Gizzard Shad

InEccess · 01-19-07, 01:40 AM

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?

JB · 01-19-07, 10:52 AM

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.

bassfanpa · 01-20-07, 10:10 PM

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

skeeter944 · 01-20-07, 10:11 PM

welcome to the forum bassfanpa!

lizardsrule · 01-21-07, 05:50 PM

I dislike gizzard shad, they can really mess up a fishery. But they do get big, and some good advice already.

Lizards

bassfanpa · 01-21-07, 07:37 PM

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.

Captmikestarrett · 01-24-07, 01:06 PM

Gizzard shad make great blue cat bait.. cast net or snaged..
Live a or chunked but never frozen..
Capt Mike

CMorg · 01-24-07, 02:41 PM

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...

bassinbob · 01-24-07, 04:36 PM

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

zooker · 01-24-07, 06:10 PM

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

01-19-07, 01:40 AM	#1
InEccess BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: East of Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 227	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? __________________ Bass Club '07 season Rookie of the Year runner up. '08 seasons Runner Up. Second overall.

01-24-07, 01:06 PM	#7
Captmikestarrett BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: May 2006 Location: Accokeek MD Posts: 3,315	Gizzard shad make great blue cat bait.. cast net or snaged.. Live a or chunked but never frozen.. Capt Mike __________________ Capt Mike Starrett light tackle guide Potomac River http://www.indianheadcharters.com

01-24-07, 04:36 PM	#9
bassinbob BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Pitts. Pa. Posts: 3,801	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 __________________ you can have my fishin rod when ya take it from my cold dead hands

01-24-07, 06:10 PM	#10
zooker BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: denton nc Posts: 13,441	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 __________________ the godfather.. aml in remission since 7-20-09

01-19-07, 10:52 AM	#2
JB BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 8,655	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
bassfanpa BassFishin.Com Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 15	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

01-20-07, 10:11 PM	#4
skeeter944 BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Somewhere in South Carolina Posts: 2,377	welcome to the forum bassfanpa!

01-21-07, 05:50 PM	#5
lizardsrule BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Saint Augustine, FL Posts: 7,374	I dislike gizzard shad, they can really mess up a fishery. But they do get big, and some good advice already. Lizards __________________ There are three types of Snakes I hate 1. Live Snakes 2. Dead Snakes 3. Sticks that look like Snakes. And Gators too!

01-21-07, 07:37 PM	#6
bassfanpa BassFishin.Com Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 15	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.

01-24-07, 02:41 PM	#8
CMorg BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Southern , IN Posts: 1,832	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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