Where To Get Shad Bait

Using shad for catfish allurement is always a hot topic among catfish anglers. It seems that for some reason the whole idea of finding and catching shad and using it for bait creates a whole bunch of questions for anglers of all experience levels though.

I touched on this recently in the Winter Catfishing Tips article (get the free ebook here) and when the Catfish Edge, Cut Edge Catfishing Trailer was posted questions started pouring in about the large catfish in the video and what kind of catfish allurement I was using so it seemed like a great time to talk almost using shad for catfish bait.

Catfish anglers frequently seem very dislocated about shad and catching them and have a lot of questions. They usually follow up with a bunch of complaints nigh shad, not knowing how to find or grab them, complaining about beingness cold or wet, and a long listing of other complaints.

My response is e'er the same… "Suck it up, princess"

If yous want to wear fancy pressed shirts, have a sparkling clean boat, not get moisture, cold, and covered in shad scales you should find something else to fish for other than catfish (or at least blue catfish).

Catching allurement is merely part of the gig if y'all're going to exist a catfish angler.

This resource covers all the basics you need to know almost using shad for catfish allurement.

You lot'll learn:

How To Catch Shad
How To Choose a Bandage Net
The Basics Of Where To Grab Shad
How To Bait Hooks Using Shad
When and Where To Utilise Shad For Catfish Allurement
Which Species Of Catfish Yous Can Catch Using Shad For Catfish Bait

For a complete footstep-past-step visual graphic scroll to the bottom of the page.

Shad For Catfish Bait: The Essential Guide

Threadfin Shad andGizzard Shad are very unlike fish.

Threadfin shad are less hearty than gizzard shad, theycannot tolerate cold as well and they don't grow to the sizes that gizzard shad exercise.

Gizzard shad grow to larger sizes, they aremore than hearty than threadfin shad and therefore have a wider distribution. They tolerate cold better than threadfin shad then yous notice them in more places.

How practise y'all tell the deviation in gizzard shad and threadfin shad?

Threadfin Shad

Usually take a yellowish tint to their fin
They have xx–25 rays in their anal fin
Unremarkably less than six inches long
The upper jaw does not beetle beyond the lower jaw

Gizzard Shad

No yellowish tint to fins
29–35 rays in anal fin
Can be up to 12″ long (or more than)
The upper jaw protrudes past the lower jaw

Here's the elementary exam if you just absolutelyneed to know if a shad is a gizzard or threadfin shad (also counting the rays in the anal fin, which would exist a bit creepy). Accept your fingernail and run information technology from bottom to top across the rima oris of a shad. If your fingernail catches on the meridian lip, that's a good indication that it'due south a gizzard shad as their upper jaw protrudes past the lower jaw.

Fresh or Frozen Shad, Which Is Better?

Information technology seems that every time I talk almost shad the "what if's" come out of the woodwork and I take people coming out of the woodwork when I make this statement……

Fresh shad is the preferred bait for blue catfishin many areas where populations are present. Anglers who know how to catch shad will be more successful than those who try to take shortcuts and utilize frozen or "alternative" baits.

I use a lot of generalities because otherwise every article I write would exist thousands of words and every video would be hours long covering "the exceptions".

I stand by my statement that fresh shad will catch more catfish than frozen shad. I don't know one single angler that volition tell you that they can take hold of more fish with frozen bait than with fresh bait.

The key here is shad. I'yard not talking about skipjack or any other class of fresh or cut allurement, I'chiliad talking about shad. It'due south no secret that skipjack are more hearty and they freeze differently. If you're in skipjack country (I'grand not) and desire to fish with them frozen, take at it.

Simply What About Frozen Shad For Catfish Bait?

Are in that location exceptions to the dominion of fresh shad being all-time for catfish bait? Of course, in that location are.

There are times (though they're limited) that I prefer shad to exist "less than fresh".

What's that mean?

