best way to catch shad......

[ryan_ekubass]

how do u go about using a cast net to catch shad and where are the best places to look adn best thign to carry them in and such.....

[elnutsmalljaws]

how do u go about using a cast net to catch shad and where are the best places to look adn best thign to carry them in and such.....

www.calusa.com is a great site to see how to cast the net. Looks good but I have never tried it. I know some guides at Cumberland use the lights around the Marina to catch theirs while others drop lights up in the creeks and wait for them to gather.

[HURRICANEBOB]

Hi guy, adding to the other post:

Net: The Calusa's are great nets, but expensive. Betts Old Salt in 6 or 7 foot with 3/8 inch mesh is a good starter net for about half the price. If this is first net and learning to throw, then don't get an 8 foot or bigger net, as much heavier and harder to learn to throw, you'll tire to easily to get much practice.

What type shad are you after? Gixzzards are best found at back of creeks especailly in clay bank areas, or right around marinas around rip rap. Threadfin will come up to lights at night. On Cland this week you could get them with a floating light over side of boat, set there for about 20 minutes, and shad will come up. Get your net ready to thro, kill the light, wait 305 seconds, then throw the net. If light is on you won't get as many per throw, I think it casue with the light on the shad can see the net coming. Alwive shad are usually biger than threadfin, and smaller than gizzards, and same works with light over the side of the boat in creek mouths or on main lake over about 40-60 fooot of water, but you must let the net go deeper. The alewives tend to stay deeper.

Keeping them means you have to have a tank with round sides, or an oblong tank, as they will nose into corners, and die other wise. Keep water running thru tank, or atleast change the water about once an hour. An aerator helps mucho, even the low cost battery types/

Good luck.