what about shad??

[Fishaholic]

id like to hear what members do with there catch of shad, storage/handleing ideas!! f you catch your own, or do you just go buy some??

[jason454ci]

I catch my own shad with a cast net. Try to get them fresh for use. usually try to keep a little bit frozen for those just in case days though. When using them fresh I throw them in ziploc bags and lay them on ice in the cooler.

[ho_shi]

I had a EZ throw cast net until last nite and i ripped it to shreds on a underwater log at night... shoulda quit when i almost fell outta boat 3 casts b4...... use gizzard shad for cats, cut the gizzards out need to blend rest with cattails for stinkbait buuuuttttt have not dont it yet, use rest of the body for chum........right now i got 5 1/2 freezer bags full in frezer, SHOULD FREEZE IN SMALLER BAGS THO AS U WASTE A BUNCH IN A BIG ONE (they only good for 1-2 unthaws and rethaws) fresh is hard to keep alive so dont use many but a few perch from time to time in net

[Nightfisher]

We normally throw the cast net for some 3-6 inch shad around the ramp or docks at the marina, then set the gill net on a flat somewhere for the big 12+ inch cutter shad. They all go in a cooler together that has a frozen 2 liter bottle in it to keep them chilled. Small shad are used whole either threaded onto the hook or nose hooked, while the big ones are cut into 3 to 5 big chunks. Sometimes after setting up on a spot we will throw the net around the boat and put one or two on live right out of the net. Never have been able to keep shad alive in a livewell for more than about 30 minutes. Hooking them straight from the net avoids the whole scenario. I only keep the big 12+ inch gizzard shad for freezing, and only use frozen shad as a backup bait in times where fresh ones are scarce.

[Soupy_1us]

Now that I've got your attention..
Step by step on "How to Use Shad for Bait"


Step # 1..
Take your little brother's or sister's bicycle... Cut out a couple of spokes....Sharpen one end like a needle and drill a small hole in the other end for your lead line.

Step # 2 Tie a leader line (18") in this hole in the needle you just made....

Step # 3 Go out and get you a bucket of shad... Best way to do this is to go down to the lake or river and watch for somebody else that's throwin' a net and wait 'til they ain't lookin' and grab their bucket and run.... ( Saves the cost on them nets)

Step # 4 Take one of them shad and cut the head off of it....


Step # 5 With your needle you just made , thread your hook ( with leader tied to it) thru the headless shad..... From the head end first....Pull yourhook up to the gut sack of the shad and set 'er tight.

[Soupy_1us]

Step # 6 After you get your shad on your hook.... put your hook leader on your main line.. I always use the slip sinkers for bottom fishin' in heavy current....I have a snap swivel below my sinkers so it'll make it easier to put my hook leader on.


Step # 7 Just make it look like these pictures and you'll catch some fish.

[Soupy_1us]

Just remember to put your shad (that you stoled) in a different bucket , just in case that guy comes by you while you're fishin' ..He can't see his bucket nowheres...
Ifin you do it this way you will catch some fish... Just like the one I've got pictured here.

One more thing I forgot to tell you... Use a #4 or bigger treble hook. :)

[Fishaholic]

well that about sums it up, thanks for sharing that soup

[Timotha7]

GREAT STUFF Soups!

If ok with you I will break that all down an make a downloadable "PDF" file out of that
an our members can pull it up an have it on paper if they want it

Will work on that when I am not babysitting an other chasing about:confused0018:

[Soupy_1us]

Or they can email me for hard copy...I'll even make the needles for them ifin' they want.('til I run out of the neighbor kid's spokes) ....Do what you like with it Tim..

[Soupy_1us]

To add a little more to these tips... In cooler water, I found it helps to cut the tails off your bait also... Seems they bleed a little more when you do this.