The Incredible Journey Of The American Shad

A beautiful look at the upstream spawning migration of the American Shad as they move from the ocean up into the Connecticut River in Western Massachusetts. Learn how these anadromous fish battle waterfalls, rapids, and hydroelectric dams to get to their freshwater spawning grounds. See the famous Rock Dam in Turners Falls, Massachusetts, and watch the shad as they go upstream on their spawning run to lay their eggs.

Camera used to film this video.
Fujifilm XP 140 Waterproof camera

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GOOGLE EARTH ATTRIBUTION DATA

This map includes data from: Data SIO, NOAA, U.S. Navy, NGA, GEBCOLandsat / CopernicusIBCAOU.S. Geological SurveyPGC/NASAImagery from the dates:11/30/1998–12/14/2015

[sammaskill]

You’re the Bob Ross of underwater, photography, and storytelling of these fish. Love the videos!

[angelawhite]

I work at a salmon counter fence. The American Shad show up just before the salmon. They all make it through using our system!

[ceresuziel]

So nice Dave, what a beautiful thing to see with your help.

[tamarrajames]

What a beautiful stretch of river that is! I used to watch the salmon run in northern BC, and the great effort all these fish put forth to reach their spawning sites always amazes me. It is difficult enough for them to go upstream with the snow melt raising the water levels and quickening the currents without human industry adding to the strain.

Nature provides such incredible displays of power and determination so close to us, and so few stop to admire the beauty, or wonder if we are causing trouble for these amazing creatures. Thank you for bringing this issue to the forefront of attention. We all need to be more aware of our impact on the world around us.💖🖤🇨🇦

[turkeydinnerchewie]

Great video! For many of the freshwater mussel species I have worked with, a large part of the reason for their decline is the host fish not being able to migrate past the dams. Spectaclecase (Cumberlandia monodonta) hasn’t really reproduced in the Clinch River (at least in VA) due a dam preventing its host mooneye for migrating upriver.

[MrMikeTauber]

learned a lot, increased awareness of troubles dams can do .. THANKS!

[PaulsFishroom]

Very informative as usual Dave. Excellent 🤓👍

[kunaiwithchain]

nice, i just moved to cali so this is a nice find for when i go fish for them

[todderschannel]

Have you considered doing a vid about the eels that find their way to the tributaries of the Finger lakes of New York.

[chisaquaticvibe]

Hey Dave, have you ever seen a harbor seal in one of these rivers? They often follow shad migrations.

[goodun]

Any plans to film a video of sturgeon in the Connecticut River, or the striper run in the spring as they follow spawning baitfish all the way up into Massachusetts?

[Shaden]

Nice to see that you're from Massachusetts too. I just recently learned a few years ago that shadow earned interesting fish in the fact that they're related to the American trouts family as well as the salmon family. it was funny because I noticed someone else was talking about shadow and they showed them up close and I said Gee that looks like a trout but it also looks like a salmon and I mentioned that to this person whose channel it was And he's like yes good observation they're related to both. so it's an interesting fish that it's related to the larger salmon and the similar sized trout in some cases some cases trouts a little bit larger someone's a little bit smaller but I always start to look like a cross between a brook trout and a salmon like a what do you call it what's the one with a big jaws on it when it becomes sexually mature coho no chinook Salmon so kind of looks like a cross between the two. like I said it's a weird little fish kind of cool.

[blakenelson]

Little cofused. Are these same shad we buy as shad sides from reservoirs in Kansas?

[chisaquaticvibe]

Hello, Dave, how was your trip to Maine? And what did you do there?

[ElijahTremblay]

Best skatepark I ever skated was in turners falls. Tried to catch a walleye but ended up with a few smallies instead

[chisaquaticvibe]

Did you ever see tarpon when you lived in the Caribbean?

[moonpleco]

As it's seen on Google Maps, there is Research institute near Rock Dam devoted to migrating fish. They should strongly support protection for fishes, making their route easier and safer to pass. Voice of such institute must be heard by dumb politicians and herd of clerks.

[norberthemmingsway]

It's odd to hear about how damaging and disruptive hydroelectric dams can be. They seem like a really clean energy on paper source since they generate electricity from nothing but flowing water. I also never considered how they can harm fish populations by killing those going back to the ocean. I wonder how that effects juvenile salmon in the PNW.

[HilaryPierce]

Hey Dave-- your content is fantastic. I work as an art director for an edtech company and we are currently creating a game for middle school students about saving and reintroducing the American Shad to the James River in Virginia, USA. We'd love to talk to you about the possibility of including some of your footage of shad in our game! If you'd be open to this we'd love to connect with you!

[moonpleco]

Interesting and important video. American shad's spawning custom is similar to salmons'. Sounds bad that people don't care about poor fish lives 😢. Politicians are only talking heads 😡