Caught a few days prior to the engagement I am line-fishing. However what I would consider being "fresh" shad, as they're never frozen, just "slightly aged".

Don't fish with fish sticks. Utilize fresh shad.

How Do Yous Catch Shad?

You're going to use a cast cyberspace.

Are there other alternatives? Aye!

Do y'all demand to worry virtually them? No, not actually! Bandage nets are going to be the best option for about people.

If you're bent on exploring other options for communicable shad (like shad trawls) just send me the money you're going to waste material on trying other things and buy a cast net. That'south what you'll cease up doing in the end anyway.

What Kind Of Cast Net Is Best For Catching Shad?

Hither information technology is in its virtually basic class. What y'all really need to know virtually choosing a bandage net as a catfish angler.

If y'all plan on angling in the wintertime or when you lot might potentially have to grab shad in deeper water and so you lot need a larger mesh size and net with more weight.

If you're not going to fish in the winter or take hold of bait when shad are in deeper water and then you can get away with a cast net that has a smaller mesh (and is usually much less expensive than nets used in colder h2o).

The larger the mesh the faster the cast cyberspace sinks.
The more weight per pes the faster the cast internet sinks.
The only existent issue with larger mesh nets is smaller shad swim through the mesh and also become stuck (gilled) in the cyberspace. The trade-off is that they sink faster.

If yous're not planning on catching deepwater shad then only get a 3/eight″ mesh cast net with a weight of .5 to .75 lbs per human foot.

If y'all plan on catching deepwater shad then become a 1/2" to 5/8" mesh cast net with a weight of i.5 lbs per human foot.

Where Exercise You Catch Shad?

I've filled an entire book with information on locating and catching shad because in that location are a lot of variables to finding and catching shad. Information technology's by no means something that I can sum in a quick article and tell y'all everything you lot actually need to know.

Here are some basic fundamentals of how to take hold of shad though…..

The fastest way to find and catch them is using sonar (a "fish finder"). Sonar makes finding and catching shad a pretty simple process for the most part.

In the absenteeism of sonar (or if you take absolutely no idea where to look) here'south the best communication I can offer on locating shad.

Marinas and lights are some of the easiest places for a newbie to first. Look for bait within marinas and effectually lights early on in the morning (before start calorie-free).

Anywhere there is aeration or warmth are also common places to locate and take hold of shad.

Aeration can exist water flowing in from a manmade source or natural source. Anything that will stir the water upward, oxygenate it and move food around will work.

Warmth comes from a few places. Look for areas where the h2o temperature could exist warmer or warm upwardly faster than the master lake. Annihilation that would hold estrus is also key, particularly in the colder months.

Concrete is a prime case of an area that will agree rut (and likewise shad). Boat ramps are frequently overlooked and one of the easiest places to showtime throwing your cast net to catch shad. Gunkhole ramps are usually complimentary from obstructions (less adventure of damaging your net), covered in algae, and volition agree warmth.

As sun the sun shines during the day physical will warm up and retain heat and create an surface area that's warmer than h2o in other areas. Shad volition ordinarily flock in and around these areas or hold up against the concrete structure.

Locating and catching shad is essential to locating and catching bluish catfish. If y'all acquire the basics of finding and catching shad you'll be a much amend blue catfish angler and you'll catch more than fish. Combine these finding shad tips with our Ultimate Listing Of Catfishing Tips and y'all'll have a strong foundation for locating and catching catfish.

If I Use Shad For Catfish Bait What Will I Catch?

Shad is an excellent bait for blue catfish. Whether your goal is a massive trophy blueish catfish or numbers of the smaller i to x-pound blueish catfish shad volition work for catching them.

Shad is a cracking allurement for aqueduct catfishif you want to target larger channel catfish. If you want a day full of fast-paced action and don't care most size then some form of prepared bait is probable a better pick.

Flathead catfish can be caught using shad and are ofttimes caught using both live and cut shad just if yous plan to exclusively target flathead a live allurement that'south hearty and easier to keep live is typically a better choice. Consider using fish like live bluegill, perch, or even mudcats to target flathead catfish instead of shad.

