Have a shad question for you live bait fisherman. I can locate shad most of the time on my graph, and catch them good enough when I need to, but how do you find bigger shad than 2-3"? Do you just look in deeper water, or is there something in particular you do to find the bigger bait? Appreciate any help.

Down imaging helps finding big gizzard shad , on 2d sonar they look like regular school of shad but on down imaging you will see separate white dots for the gizzard shad, down imaging on threadfin shad will look just like the 2d sonar just a big ball.

I like big gizzard shad for striper and hybrids--5-10 inches. I rarely use my graph to find them--I use my eyes. Look for herons or egrits in protected coves and throw around submerged weeds. Often you will see them flip on the surface. Good luck