Where do shad go at night in rivers, please?
Is cast netting in the usual "day spots" productive?

all summer long I catch em under the lights at the marina or boat ramp at night. I saw a vid on the forum of a guy who shined his headlights in the water and attracted shad. never tried this technique. I guess where there is a light there will be shad?

They'll school along the shoreline from first light until shortly after dawn then they move out into deeper water, especially when plankton rises mid-day. Since some plankton is an algae and lives near the water surface, where there is sufficient light to support photosynthesis, lighted boat docks or ramps attract the plankton which in turn attracts the shad who feed on it. Hope this helps.

Occasionally I will drive my truck to the house boat ramp late at night and shine the headlights directly over the ramp water. Give it a couple minutes and the water starts boiling with shad and baby bream leaping for life while some predatory fish is smacking at them.

If you are night fishing from a boat....try lighted docks.

Would like to hear from some of the smart folks who frequent this forum and know something about the subject. Shad are probably interesting little critters, but not too marketable...discussing them probably won't sell a lot of lures or boats or other $tuff.

I would also...in rivers where I collect them and fish...not in lakes, please

When the water is cold shad go to deep water that has gradual temperature shifts - upper water column the water can change quickly this time of year killing the shad. From the bank you will have trouble in the winter - warmer sunny days you might find a few that head to warmer water on the surface in the back of creeks.

I usually stop catching live bait this time of year as artificial works better - right now I see bait in 35-50 FOW

Late Feb early March they will start running the banks at first light with it peaking in April

Hope this helps a little

At night they go deep...trying to get some shad eye.