Catching shad/alewives in Cumberland/Dale

[plowboy]

I used to catch shad at the lake but its been a few years. How do most of the guides catch them? We would put a lights out and throw a cast net with some extra rope tied to it. Is there a better way? I noticed that at Dale Hollow alot of the house boats use lift or umbrella nets with a hoist to catch shad. I can't figure any way to rig a set up like that on a bass boat. Any ideas welcome.

[panfish]

I purchased a smelt net with a telescoping handle to help catch them this year. If the shad are abundant, and your wanting to fish the same place your catching shad, a smelt net seems like a better way to go. The cast net will spook the fish. The smelt net usually won't. Good luck.

[plowboy]

Where do you get one and is it usable from a bass boat? I imagine you use it at night under lights. What size would you recomend. I will probably try to catch some alewives in Dale sometime with it.

[panfish]

cabela's has them, I'm sure others sell them

[thebassman30]

now why the heck would you want to do that 8^)

Hey man....I couldn't resist.

[plowboy]

I do enjoy fishing live bait every now and then. I have been catching several smallies but I've been working hard for them. I get 5 swipes or follows for every fish on the jerk bait. Apparently I'm not doing something right to make them commit. A friend suggested throwing back with a soft jerkbait. But I still like fishing live bait every now and then.

[thebassman30]

You might want to do a guide trip with Andrew Robertson on www.smalljaw.com. He'll fix your jerkbait misses and turn you on to several other Spring techniques on The Hollow. We've recently discussed what's working well for him, but I'd prefer to let him tell you that information.

[plowboy]

10-4 I've been looking at his website. I may do that one day.