Topwater98 Posted September 6, 2013 Posted September 6, 2013 I was wondering how to tell if the lakes that I fish in have shad in them? Do almost all lakes have shad or how do you tell? Thanks for any information. Quote
BadBassWV Posted September 6, 2013 Posted September 6, 2013 The only way I knew that my lake had shad was when I went fishing and saw about 25 or 30 of them lying on top of the water dead. I don't know what happened to them, just know they were shad. Quote
Super User Felix77 Posted September 6, 2013 Super User Posted September 6, 2013 Bring out your Zebco, tiny hooks and some worms. Fun way to discover forage. You might even get into a bass. Extra fun on ultralight gear. Quote
PABASS Posted September 6, 2013 Posted September 6, 2013 In my state the DNR lists population of fish and typical lake forage, outside of being on the water not sure of another way.. 1 Quote
Super User WRB Posted September 6, 2013 Super User Posted September 6, 2013 The "shad" that makes up fresh water black bass diet are Threadfin shad and young of the year Gizzard shad is most waterways, both have limited range north of the Mason-Dixon Line (where lakes freeze). If your lake doesn't freeze or stays above 45 degrees, it is possible to have a shad population. Some folks refer to herring as "shad" so it can get confusing. Tom Quote
Global Moderator Bluebasser86 Posted September 7, 2013 Global Moderator Posted September 7, 2013 The "shad" that makes up fresh water black bass diet are Threadfin shad and young of the year Gizzard shad is most waterways, both have limited range north of the Mason-Dixon Line (where lakes freeze). If your lake doesn't freeze or stays above 45 degrees, it is possible to have a shad population. Some folks refer to herring as "shad" so it can get confusing. Tom Our lakes freeze and we have lots of shad?? Easiest way to tell that I know of is to watch for them flipping around on the top, it's pretty distinct once you know what you're looking at. 2 Quote
Super User WRB Posted September 7, 2013 Super User Posted September 7, 2013 There are several varieties of minnows in most lakes like Silverside that look similar to "shad", about finger length and slimmer shape. All minnows school for safety and will puddle or dimple the water surface feeding, jump or flip out out of the water. The easiest way to know what the bait fish are is look at them or ask your local lake biologist. Shad, both Threadfin and Gizzard low water temp limit is 45 to 42 degrees, colder they die in mass and this not uncommon if the water temps drop. Tom Quote
keith71 Posted September 7, 2013 Posted September 7, 2013 They should be in the back of the creeks in the next month or two. At night if there are docks on your lake look for lighted ones and they will congregate around the beam. Quote
Brian6428 Posted September 7, 2013 Posted September 7, 2013 A lot of times I will see some a large circle of surface disturbance on the surface in the middle of the lake. I always casted to them hoping they were schools of bass or wipers but never caught anything. One day I saw one and trolled over to it. What I saw was a huge school of tiny shad. Another place i see them is when i go exploring the feeder creeks on the slow fishing days (i have a bass raider so I can make it up them pretty far lol) I usually see a few shad schools back there. Hope this helps. Brian Quote
Global Moderator Bluebasser86 Posted September 7, 2013 Global Moderator Posted September 7, 2013 The "shad" that makes up fresh water black bass diet are Threadfin shad and young of the year Gizzard shad is most waterways, both have limited range north of the Mason-Dixon Line (where lakes freeze). If your lake doesn't freeze or stays above 45 degrees, it is possible to have a shad population. Some folks refer to herring as "shad" so it can get confusing. Tom We aren't far above the freeze line so maybe that's why we get them. I believe all we have are Gizzard shad which I think are the hardier of the 2. Quote
Super User WRB Posted September 7, 2013 Super User Posted September 7, 2013 Adult Gizzard shad get over 20" long and can weight over 4 lbs, where Threadfin are smaller, adults rarely exceed 7" long. Both shad species have similar water temperature tolerance. Threadfin are phytoplankton eaters, Gizzard shad eat zoo plankton and other small aquatic critters. What can save the shad population from deing off in lakes that freeze for a short time period is spring water that is 60 degrees year around, one reason bass go deeper during the winter to seek warmer water and a food source. Tom Quote
Big Jon Posted September 12, 2013 Posted September 12, 2013 Well this answers that I definitely do not have any shad around me. I have been trying to figure out what these little fish are. They look pretty similar to this bait, only about an inch longer: http://www.basspro.com/Rapala-Skitter-Pop/product/15519/ They are in the ponds around here. They ball up in little groups moving the top of the water and occasionally jumping out. Would that be a minnow? I can't get a very close look since I am on shore and they are usually about 30-40 feet out at the closest. Quote
gr8outdoorz Posted September 12, 2013 Posted September 12, 2013 There are several varieties of minnows in most lakes like Silverside that look similar to "shad", about finger length and slimmer shape. All minnows school for safety and will puddle or dimple the water surface feeding, jump or flip out out of the water. The easiest way to know what the bait fish are is look at them or ask your local lake biologist. Shad, both Threadfin and Gizzard low water temp limit is 45 to 42 degrees, colder they die in mass and this not uncommon if the water temps drop. Tom This is right on! At the tailwater I fish most often, we regularly check the water temps on the lake. Once it hits 40* we know the "shad kill" is coming. These shad get sucked through the dam when they release water and the big Browns & Rainbows line up to feed! We start throwing nothing but shad flies then and tear them up. Most people think the best time for trophy trout is during the spawn. Fishing the shad kill is so much better! It will wear your arm out! Quote
bassguytom Posted September 12, 2013 Posted September 12, 2013 Our lakes freeze and we have lots of shad?? Easiest way to tell that I know of is to watch for them flipping around on the top, it's pretty distinct once you know what you're looking at. Yep. We Have them breaking all over the place right now. Quote
BassAssassin726 Posted September 13, 2013 Posted September 13, 2013 Tie on a tiny jig head with a tiny grub on an ultra light and fish! If you catch shad, there's shad, if you catch bluegill, there's bluegill. Etc etc. That's how I usually find out what the forage is on a lake or pond. Quote
BassAssassin726 Posted September 13, 2013 Posted September 13, 2013 Bring out your Zebco, tiny hooks and some worms. Fun way to discover forage. You might even get into a bass. Extra fun on ultralight gear. I hooked into a four pounder earlier this year on my 5 foot ultra light ugly stick. Talk about a fight. Thing felt like an Orca! Quote
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