Actually, saw what we thought was schoolies on Fayette. When we got closer it was a huge floater with a shad stuck in its mouth. Lipped the poor fellow, pulled out the huge shad that was partially digested, revived for a minute, took a quick picture, and revived some more. Floated for about a minute more, that took a couple of tail "strokes" and disappeared. This was the first fish we caught after several hours of nada. We eventually ended up with around 30 but nothing this big.

Job well done. Thanks for sharing. Hope she makes it.

You should be throwing big shad swim baits

Looks like that's not the first big shad she ate.

That fish looks all out of proportion, giant head, fat gut and short body, did you weight it?

Good job saving a big fish though hopefully it will grow into that head, fayette needs more big fish

Those big girls on Fayette like big shad imitators. I've caught numerous 7-9s on big 8-10" swim baits and the magnum flutter spoons

Nice info. What part of the lake? I want some.

You shoulda took a picture of the shad would love to see how big it was!

Same deep spots most fish just committing to throwing big baits. The dam,dishcharge, intake, creek channels, pond dams. I can't remember catching a fish over 5 out of the trees on Fayette honestly

Didn't weigh or measure took quick picture and put back in water. Guess was around 25" and close to 10 lbs. The tail was bent away from camera on picture so it looks stubbier. The gut looked a little bloated but there was something still in there. The head was gone from the shad, I would guess around 10". After shad was removed (it came out very easy) I could feel vibrations from its belly like its system was unplugged and starting to work again. Most of the 5#rs+ I have caught come in water under 6 feet. This one was no exception.

Hope she survives. Good thing ya did. That lake needs more 10s swimming in it