Category: Fish

Baits and Lures Live baits including worms, small minnows and grubs can be used to catch shad, but artificial luresartificial luresA spinnerbait is any of a family of fishing lures that get their name from one or more metal blades shaped so as to spin like a propeller when the lure is in motion, creating […]

Feeding. In the ocean, American shadAmerican shadShad 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. Eggs drift downstream and hatch in […]

Bass, pike, and walleye prefer eating soft-finned gizzard shad to spiny-finned bluegill. The gizzard shad is named for its muscular, gizzard-like stomach. It is also known as a sawbelly because of the keeled scales found between the anal fin and gills. Can gizzard shad be eaten raw? Not all fish is edible in its raw […]

Freshwater baitfish naturally school in a circular pattern in the wild. If you try to keep them in a in a modified cooler or other container with 90-degree corners, they will all congregate in one corner. This will deplete the oxygen in that part of the tank and your shad will get the dreaded red […]

The Best Shad Lures Traditional color patterns include red and white, but other bright-colored dart-style lures will catch shad. What is the best time to catch shad? Shad spend their autumns and winters in the ocean, so the best time to fish them is during the spring and summer, when they return to the rivers […]

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. What is Shad good bait for? Fresh […]

Shad are larger than most minnows and need a larger space. Choose a location that is away from direct heat or cold, somewhere you can maintain temperature and water levels year-round. Fill the tank with clean, non-chlorinated water and place a few clay flower pots on their sides in the tank. Can you keep Shad? […]

The American Shad primarily feed on plankton, similar to other herrings. They will also eat small shrimp, fish eggs, worms, and the occasional small fish. During their spawn travels, shad may filter feed but generally eat very little if at all during their journey. What do shad eat in freshwater? Both gizzard shad (Dorosoma cepedianum) […]

They can be found in open brackish waters, as well as large ponds, lakes, and reservoirs. They are dependent on light for foraging and will stay high in the water column. Very tolerant of salinity, threadfin shad can even live in salt water environments. Are Shad good for bass? A flurry of shad breaking the […]

TPWD-licensed fishing guides* who are catching and selling shad to bait shops or other fishing guides, in addition to offering shad as part of their services. All holders of nongame fish permits are required to follow all applicable regulations regarding bag and length limits and legal freshwater devices. Do you need a license to sell […]

If the run is going strong, you likely won’t have to wait all that long. Set your rod up with 6- to 12-pound test and use lures or hooks around a 1 or a 1/0 size. In most waters, shad tend to hold in the slow- to mid-flow sections and are going to be hanging […]

3/8 Inch Mesh. 3/8 Inch Mesh – This is a good average size for catching bait. It will catch small shad and you will have fewer issues with fish being “gilled” (their heads stuck in the net). You’ll catch bigger shad and all of the smaller shad with this mesh size. What size casting net […]

Flathead catfish can be caught using shad and are often caught using both live and cut shad but if you plan to exclusively target flathead a live bait that’s hearty and easier to keep alive is typically a better option. What is Shad good for catching? Shad are overgrown members of the herring family that […]

Introduction: Bait a Hook With Whole Shad Threadfin shad are a great bait for catching blue catfish and regardless of whether you are fishing for smaller blue catfish or after that next monster catfish using whole threadfin shad is an excellent bait option for catching blue cats. What are shad good for catching? Shad are […]

Yes, it is! There’s been a few exceptions, very few and it’s something that requires a specific time of year and a very specific set of circumstances. It also lasts for a very brief period of time. The other 350 days of the year, fresh shad is best for catfish bait. How Long Does Frozen […]

One of the best things you can do to keep shad healthy is add rock salt. I put 1 cup rocksalt in 15 gallons of water. I learned this from the Texoma Striper guides. Helps keep their scales on. What kind of salt keep shad alive? Add 1 cup of rock salt per 10 gallons […]

Keeping Shad Alive A good tank will cost $400.00-$600.00 but will last for many years, about the only thing to replace is the pump and it is a must to always have a spare pump. What kind of salt keep shad alive? Add 1 cup of rock salt per 10 gallons of water to your […]

What Do Crappie Eat? Crappie feed on a variety of food items throughout the year. The bulk of their diet consists of microscopic zooplankton and baitfish like minnows, shiners, and shad. What is crappie favorite bait? Minnows, worms, insects—just about anything can catch a crappie’s attention. You don’t have to worry about the color of […]

If you’re unfamiliar with shad roe, a few things you should know. First, while it’s not high in calories, it is high in cholesterol: about 500 milligrams per 3 ounces, similar to that in calves or beef liver. Because shad roe is often cooked in butter and/or bacon fat, the cholesterol per person can be […]

This species is omnivorous, feeding on plankton, algae, small aquatic insect larvae, and detritus. Like the closely related threadfin shad, the gizzard shad is primarily a filter feeder. However, gizzard shad are primarily bottom feeders, while threadfins feed mostly in open water. What is the best bait to catch shad? The best bait for American […]