Shad Fishing Has A Long History In Haddam

HADDAM, CT — The start of the shad fishing season evokes memories of the industry’s history and importance to Haddam and the area.

The shad fishing season generally runs from April to June in Connecticut, and is traditionally when Haddam’s Shad Museum opens.

The Shad Museum, located at 212 Saybrook Road in Higganum, was founded by Dr. Joseph Zaientz and focuses on the importance of the Shad fishing industry to Haddam and the lower Connecticut River Valley, according to the Haddam Historical Society.

“Housed in the former Bill Maynard Shad Shack, the museum features many important and unique artifacts related to this once important local industry and is the only museum in the country solely devoted to shad fishing,” reads a post on the Haddam Historical Society’s website.

The Haddam Shad Museum is the “only museum in the United States dedicated to the preservation of shad fishing history in the Connecticut River Valley,” according to the Haddam Shad Museum website.

The American shad is the largest of Connecticut’s herring species.

For more information, visit the Haddam Historical Society’s website here, and the Haddam Shad Museum website here.