Catching threadfin shad for bait

[snospdr]

I read somewhere that threadfin shad can be caught with very small hooks and doughbait. Has anyone had any luck doing this? We're not allowed to use a throw net in my state, and sometimes a dip net just isn't doing it for deeper shad.

[JohnR]

Originally Posted by snospdr

I read somewhere that threadfin shad can be caught with very small hooks and doughbait. Has anyone had any luck doing this? We're not allowed to use a throw net in my state, and sometimes a dip net just isn't doing it for deeper shad.

Snospdr - welcome to S-B - what state are you in?

We don't get much of them up our way in the northeast but we do have some relatives.

[Clammer]

WTF ARE THOSE ><><

I found some of the other ones / not hot & heavy

[snospdr]

Hey John R
I'm in California. We've got a lot of lakes with stripers, and most of the lakes have huge schools of baitfish called threadfin shad. They get to be about 5 inches in length and many states allow throw nets to catch them. California allows dip nets, which are not very productive once the sun comes up and the fish get skittish.

[JohnR]

Snospdr - you might need to get up earlier, ya know, early bird gets... This is common with many baitfish.

You may want to see if a Sabiki rig is an option.


Clammer - similar to our herring / shad. Same overall family.