Shad Golden Shiner for catfish bait

Not many big shad this year so I've start putting some small ones in freezer (for future catfish :)

I get a dozen nice size golden shiner most afternoon's - when I need them for bait (but not putting these in freezer - didn't have much luck with these - shad work better IMHO)

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• shad
• golden
• shiner
• bream
• catfish
• bait

[ARKIEPRINCE]

I freeze some - just in case I can't get fresh. However, I keep a 'feed bucket' hanging off my pier and manage to keep shad within throwing distance of my net.

When I do use frozen shad - I put 3 of them on each hook and hook them thru the backbone i.e. find the hard spot behind the head thru backbone and they stay on 'better'

I've tried the dried shad you can buy at Wal Mart - but don't like them so I use some mushy ones (but not often - prefer live bream and feed plenty of them

[BengalKY4691]

we have been getting so huge shad down here in KY

[ARKIEPRINCE]

Huge shad can be found below the dams on the river but none of the huge ones are around my place on Lake Conway - like they were last year.

[ttenni]

Do you only use fresh shad as bait, or do you freeze some? I've found that frozen shad are kinda mushy after thawing and won't stay on a hook very well.

I've dehydrated some using a mixture of salt and sugar. Once dehydrated, they'll store at room temp in a ziplock bag forever. Soak them in water for a couple of hours and they feel like a fresh fish again. While they work better than no bait, they don't seem to work as well as fresh. You just can't beat fresh shad for catfish bait!

[Katmaster1511]

great bait :] i havent had a chance to freeze any yet

[iphonehelp22]

those r penut bunker

[JON123KO]

no duh u aint gettin no bg shiners ur catching them all before they can grow!