Hey y'all Ive been wanting to start fishing for hybrids more and I was wondering what are some good ways to locate shad and what kind of factors effect them? I know hybrids can be caught a few different ways but on the lake my buddy and I fish live bait seems to be the ticket for em mostly. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks

This time of year I look in the back of creeks and coves. Look for flips. In darkness lights help.

This and as the day progresses, just like finding the hybrids, look for them there ridges, in the shallow or deep water both, but with both close together. Like he said, key in on the flips, even one little flick can be a net full of bait. Good luck!

Oh and around docks too.

Awesome thanks for the replies yall. My buddy and i usually are on the water by 615-620 right as the sun is coming up and we can see bait jumping all around tbe boat ramp area and we've tossed the cast net around by the boat ramp and boat dock and where we have seen them jumpimg but we still come up empty. Could it be the cast net we are using? We both have a super spreader cast net rs-750 from academy I think it's like $35 bucks or so, it's got a 4ft radius, 3/8" mesh and it says. 75lb of weight per radius ft. Is this an ideal cast net or do we need something more heavy duty?

You dont HAVE to have a big net, but i would recommend at least a 6' net. Get some coverage. try to get 1lb per foot net, you'll catch 85x the amount you are now with a 4'

Okay ill look into tbat and see who has some. Thanks!!

If youre going to throw a 6' you might as well go on and get a 7'

1, throw the biggest net you can. I always threw a 6' out of my Ranger because of front deck design and the fact that there were cleats and a hand rail. I now have a Champ bay that is easier to throw out of so I need to get a 7' net.

Learn to throw a 7', if aiming for shad in 10-20 ft of water you need at least 1lb per foot weights. Heavier the better. Really if your aiming for shad in 20 ft of water you need a taped net

I agree with this. I've always called a tape neck my girdle net.

The taped net with 5/8 mesh is the key to getting gizzard shad in deeper water

Ive caught shad in 50-55Ft with my girdle. But dang it will whip you.

What is a taped net?

Thanks everyone for all the feedback, I'm fixing to buy a new cast net this week and hopefully will have some luck this Saturday fingers crossed!