Shad fishing is a shoulder to shoulder affair. Most of the folks that I have met seem to be fishing for shad in order to use them as bait for oversize sturgeon, halibut and crabs. I eat them. Yes, bony, but the taste is outstanding, the roe is considered a delicacy on the East coast (where shad were transplanted from). And, if you can them, the bones basically dissolve.
As far as fishing for them - carry a variety of gear, and keep an eye on what the guys who are pulling them in are using.
I carry jig heads in green, pink and orange, shad darts in a variety of colors, swivels with basic siwash hooks, snelled hooks with egg loops for yarn, and a spinner or two.
The water up below bonneville is moving so fast you probably need at least 1 oz to hit bottom.
Alternate areas to fish are up at clackamette park, meldrum bar, etc.