So I have been studying and see fresh cut shad is good bait. Figured out how to cast for them and catch them consistently. I have 15 jugs that are weighted (not free floating) with 2 hooks per line. Been catching some good cats recently. But how long should I allow cut bait to soak before rebaiting with a fresh piece? My experience has been that rebaiting after 2 hours seems more productive, but recently I am thinking I may be just wasting bait. What do you guys think/do?

I’m interested to hear as well.
If the shad are easy, consider your re-baiting castoffs as chum...

Shad usually doesn't stay on the hooks that long and when I check my jugs, which I build like you probably do yours though the wind can drift mine if the weight is not on the bottom I just change the baits that look like they will come off the hook soon. I personally prefer cut perch for bait myself.

Yes, cut perch is a tougher bait than shad and has been just as effectively shad. I like to tie my jugs with a 4-5 ft. Line onto standing timber allowing a limited drift. I generally set the bait about 2 feet off the bottom and check them a couple times a day. I don’t usually need to change my baits unless they are snatched, which occurs with shad but not cut perch.

I build jugs with two different lengths of main line, 12 ' and 18' Two hooks on the first and three on the second. I use for a weight a red plastic 18 oz. cup filled with concrete and a short piece of chain hung into it for a place to tie to. Hooks around 3 feet apart, usually 4/0-5/0 eagle claw plain shank hooks. Sharpen those hooks! And put a big swivel between the dropper and the main line. I usually find a point the wind is blowing into and let the wind float my jugs into it and the weight will stop the jug in the right place generally. I catch my biggest fish on live perch hooked sideways through the nose. My floats are sometimes homemade out of PVC pipe and foam swim noodles or bleach jugs. If you fish at night I put reflective tape on the jugs to make them easier to spot, get the tape at Northern tool.

Yes sir, I use to use bleach jugs but now use the foam noodles cut in 15” lengths with 3/4” pvc pipe in the center for strength. I drill a hole through the bottom 1/3 of the foam and pvc then string my line through it. When a fish is on it will stand the float up. Works well.

Try cut carp on the juglines. It will stay on the hook forever! In fact you almost can't get it off the hook when pulling them in and the blues love it...lol

My home made floats are 4 inch septic system drain pipe with the big diameter foam noodles glued inside, If some lowlife uses them for prop targets they last a lot longer.