01-19-07, 01:40 AM | #1 |
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Gizzard Shad
I'm looking into a custom paintjob on some of my lures to match the forage on the first lake of my tournament trail. The number 1 forage is Gizzard Shad. I was wondering what size a gizzard shad would be in the middle of march in Pennsylvania. The water temperature will be in the 40's-50's and on the northern side around noon, the pockets will hit the 60's.
So my question is, would a gizzard shad in march be about the size of a #5 Shad Rap, or a Rattlin' Rogue?
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01-19-07, 10:52 AM | #2 |
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the shad are bigger in the spring, then after the hatch you'll see the smaller fingerlings in the water, but on most of our midwest lakes, you can find shad almost any size if you fish enough.
We have many at St. Marys that are huge....and slimey. |
01-20-07, 10:10 PM | #3 |
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Gizzard shad can be up around 10" in the spring around here. I fish some early tournaments in the spring here in Pa as well. Depending on the lake, you should have alewives as well. For spring Shad Raps, I typically throw an SR09. This is the biggest one they make. Hope it helps you, and I sure hope we have water temps that warm in March and April. I don't believe I've ever seen it that warm before. It is usually more like the low 40's. Good Luck
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01-20-07, 10:11 PM | #4 |
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welcome to the forum bassfanpa!
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01-21-07, 05:50 PM | #5 |
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I dislike gizzard shad, they can really mess up a fishery. But they do get big, and some good advice already.
Lizards
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01-21-07, 07:37 PM | #6 |
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Thanks Skeeter. InExcess, where are you fishing. I may be able to help you out a bit. Used to fish quite a bit in the central and western part of the state, now I'm in the eastern.
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01-24-07, 01:06 PM | #7 |
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Gizzard shad make great blue cat bait.. cast net or snaged..
Live a or chunked but never frozen.. Capt Mike
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01-24-07, 02:41 PM | #8 |
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They lowered one of our bigger lakes around here 8' this winter to try to kill off some of the gizzard shad. Dont know if it will work...
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01-24-07, 04:36 PM | #9 |
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bassfanpa, what lakes did you fish in western Pa? I fish Pymatuning, some small lakes. I am going to try Keystone and any other you say are good.
Bob
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01-24-07, 06:10 PM | #10 |
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now gizzard shad will be at there biggest in the winter thru spring.. they spawn about the same time as the bass do.. after the spawn you will see clouds of tiny shad fry-looks like smoke under water- there is but one lure to throw at this time -lil george- a #5 shad rap would work in early cooler temps but i would focus on craw colors. in the #5 shad rap or jointed shad rap.. bass normally hit the craws hard early in the year..
i have seen gizzard shad from 1" to 20" long. here is a picture is of a gizzard shad.. zooker
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