Stocking threadfin shad has become part of the standard stocking program for new ponds with most of our customers. Whether in a new pond, or in a pond with an established fish population, threadfin shad are most often introduced March through April just prior to spawning.
What’s the difference between gizzard shad and threadfin shad?
Threadfin shad are usually easily distinguished from gizzard shad by the fact that the upper jaw does not project beyond the lower jaw. The anal fin usually has 20-25 rays, as opposed to 29-35 rays found in gizzard shad. The upper surface is silver-blue and grades to nearly white on the sides and belly.
Are Shad good for bass?
A flurry of shad breaking the surface means that there are larger fish feeding on them from below. This tight schooling activity means that shad can provide a great deal of food for the bass even though each individual shad may only be 3 to 4 inches long.
Can you eat threadfin shad?
If they are small enough, you could prepare them like we do smelt up in the Great Lakes. Most smelt are around 4″ or larger, so we like to gut them and remove the heads, dip them in batter and fry. Smaller ones can be eaten whole. If you don’t eat the heads, you can make stock or fish sauce out of them.
How big is a threadfin shad?
The threadfin shad may reach lengths of 8 in (200 mm), but only rarely. This fish is very sensitive to changes in temperature and dissolved oxygen, and die-offs are frequent in late summer and fall, especially when water temperature drops to 42°F.
How many times a year do threadfin shad spawn?
Threadfin Shad
Spawning temperature: 67-70 degrees. Spawning time: Threadfin spawn during late April in Southern reservoirs. Reproduction Cycles: Threadfin shad can spawn several times per year. It’s not uncommon for threadfin to spawn a second time in mid July, and again in September or early October.
Will shad reproduce in a pond?
Introducing gizzard shad with threadfin shad creates a more natural environment for each species by providing a healthy competition for the available food. We have found that the period gizzard shad continue reproducing is often extended in ponds that also have an established threadfin shad population.
What do threadfin shad feed on?
plankton
Threadfin shad feed exclusively on plankton but have two methods of catching it, resulting in a broad diet of the available invertebrates. Small zooplankton, phytoplankton, and detritus are filtered through their gill rakers while large zooplankton, especially copepods, are chased down and caught as individual prey.
How fast do threadfin shad grow?
In Lake Havasu, California, threadfin shad grew at the rate of about one inch per month until reaching three inches. At the formation of the first annulus lengths range from 1.8 to 3.4 inches (Burns, 1966). Few attain an age of over two years or lengths over seven inches (Par- sons and Kimsey, 1954).
Can shad live in freshwater?
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Shad are anadromous, which means they live in the ocean but spawn in freshwater rivers and streams. In spring, adults migrate to the waterway in which they were born to spawn. Females lay 100,000 to 600,000 eggs over the course of several days.
What do shad eat in freshwater?
Both gizzard shad (Dorosoma cepedianum) and threadfin shad (Dorosoma petenense) are grazers, eating plankton, the grass of the lakes and rivers.
What should I feed my shad?
Diet of the Shad
The diet of this species varies based on their age and size. Younger individuals feed primarily on tiny invertebrates, like insect larvae and zooplankton. As they age and grow larger, they begin feeding on fish eggs, insects, worms, and eventually small fish, shrimp, and various crustaceans.
How much is a load of threadfin shad?
One load of Threadfin shad (5,000 to 7,000) or about 25 pounds of fish can cost as much as $1800.00 or $2.57-$3.60 for each fish. Threadfin shad can only survive in most private lakes for only 3-8 month at best.
What color is threadfin shad?
Description: Threadfin Shad are relatively small forage fish with a body shaped like a lance. They have a flattened belly with a sawtooth belly. They are usually silver in color fading to black or blue near the caudal fin. Threadfin and gizzard shad both have a long thread like filament at the end of the dorsal fin.
How long does it take for shad eggs to hatch?
4 to 12 days
Adult females can release up to 600,000 eggs per season. Surrounding males release their milt fertilizing the eggs. The fertilized eggs drift down river and hatch within 4 to 12 days. Juvenile American shad After hatching the larvae will feed on their yolk sac for 4-7 days before finding food.
Where do shad go during the day?
Often, it is to a mossbed, treeline or other type of vegetation; it is not simply to open, shallow water. “Then, early in the morning, these same shad leave and head toward deeper water, where they roam throughout the day.
How do you know when Shads are spawning?
“The shad spawn always happens first thing in the morning in low-light conditions,” Scroggins said. “This gets the bass feeding early because the food train is coming through in the morning.” No doubt, if you get a late start and roll up anytime after the sun’s full emergence, you’ve missed some valuable fishing time.
Do catfish eat shad?
Shad is an excellent choice for catfish bait all year long when targeting blue and channel catfish, in fact, it’s my top catfish bait. There’s no “season” for when you can and cannot use them. If they’re feeding on shad you can use it for bait and it’s rare they won’t be feeding on fish.
What is the best bait for bass in a lake?
Shad, minnows, or shiners are some of the best live baits for bass, hands down. Baitfish come in different sizes and can be used in all types of bass waters, but they are incredibly productive in deeper water to target huge bass.
What kind of fish eat shad?
Largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass gorge on shad when available. When shad are abundant, these are five reliable fishing lures that will haul-in fish.
What fish should I stock my pond with?
A typical pond stocking strategy for a warm-water pond would be 1,000-1,500 bluegills, 50-100 bass, and 50-200 catfish per acre. Many recreational pond owners, however, prefer to stock bluegills and catfish to increase the size and population of bass.
Lorraine Wade is all about natural food. She loves to cook and bake, and she’s always experimenting with new recipes. Her friends and family are the lucky beneficiaries of her culinary skills! Lorraine also enjoys hiking and exploring nature. She’s a friendly person who loves to chat with others, and she’s always looking for ways to help out in her community.