where to get shad?

[jmull65]

does anyone know where to get live shad around columbia ive been looking for a while just not having any luck finding them. or any good bait shops? Thanks!

[titansfan2104]

does anyone know where to get live shad around columbia ive been looking for a while just not having any luck finding them. or any good bait shops? Thanks!
I would think running shallow coves with your sonar would be a great way to find em right now. Saturday I noticed a +6 degree increase from the main channel opposed to the 3-12' flats off of the main channel. I don't know...so I'm just guessing!!

[agelesssone]

Throw a cast net almost any shallow cove, they are everywhere due to no die off this winter.

[tkwalker]

No Matter Gizzard, Thread Fin ... etc .. In a Cast Net !!! ... Then you have to have a baitwell that will keep them alive ... If you think this type of bait can be bought at a bait shop for the species of fish you are fishing for ... You may want to change your goals and go for something that is less challenging like Blue gill and Walmart Nightcrawlers ... No entitlements here ... You have to work for what you want !! <'TK>< :)

[jmull65]

well alright then i think ill just try a cast nest a couple times and see how that goes never done it before but....practice makes perfect!! haha

[titansfan2104]

A lot of times if you can catch them generating, the current will push them up next to a wall and you can use a dip net. If a place like that is available

[tkwalker]

Have you ever tried to hold a boat while they were generating near a wall ?? ... Hard to do !! <'TK>< ... Learn to use a a cast net !.. Whatever you are going after .. there are no shortcuts ... Nothing is easy ... <'TK>< :)

[titansfan2104]

Have you ever tried to hold a boat while they were generating near a wall ?? ... Hard to do !! <'TK>< ... Learn to use a a cast net !.. Whatever you are going after .. there are no shortcuts ... Nothing is easy ... <'TK>< :)
Not talking about being in a boat... Didn't know I mentioned a boat in that post. I'm talking the walkway and rock banks most dams have. Maybe they are all completely different than cordell hull dam that I had in mind when posting that.

[tkwalker]

Not talking about being in a boat... Didn't know I mentioned a boat in that post. I'm talking the walkway and rock banks most dams have. Maybe they are all completely different than cordell hull dam that I had in mind when posting that.

If you are going to catch Shad of any type with a dip net from the bank ... You are going to put them in a bucket from a rocky bank or ramp like Cordell Hull and 99% of the time they are going to die and you are going to use them for cut bait...

The original question was posed "Live Shad from a Bait shop" (even though the type was not mentioned) ... To catch and keep "Live Shad " you are going to Immeditately have to put them in a max Oxy water flow bait tank... (and then good luck on the thread fins ... The gizzards will make it) Don't think anyone will drag (a tank sufficent to house shad) down a rocky bank ... Therefore the assumption is that you are in a boat.... If you want to keep LIVE SHAD .... <'TK>< :)

[titansfan2104]

Don't think anyone will drag (a tank sufficent to house shad) down a rocky bank ... Therefore the assumption is that you are in a boat.... If you want to keep LIVE SHAD .... <'TK>< :)

Your the one that said " you have to work for what you want " :)

[nofish]

I've had shad die instantly to under a minute, but i guess it depends on the conditions. At any rate they don't keep long. I use the live ones 1st and once they're all dead i cut them up and use them. I mostly fish for catfish.

[StriperFan]

well alright then i think ill just try a cast nest a couple times and see how that goes never done it before but....practice makes perfect!! haha
Do like I did, use the dog for a target in the back yard for practice. Keeping them alive is another story. I have tried freezing shad, that doesnt turn out so well, maybe for some cats. But if you keep them just super cold on ice, they will stay fresh at least a couple of days, and most everything will still eat them with gusto. I have fished shad and skipjack this way with good results. I like to use smaller thread fin and alewife on a Walleye crawler rig, still have to keep them changed often to keep them fresh. The skipjack I would keep on ice until fish are located, then send them in and give them some action like fishing a big jig or plug, if not taken on the original fall.

