Had A Chance Encounter With Thousands Of Shad...

[martintheduck]

Quick scoop: I was fishing a tournament this weekend in tough conditions. High bluebird skys and flat calm, the morning bite was the only thing looking promising. Practice didn't produce any real indicators on the bite other than fishing channel swings where vegetation was matting up and underwater grass was thick. Pulled up to the first spot after a 20 minute run - a straight away right before a hard swing. We tossed frogs for about 10 minutes and then I just got the overwhelming sensation that we needed to move about 1000 yards down to the channel swing ASAP! I saw some birds down the way too and that helped with the decision. We ran down there, dropped the trolling motor... no exaggeration when I saw THOUSANDS of shad were popping in the pads and vegetation. Bass were busting all over the place and I was convinced we were about to pull our limit quick. We fished the area for the next hour until the activity settled and didn't catch a single fish.

 

Had 4 come up and slap the heck out of a frog, but wouldn't commit. Tried a following up with wacky senkos and beavers. NOTHING. 

 

 

Swam a jig, jerked a fluke, frogs, spinner baits, swim bait, senkos, and the classic ole' trusty small white slug-go. NOTHING! The vegetation was too thick to throw a pop-r but i wish I could have. I think that would have been the ticket. 

 

 

I need some help - What else could we have done to elicit a bite? When I fish around such large concentrations of bait fish, my experience has been that they are so keyed in on the bait that it is harder to trick them.

 

 

What else could we have done?

[smalljaw67]

That is the most heart breaking thing that can happen and unfortunately there is little you can do other than leave the area. I would first try to find a spinnerbait with the right size blades to match the hatch or a swim jig with a small swim bait trailer, those 2 baits seem to draw strikes during those events. I was in the middle of a Damsel fly hatch about 15 years ago, I saw some massive smallmouth coming up and just busting the surface everywhere, it was unreal!!!! I didn't get a single fish or even a bite, it was one of the those times when the fish were keyed in on a specific type of forage and if you weren't close then forget getting bit.

[the reel ess]

I've had this too. Nothing you can do.

[Wayne P.]

That is way I carry several sizes of lipless crankbaits. Just have to match the bait size to compete.

[livemusic]

I was reading an article in the past day or so about this very thing and the guy slayed them when others caught nothing by using a fly rod and fly/lure that worked. I have endured the frustration myself.

[ripinit]

I've had this happen, as well. Its really humbling. Match the hatch, has worked. Whether its a tiny fluke, or spoon, or small crappie rigs/Alabama rigs, you just have to get creative, and luck into what works sometimes...

[Choporoz]

I just resign myself to the assumption that with so much easy natural forage available, there's no reason for them to strike a lure.  In open water, I'll try a popper through the middle of busting shad, or spinnerbait and crankbait right below the surface. 

[WRB]

What color was the frog? A smaller size white frog often works good when the Shad are in cover and bass feeding on them. Johnson silver minnow or Redfish weedless spoon also works good.

Tom

[the reel ess]

You can try this combo: Tie the Front Runner about 12-18" ahead of the baby bass Spook. When you walk the Spook, the Front Runner zigs and zags the opposite direction. I have a couple. You can imagine what it looks like. I have caught a couple off the front. But there's the potential for the big one on the back or doubles.

[scaleface]

You can try this combo: Tie the Front Runner about 12-18" ahead of the baby bass Spook. When you walk the Spook, the Front Runner zigs and zags the opposite direction. I have a couple. You can imagine what it looks like. I have caught a couple off the front. But there's the potential for the big one on the back or doubles.

I have one of those and have never used it. Have you ever tried it with a crankbait ?

[the reel ess]

I have one of those and have never used it. Have you ever tried it with a crankbait ?

No. I haven't. Due to the way a crankbait digs, I think the Front Runner would be upside-down most of the retrieve.

[MassBass]

rattlebait

[martintheduck]

What color was the frog? A smaller size white frog often works good when the Shad are in cover and bass feeding on them. Johnson silver minnow or Redfish weedless spoon also works good.

Tom

White frogs were thrown with no success.

 

 

That is way I carry several sizes of lipless crankbaits. Just have to match the bait size to compete.

 

 

rattlebait

 So funny story... night before tourny I decided to pull out a secret weapon. I grabbed one of my prized Xcalibur one knockers in Sexy Shad color.... i painted it chartreuse and it looked incredible. I have found hard baits with one rattle produce better in muddy water that we are fishing. So We fish the morning bite with all those shad and don't get bit. Aggravated, we move to another spot and I tie on my secret weapon one knocker. I cast it, let it sink, rip it through the grass. Maybe the third cast, BAM! I set the hook and the line goes slack. I reel fast thinking he's coming right at the boat, but as I continue reeling I realize my line snapped. About the time I realize this, I see a 20inch jack fish SHOOT 2 feet out the water, shaking violently, hearing my trap make the unmistakeable CHANG CHANG CHANG sound. I'm upset because this was the only one I painted and brought with me! Aggravated, I tie on a yozuri trap with a chrome belly and black back, but I just have zero confidence in it. Start flipping and about 10 minutes later, here comes the ole jack fish leaping out the water, making the unmistakable CHANG CHANG CHANG noise as he tried to shake the hook. Give it another 5 minutes and he leaps out the water again trying to shake it. He must have shot out the water 6 or 7 times trying to shake free of that rattle trap, and at some point, it became funny and really helped lighten the depressed mood on our boat.

[WRB]

You said 4 strikes on a frog, I suggested a smaller size white frog, so the white frog got you some attention, you didn't mention the frog size or make.

This bite should be around for awhile. Take a look at a Nemire 1/2 oz Red Ripper spoon, both silver and gold, perfect for this situation.

Tom

[martintheduck]

It was a mid size spro frog and stanley ribbets (old school floating kind, not the hollow bodies). That spoon looks awesome.

[WRB]

I was leaning towards seaguar tatsu. Was wondering if anyone had any experience with it. Looking to spoil it not as a leader. Also wondering how tough this line is, do I have to worry about it snapping all the time and losing fish and lures?

It was a mid size spro frog and stanley ribbets (old school floating kind, not the hollow bodies). That spoon looks awesome.

Terminology; frog to me is a hollow body, toad is a solid body. Spro jr60 is about 2 1/2" p, 1/2 oz.

Good luck.

Tom

[Shanes7614]

Could have tried a buzz bait. The extra surface commotion could have sparked their interest.

[fishballer06]

Rat-L-Trap

Chatterbait

Spinnerbait

Buzzbait

[catch anything]

zman popper shads maybe?

[Dogmatic]

+1 weedless spoon.

[MIbassyaker]

. He must have shot out the water 6 or 7 times trying to shake free of that rattle trap...

 

Serves him right.