[Paddler]

Out in 22' of water.  I noticed a band of increased density on my sonar in the area, at mid depth.  No idea what it was, but there was definitely something different.  I thought about posting up a photo but didn't.  Not fish arches, just a band of orange on my graph.

My  guess is a cloud of newly hatched shad.  About the right time.  They start spawning by mid to late April and the spawn may extend through May.  Once the shadlets reach about 1 - 1.5" they start to become prey and the predators have more to eat and are slower to hit lures.  That usually starts after about the first of July.

Thanks.  It seems early for shad, and it didn't look like bait balls.  Wish I'd logged my sonar data.