Seems like the alewives are hard to keep alive this time of the year. You really have to know what you are doing and have a good filtered bait tank with a bunch of additives. I hear ya on shiners.
I had hadn't really used them since about a year ago.

Tried them last Sunday and had some pretty quick hookups. Just takes one god trip to get the confidence in the little devils back. I hat forgotten what good escape artists they are. Gone try something different to keep them on the hook.

Stripernut may chime in with better info on alewives this time of the year.