[tkwalker]

Your the one that said " you have to work for what you want " :)

Yes I did and you have got that right my friend !!! LOL !!! <'TK>< :p

[ALANRAYG2]

does anyone know where to get live shad around columbia ive been looking for a while just not having any luck finding them. or any good bait shops? Thanks!

If you are fishing below dams from shore, be prepared to loose your cast net. It might get hung up on the rocks. I have used piscator rigs to catch shad and skip jacks. I was in a boat; But if you can cast to the right places you can catch them from shore, too. I suggest keeping a rod rigged with the piscator and another for fishing the shad. You can catch a couple shad then fish with them. When you need some fresh shad your ready to catch some more. Here is what a piscator rig looks like. You will need a sinker on the bottom for casting.

http://www.academy.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_10051_24722_-1?N=98712136+4294966969

I hope this will give you another option.

[nofish]

Do like I did, use the dog for a target in the back yard for practice. Keeping them alive is another story. I have tried freezing shad, that doesnt turn out so well, maybe for some cats. But if you keep them just super cold on ice, they will stay fresh at least a couple of days, and most everything will still eat them with gusto. I have fished shad and skipjack this way with good results. I like to use smaller thread fin and alewife on a Walleye crawler rig, still have to keep them changed often to keep them fresh. The skipjack I would keep on ice until fish are located, then send them in and give them some action like fishing a big jig or plug, if not taken on the original fall.

I learned how to throw one from a little boy in a youtube video. He really simplified it.

[StriperFan]

I learned how to throw one from a little boy in a youtube video. He really simplified it.
i need to check that out. I know I'm now throwing it the most simplest way. I went with Fred Mclintock after his heart surgery and he had to invent a whole new way to throw one. It was a slow motion 360 degree spin and toss. Funny looking but effective.

[tkwalker]

If you are fishing below dams from shore, be prepared to loose your cast net. It might get hung up on the rocks. I have used piscator rigs to catch shad and skip jacks. I was in a boat; But if you can cast to the right places you can catch them from shore, too. I suggest keeping a rod rigged with the piscator and another for fishing the shad. You can catch a couple shad then fish with them. When you need some fresh shad your ready to catch some more. Here is what a piscator rig looks like. You will need a sinker on the bottom for casting.

http://www.academy.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_10051_24722_-1?N=98712136+4294966969

I hope this will give you another option.

Now I really don't want to step on anybody's toes here ... Just speaking from experience (can't say you can or can't)... I have caught literally thousands of skip Jack on Piscey rigs, (in fact make my own) And when I was in Japan in 1998 on Business I bought 50 of the original Piscey rigs that was feature in the video .. (except Academy's were made in China) ... But I have never caught a threadfin nor Gizzard shad with a Piscey rig ... Shad are Plankton eaters ... Don't eat minnows that I am aware of ... Like you will rarely if ever catch a skippy in a cast net .. (They will out run it)

Now to make a cheap piscey rig (Short for piscator) this works for skippies ... .. Now Skippies can be kept alive for a short stint of time if you can keep fresh water flowing through your baitwell... No matter How big of a baitwell you have or Oxy you pump including bottled Oxy ... ... Skippies give off a toxic oil that is even detrimental to themselves ... ... I have fished with skippies with a 8/0 Gamakatsu through it's nose all day and be perky at the end of the day ... but put this fish in a baitwell with out enough water flow ... won't last long ...

