Alosa alosa is called “elft” in Dutch, “allis shad” in English. It is a rare, large, herring-like migratory fish (up to over 70 cm in length) that migrates from sea to freshwater to spawn. It is often called “mayfish” and the “poor man’s salmon”.
By Guido Vinck
After near extinction in the Netherlands in the 20th century, the species has been slowly recovering since the early 21st century and is very sporadically observed in the estuaries of the major Dutch rivers and the Westerschelde. In the French Atlantic coastal rivers, especially the Dordogne, the allis shad has been swimming in large numbers for over 30 years. Now my “old” friend Stèphane Giraudeau (a renowned fishing guide in France) has published a nearly 200-page book on fly fishing for allis shad. Quite unique in its kind. Available in French and English versions at https://www.amazon.fr/P%C3%8ACHE-SPORTIVE-ALOSES-St%C3%A9phane-Giraudeau/dp/B0F91ZMKVL?language=en_GB.
