Shad or no Shad?

[seaphantom]

I live on a small 50 acre lake with relatively clear water and depths of 2-29 feet. I live in the somewhat northern region of Georgia.

I think I've seen schools of some kind of bait suspending above the bottom on the fish finder, but am still not sure whether this lake has, excluding panfish, shad/shiners or some other species of live bait.

How can I tell that my lake contains shad?

thank you,


seaphantom

[Rodman_Rob]

I've heard of some people placing chum in the same spot of a lake for week, 2weeks, month and then use a cast net or siene to catch the shad. Being a fairly small lake, I'd throw 5-10 dozen shiners in there and hopefully they'll reproduce. As far as the chum goes (keep in mind, you're chumming for shiners, so your typical ground up fish won't cut it) I've heard of people using hog feed, dog food, cat food, corn, etc. Do a search on the internet for good shad chum recipes, but I've always heard hog feed being the best. Unless you catch them, the only way to tell is visually seeing them.

[zooker]

cast net


zooker

[lizardsrule]

Originally Posted by Rodman_Rob

Being a fairly small lake, I'd throw 5-10 dozen shiners in there and hopefully they'll reproduce.

Not without the "OWNERS" permission of course Don't put the wrong kind of shad in, such a Gizzard Shad. You should be able to see shad, but I'm with zooker a cast net will tell you quickly.

Lizards

[flachristopherkeene9]

Throw some oatmeal out (uncooked) then wait for them then cast net em'. If you don't already have one buy a 3 or 4 footer. Since we use an 8 footer for saltwater and It'll wear you out throwing it alot. Also be sure to practice throwing it abunch in your yard, perferbly a pool but if not but a tarp out and shoot for that so you don't get twigs and sticks caught.

Chris

[HuckFinn]

Get one of the metal basket trap. Put your choice of bait into it, throw it into the lake, tie it off to a tree or bush and leave it over night.
Check it in the morning, you should have either the fish parts there of if you have some type of swimming critters. I lose a number of my bait to eels. Of course I put my trap in coastal river. I collect the bait for saltwater fishing
You can get the trap at wal mart or almost any sports store. They are easier to use than the cast nets. I fall out of the boat using those things. I would rather try to use a baitcaster with my left hand

[1FASTLASER]

Be careful throwing in shiners to a lake that may not contain that particular species. You open yourself up for legal litigation ie.....It is illegal in most places I know to introduce a forign species of fish and also you may possibly may alter the eco system.

[pig n jig]

Very few lakes here have shad in them. We have smelt and alewife and a bunch of assorted shiners and chubs. P N J

[zooker]

a key note here 90% of all bait fish are white or silver in coloration. try a spinner bait in both colors to see which they prefure...


zooker

[bassnman30]

I must agree with Zooker on this one: cast net.

[Rodman_Rob]

just like bass, shad won't be all over a lake, therefore unless you're right on top of them, a cast net won't be productive, you'll need to chum an area first.

[Christopherkeene9]

Rodman thats why I said to throw oatmeal out first.

Chris

[Rodman_Rob]

hog feed is what the commercial guys use.