Trying to get bait for crappie and catfish, would 3/8in be too big? I feel like the minnows wouldn't get caught, but I know shad would do fine. Would it be worth it to order a 1/4 or would it probably do about the same? Thanks for any input:)

The smaller your mesh, the smaller the fish you'll be able to catch and the slower it will sink. I've got a 3/8 myself and have noticed the smallest shad I'm able to get is about 2in long. If that's too big for your taste, definitely go with the 1/4.

Good to know my research was correct on the average length to expect with 3/8, I'll probably see how it goes with that and if I need something smaller I can always just grab another one at 1/4

Slight struggle to learn it at first but I was able to get some alright throws. Looks like I nabbed mostly small bluegill, around 1.5 inch (a lot of them) and what I presume to be an american shad, about 3 inch. Saw a ton of carp that were tempting to throw it at and a couple longnose gar but I didn't want to tear a new net hah.

Small shad are not that great as bait. While fish will eat them they come apart very easily and often the only thing you notice from a bite is an empty hook or just the head of the shad remaining.

Ghost minnows are very good bait for smaller fish like Crappie and sand bass. Sand bass will eat a surprisingly large shad.

On LBJ, i need 1/4 mesh to catch the spot tail minnows, which the crappie like a lot.

Buy 1/4" mesh. You will "gill" less fish.