texasfishingforum.com logo
Main Menu
Advertisement
Affiliates
Advertisement
Newest Members
TraeMartin, Power-Pole CS, T-Rigger, JoeGoes, EcKo
119150 Registered Users
Top Posters(All Time)
hopalong 120,565
TexDawg 119,511
Bigbob_FTW 94,876
John175☮ 85,892
Pilothawk 83,259
Bob Davis 81,478
Mark Perry 72,280
Derek 🐝 68,311
JDavis7873 67,416
Forum Statistics
Forums59
Topics1,037,801
Posts13,934,738
Members144,150
Most Online39,925
Dec 30th, 2023
Print Thread
Advice: Shad? AM catfish? #12837632 07/22/18 06:12 PM
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 20
K
KayakGreaser Offline OP
Outdoorsman
OP Offline
Outdoorsman
K
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 20
So I've been searching for catfish on the colorado and some smaller rivers and creeks, and am new to cast netting. I've been trying to find shad for live bait, and had some luck but I don't really know what to look for.

I mostly just look for eddy's with easy access and other baitfish present so I don't mess up my cast net too bad, and it seems like a toss up whether I catch anything. Also, when I do find shad it seems like I don't get bites too often. It may also be affected by the time I am able to go usually, which is right at first light to around 10-11am. I know catfish are usually best at ~7-11pm but I can't go then.

Any advice is appreciated but especially finding shad, and morning catfishing on moving waters smile


Getting Better at Catfishing:
PB Blue - 8.1
PB Channel - ~5
PB Common Carp - ~10
Still Scouting for YC
Re: Advice: Shad? AM catfish? [Re: KayakGreaser] #12838681 07/23/18 04:32 PM
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 7,253
B
Beer Money Offline
TFF Celebrity
Offline
TFF Celebrity
B
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 7,253
Not sure if it helps you, but if there is a lake nearby, you should be able to net shad at a boat ramp in the mornings.

Re: Advice: Shad? AM catfish? [Re: KayakGreaser] #12838817 07/23/18 05:48 PM
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 580
E
erittmueller Offline
Pro Angler
Offline
Pro Angler
E
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 580
Sunfish are far far easier to keep alive than shad, just in case that's new info. If you are set on shad though look for holes below riffles/rapids to hold them.

Eric

Re: Advice: Shad? AM catfish? [Re: erittmueller] #12840315 07/24/18 07:25 PM
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,625
JJ4MEL Offline
TFF Team Angler
Offline
TFF Team Angler
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,625
Originally Posted By: erittmueller
Sunfish are far far easier to keep alive than shad, just in case that's new info. If you are set on shad though look for holes below riffles/rapids to hold them.

Eric


Buddy of mine is using live/dead sunfish and getting some really good fish outside of San Antonio.

Re: Advice: Shad? AM catfish? [Re: KayakGreaser] #12845167 07/28/18 03:44 PM
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 20
K
KayakGreaser Offline OP
Outdoorsman
OP Offline
Outdoorsman
K
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 20
Been super busy D: I've been having luck with boat ramp shad but if there are No Fishing signs can you still legally cast net? I thought it was considered fishing by tpwd. I used some live bream out on the Colorado but I think I need to go more towards night time, even in the heavy shade and good eddy, no luck lately.

Last edited by KayakGreaser; 07/28/18 03:45 PM.

Getting Better at Catfishing:
PB Blue - 8.1
PB Channel - ~5
PB Common Carp - ~10
Still Scouting for YC
Re: Advice: Shad? AM catfish? [Re: KayakGreaser] #12845169 07/28/18 03:46 PM
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 20
K
KayakGreaser Offline OP
Outdoorsman
OP Offline
Outdoorsman
K
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 20
I live and fish anywhere east of Austin, from Granger to smithville, although San Antonio isn't too far for a nice day trip. Just too hot lately for that much commitment hah


Getting Better at Catfishing:
PB Blue - 8.1
PB Channel - ~5
PB Common Carp - ~10
Still Scouting for YC
Re: Advice: Shad? AM catfish? [Re: KayakGreaser] #12858924 08/09/18 05:45 PM
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 22,793
T
TexasBlonde Offline
TFF Guru
Offline
TFF Guru
T
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 22,793
The punch type stink bait is very productive for catfish during the summer. Just use about a #8 small treble hook, a stick to punch the hook into the stink bait, and start fishing. They sell blood bait in a jar as punch bait, btw. My father used actual blood bait that was available at a local slaughter house around Abilene. Watching him load his treble hook with the coagulated blood was not a pleasant sight, but it caught lots of channel cats out of one of forks of the Brazos river.

Re: Advice: Shad? AM catfish? [Re: KayakGreaser] #12878209 08/27/18 06:23 PM
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 20
K
KayakGreaser Offline OP
Outdoorsman
OP Offline
Outdoorsman
K
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 20
I am apparently terrible at remembering to get on here and reply, I do read the reply's when I'm on break though.
TexasBlonde, I took your advice and finally tried some punch bait, and started catching some little blues. Me and a buddy went out to a private cat pond and they wouldn't hit anything but the punch bait too, ended up with 5lbs of fillets after ending early by catching too many, but it was kind of cheating with the location.
I'd prefer to use shad over any prepared bait just due to my way of thinking when I fish but for bad days or when I can't locate the shad it'll be nice to have something I can just keep around and throw out, thanks for the push on that smile



Getting Better at Catfishing:
PB Blue - 8.1
PB Channel - ~5
PB Common Carp - ~10
Still Scouting for YC
Re: Advice: Shad? AM catfish? [Re: KayakGreaser] #12878722 08/28/18 03:28 AM
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 2,106
L
Ledeez Offline
Extreme Angler
Offline
Extreme Angler
L
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 2,106
Look like channels to me but whatever!? Nice pics regardless thumb


Teamgetsome$$$
Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread

© 1998-2022 OUTDOOR SITES NETWORK all rights reserved USA and Worldwide
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.3