How Should Yous Fish For Catfish With Shad?

Circle hooks are amid the about popular selection for catfish and an excellent choice when fishing with whole or cut shad or any other form of cut allurement.

At that place are many skillful circle hook options on the market for catfish but I never could notice one that was perfect and then I designed my own, the Triple Threat Catfish Hook.

The most important parts of gear selection when using shad for catfish bait are making sure that you use a claw that has a wide gap when fishing with circumvolve hooks and making sure you use a catfish rod with some slight flex in the tip so the circle hooks piece of work properly.

What Size Shad Should Y'all Utilise For Catfish Bait?

The simplest explanation is to "match the hatch".

Match the hatch is a term ofttimes used by wing fishermen merely applies to all types of fishing (and species). This means to use a bait similar in size and appearance to what the fish are feeding on.

If fish are feeding on small 2–3" threadfin shad and so use baits that are that size or similar in size, but mix in a couple of larger baits as well. Most often the virtually bites (and fish caught) will come from baits that are similar in size and appearance when y'all "match the hatch", but non ever.

Ever experiment, try some large pieces of cutting shad or whole shad and some smaller ones as well and see what works all-time.

Just yous have to employ big baits to grab big catfish, right?

No. Many anglers try to convince people that to catch trophy class catfish you have to use big baits but it'southward non true. Big catfish are caught all the fourth dimension using small-scale baits. At the stop of the twenty-four hours, it's well-nigh getting the right presentation in front of the right fish.

At that place are some advantages to using big allurement for trophy course catfish but it'south certainly not a requirement and there are times that smaller baits volition outperform larger ones.

Match the hatch! Catch more than catfish!

How Practise You Bait Hooks With Shad?

Whole threadfin shad that are a few inches long can exist hooked in a diversity of ways. The easiest fashion to claw them (and my preferred method) is to insert the claw through the superlative of the head and then plow the fish and push information technology onto the hook, then hooking the bait again through the tail, or dorsum expanse.

Cut shad tin can be hooked in a diverseness of ways and the fish tin can be cut in a variety of ways every bit well. It all boils downwardly to personal preference. I employ a simple arroyo of cutting them into chunks when using larger shad. When hooking shad with circle hooks run the hook through the chunk of cutting shad at an bending and hook the pieces of cutting allurement very shallow so the gap of the hook remains open.

When Should You lot Employ Shad For Catfish Bait?

Shad is an excellent selection for catfish bait all year long when targeting blueish and channel catfish, in fact, information technology's my elevation catfish allurement. In that location's no "flavour" for when you tin and cannot use them. If they're feeding on shad yous can use it for bait and it'south rare they won't be feeding on fish.

Where Do You Utilise Shad For Catfish Bait?

Finding shad and active feeding fish is best done with the apply of sonar (fish finder) when fishing from a boat. Use the sonar to locate schools of shad and active feeding fish beneath or near them.

Shad volition appear in the large cloud-like formations on the sonar screen and are easily identifiable.

Desire More On Finding and Communicable Shad?

The ability to locate and take hold of shad is a critical office of being a successful angler if you are going to target bluish catfish and many other species of fish as well. You not but demand to know how to locate and catch them just also how to pattern them and sympathise their seasonal movements and ecology triggers that cause them to motility.

If you'd like to fast-track your success locating and catching shad (and bluish catfish) and so check out the Catching Shad ebook from Catfish Border 1 of the many premium products guaranteed to fast-track your success catching catfish.

Summary

Shad For Catfish Bait: The Essential Guide To Catfishing With Shad

Article Name

Shad For Catfish Allurement: The Essential Guide To Catfishing With Shad

Description

The essentials of using shad for catfish bait including when, where and how to use shad for catfish bait, where to catch shad, cast net selection and more!

Author

Chad Ferguson