What Do You Do When The Shad Bite Completely Dies And The Fish Shut Down?

[SDbassin]

Hey all, I was fishing yesterday morning from the bank at a lake here in San Diego. I was throwing a spinnerbait parallel to the bank and caught 4, 4lbers using a sexy shad spinner bait, and a squarebill. These fish were chasing shad for about the first 3 hours of the morning, then after they, the fish completely shut down and nothing bit until very late in the day. My question is, what do you do when the shad bite completely dies and the fish shut down, do you try to get reaction strikes, or slow down and fish with a jig/worm or something on those lines. After the bite died, I was throwing a shakey head and got bit once but lost the fish; I tried throwing a jig, weightless Senko, and small swimbaits, but nothing would bite. Is it normal for shad lakes, after the fish are done chasing shad, to just completely shut down, or do the fish tend to move out into deeper water that I just couldn't get too. I know some fish are spawning in my neck of the woods, so that might also have to do with the bite, but not really sure as this is my first spring fishing for bass and not to mention I don't have much experience fishing shad lakes. I could see the shad everywhere right up close to the bank the whole day. Also, in shad lakes, Do the bass tend to eat at certain times of the day, and then shut down during the non-feeding periods? I'm asking, because I will be getting a boat hopefully in the next few months and will be able to move around much more than from the bank lol, and want to know what kind of techniques that could be useful to catch those fish that aren't necessarily active after the shad bite dies.

[Ozark_Basser]

I've seen this situation before. A lot of times it hard to fire them back up again, but you can always coax one into biting. There's a real good chance they are somewhere in the vicinity, especially if the shad are still there. My first choice would be a jerkbait just because of its drawing power in clear water. If it was stained up, I'd try a spinnerbait.

[SDbassin]

thanks jiggin'

 

Ya they were there, I'd get a few followers after the bite slowed down and they would show themselves, but the mood of the fish completely changed. They completely crushed the spinnerbait I was throwing, then they started to slap at it, or short strikes, then nothing. kinda weird. Water was stained. Couldn't get them fired up again,  but I kept trying! I just couldn't figure it out after the spinnerbait bite died, and had no idea what was really going on, even with the shad right up against the bank the whole day

[Dylcook91]

I simply go home disgruntled

[A-Jay]

I'd be happy I caught the 16 lbs of bass and head home

 

Try it again tomorrow morning.

 

BTW - that bag would put you in the money if you were fishing the BASS Elite Series this week

 

A-Jay

[papajoe222]

I'd do what I always do when their activity level goes from active to inactive. You did good while they were feeding, what presentations do you use when they aren't?

[F14A-B]

The fish simply became "full" of shad.. Move and locate different schools. Sounds like a very good day!

[fishballer06]

I agree with alone. If that school was feeding for 3 hours, they likely had full bellies. Time to move and find another school. Come back the next day at the same time and try it again.

[SDbassin]

I'd do what I always do when their activity level goes from active to inactive. You did good while they were feeding, what presentations do you use when they aren't?

I was mixing it up between a shaky head and a jig, just trying different things to see if those would work. If I was in a boat it would be much easier to locate more schools of fish, since the shore is pretty rough at the lake I fish. I'm headin back out there tomorrow morning and see if I can locate more than one or two schools of fish. The guy fishing next to me the other day caught a 12.6 throwing a jerkbait over beds, I'm gonna give that a try!!

[SDbassin]

So really the best thing to do when they shut down is just to try and cover more water and find new schools of active fish?

[F14A-B]

So really the best thing to do when they shut down is just to try and cover more water and find new schools of active fish?

In my opinion, yes! However, on a rough shore bound angling situation, I can see your dilemma. 3 hours is a lengthy feeding period. But, doing what you did after the active bite, would be considered appropriate, ( jigging ) etc.. If there are beds in the area, your likely to stand a chance at sticking additional fish. Not feeding fish, bedding fish. Good luck! Sounds like your on them good!

[SDbassin]

I'd be happy I caught the 16 lbs of bass and head home

 

Try it again tomorrow morning.

 

BTW - that bag would put you in the money if you were fishing the BASS Elite Series this week

 

A-Jay

I was so happy! Best bag I've ever caught but wanted that fifth one so bad but couldn't get another bite lol. It took 31 pounds on the last day of a local tournament to win last weekend.

[gulfcaptain]

Learn to fish the umbrella rig.  The few places I fish that have shad, when the bite dies for most fishing cranks and spinnerbaits, fishing one of these in the same areas will pick up fish the spinnerbaits and cranks won't.  They just can't let that baitball swim past.  

[SDbassin]

In my opinion, yes! However, on a rough shore bound angling situation, I can see your dilemma. 3 hours is a lengthy feeding period. But, doing what you did after the active bite, would be considered appropriate, ( jigging ) etc.. If there are beds in the area, your likely to stand a chance at sticking additional fish. Not feeding fish, bedding fish. Good luck! Sounds like your on them good!

Ya its difficult bank fishing from this lake, but I'm looking at getting a boat soon, just gotta get my diploma first, 2 more months!!!!   I couldn't see any beds on the bank that you could fish from but after that guy caught a 12 throwing a jerkbait I have to try it!