Sorry off subject ... Piscey rigs ... Take three Crappie Tube jigs ... Using a Palomar knot .... tie them 5 to 6 inches apart directly to the line and make a leader with a double blood knot as the terminal end ... Color ... white or red is good ... But the action is what makes skippies bite ... Here is an example ... You need a pulse .. just not a retrieve ... The best way is to use a Micro lite spinning rig .. Hold the reel handle ridged and reel the rod ... It may sound strange ... But believe me folks it works !! ... I am getting old and I am letting my trade secrets go LOL !! <'TK>< :)

[StriperFan]

Now I really don't want to step on anybody's toes here ... Just speaking from experience (can't say you can or can't)... I have caught literally thousands of skip Jack on Piscey rigs, (in fact make my own) And when I was in Japan in 1998 on Business I bought 50 of the original Piscey rigs that was feature in the video .. (except Academy's were made in China) ... But I have never caught a threadfin nor Gizzard shad with a Piscey rig ... Shad are Plankton eaters ... Don't eat minnows that I am aware of ... Like you will rarely if ever catch a skippy in a cast net .. (They will out run it)

Now to make a cheap piscey rig (Short for piscator) this works for skippies ... .. Now Skippies can be kept alive for a short stint of time if you can keep fresh water flowing through your baitwell... No matter How big of a baitwell you have or Oxy you pump including bottled Oxy ... ... Skippies give off a toxic oil that is even detrimental to themselves ... ... I have fished with skippies with a 8/0 Gamakatsu through it's nose all day and be perky at the end of the day ... but put this fish in a baitwell with out enough water flow ... won't last long ...

Sorry off subject ... Piscey rigs ... Take three Crappie Tube jigs ... Using a Palomar knot .... tie them 5 to 6 inches apart directly to the line and make a leader with a double blood knot as the terminal end ... Color ... white or red is good ... But the action is what makes skippies bite ... Here is an example ... You need a pulse .. just not a retrieve ... The best way is to use a Micro lite spinning rig .. Hold the reel handle ridged and reel the rod ... It may sound strange ... But believe me folks it works !! ... I am getting old and I am letting my trade secrets go LOL !! <'TK>< :)

I have never heard that skippies were toxic to themselves, but it makes sense. I have a 40 gallon, round, insulated, filtered, oxygen infused bait tank and experience keeping fair amounts of bait alive, but have never been able to keep even one or two skippies alive for long. But I usually do not run the fill pump much, about 5 minutes an hour or so, other baitfish seem to do better with it off. I just thought 40 gallon was too small for them. What do you think?

[tkwalker]

I have never heard that skippies were toxic to themselves, but it makes sense. I have a 40 gallon, round, insulated, filtered, oxygen infused bait tank and experience keeping fair amounts of bait alive, but have never been able to keep even one or two skippies alive for long. But I usually do not run the fill pump much, about 5 minutes an hour or so, other baitfish seem to do better with it off. I just thought 40 gallon was too small for them. What do you think?

Striperfan ... I had a 40 gal... top of the line (high $$$) in the back of my guide boat. (six batteries on board) And when I wasn't traveling on the water or trailer out to change fisheries .. The water pump was running constantly while I was fishing .. An hour to 2 hours was the best we could do ... ... Drive a hook through it's nose and pitch him in the water and he is like new !! ?? <'TK>< :)

[StriperFan]

Striperfan ... I had a 40 gal... top of the line (high $$$) in the back of my guide boat. (six batteries on board) And when I wasn't traveling on the water or trailer out to change fisheries .. The water pump was running constantly while I was fishing .. An hour to 2 hours was the best we could do ... ... Drive a hook through it's nose and pitch him in the water and he is like new !! ?? <'TK>< :)
Thanks TK..I would be more than happy with a two hour window. Would that be a couple of baits at a time, or more?

[agelesssone]

Friday, a friend and I caught about a dozen skipjacks, put six in each livewell. Set the timer to pump water, one minute on-three minutes off. We kept our skipjacks alive for over two hours, and we had a couple large ones over 14 inchers. Unfortunately we didn't catch any stripers, and only talked to one guy that did, but we had bait all day. We used sabiki rigs of multi-colored jigs and would triple and quadruple up on them. Bad thing was,we couldn't catch many 10 inch skippies, mostly big ones, some 15 inchers.
And these are square livewells in a bass boat, not the nice round ones that cost $400.00.

[StriperFan]

Well Agelessone, that settles it. I'm going to make some more attempts at keeping them alive longer. I had really given up on it.