where to get shad?
 

does anyone know where to get live shad around columbia ive been looking for a while just not having any luck finding them. or any good bait shops? Thanks!

I would think running shallow coves with your sonar would be a great way to find em right now. Saturday I noticed a +6 degree increase from the main channel opposed to the 3-12' flats off of the main channel. I don't know...so I'm just guessing!!

Throw a cast net almost any shallow cove, they are everywhere due to no die off this winter.

Live shad .. <'TK><
 

well alright then i think ill just try a cast nest a couple times and see how that goes never done it before but....practice makes perfect!! haha

A lot of times if you can catch them generating, the current will push them up next to a wall and you can use a dip net. If a place like that is available

Gen and Dip net <'TK><
 

Not talking about being in a boat... Didn't know I mentioned a boat in that post. I'm talking the walkway and rock banks most dams have. Maybe they are all completely different than cordell hull dam that I had in mind when posting that.

Think about it ... <'TK><
 

Your the one that said " you have to work for what you want " :)

I've had shad die instantly to under a minute, but i guess it depends on the conditions. At any rate they don't keep long. I use the live ones 1st and once they're all dead i cut them up and use them. I mostly fish for catfish.

Do like I did, use the dog for a target in the back yard for practice. Keeping them alive is another story. I have tried freezing shad, that doesnt turn out so well, maybe for some cats. But if you keep them just super cold on ice, they will stay fresh at least a couple of days, and most everything will still eat them with gusto. I have fished shad and skipjack this way with good results. I like to use smaller thread fin and alewife on a Walleye crawler rig, still have to keep them changed often to keep them fresh. The skipjack I would keep on ice until fish are located, then send them in and give them some action like fishing a big jig or plug, if not taken on the original fall.

Live shad .. <'TK><
 

If you are fishing below dams from shore, be prepared to loose your cast net. It might get hung up on the rocks. I have used piscator rigs to catch shad and skip jacks. I was in a boat; But if you can cast to the right places you can catch them from shore, too. I suggest keeping a rod rigged with the piscator and another for fishing the shad. You can catch a couple shad then fish with them. When you need some fresh shad your ready to catch some more. Here is what a piscator rig looks like. You will need a sinker on the bottom for casting.

http://www.academy.com/webapp/wcs/st...136+4294966969

I hope this will give you another option.

I learned how to throw one from a little boy in a youtube video. He really simplified it.