No Shad were drown in the making of this post. All fish were caught on big 2 and 3 oz RSR casting slabs in Green. We threw 4, 6, and 8" spoons. Also threw 6 and 7" swim baits. Slabs were the ticket. We cast out past the schools and drug the slabs along the bottom. The big fish picked it up right off the bottom. The only few fish we kept under 20" were gill hooked and probably going to die. Most of our fish were 24" plus. We had one over 11 lbs and two over 10. We threw back 4 or 5 limits over the course of 3 days. Once we had what we wanted, we switched to single hook slabs. We found at least 20 big schools over three days but didn't fish them all. I prefer the 70-30 split side scan and down scan setting. With down scan I can pick out bigger fish in the schools. Im not a 2d fan unless Im on plane and speed searching. The image at 2:43, you can see all the smaller fish in the school and we skipped that one. The image where I missed the time was a money school. When looking for a school, I run about 7 mph and match my chart speed then crank it to 10 when fishing. Look for large clouds casting big shadows on your side scan. Then mark it and check it. Also when stretching to 100 feet, you get a good idea of whether there are any big fish in the school. I dont like sitting and drowning shad while waiting for a big fish to come through. I dont stop if I dont see what I want. Its tempting to sit on a school simply because its big. But you end up sitting for an hour complaining about catching small fish. The bigger fish are schooled up well from mid day on. I have fished hybrid at RC, CC, and Waco in the last few weeks doing the same thing with the same results. RC has always been a good trolling lake though. Whitney is just too good right now, The Sand Bass and small Striper are keyed in on Fry. That's the best time to target the bigger fish in my opinion. The big fish may turn onto the Fry soon and that leads to great top water action early and late on the big ones. I showed the primary area in red where we found good schools every day. I have chased striped fish for over 20 years and guided all over the State. I took a couple off for work reasons. Jumped back in with a bang although I no longer guide for money. Hope some of this helps.

Awesome post, and thanks for sharing.. That is the way it's done.. Your little ones will remember that...

Prosise

X2 for Awesome post! I was able to get out for a little bit Sunday afternoon and weeded through the small fish on shad for the wife and kids while I was working a 6" spoon down below the huge schools to pick up some bigger fish. Your post help a guy like me go in next time and hopefully get on some better fish. I'm personally don't like shad fishing so posts like this give me confidence I can go out and get it done with artificials. Now I need to get some bigger slabs!

I would he curious to know how you did on Waco. Whitney and Waco are to 2 lakes in primarly fish and i tend to be more successful on Waco getting on big fish.

Man... your killing me. It's almost never that easy for me. Not to get the bigger fish anyway.
Way to go.

Very informative post. I am sure this will help allot of folks put some fish in their boat!

CenTexan: Glad to see you posting again and GREAT POST for helping others.

Thanks for the post and intel. This what makes this forum so great. Nice pic of the fish and kiddos too. Enjoy those times...they grow up quick!

Thanks for sharing....great info!

I fish it the same way. But on Waco I look on the deep water side of the old dam around mid day when its hot. As it gets later, I move shallower and look more at the bigger flats. I like the old Hwy 6 road bed early and late. I like mid day fishing for big fish. They school up better and move a little less. Waco is loaded with 8-14" Hybrid. Looks good for the next few years. We were catching small Hybrid 1-1 with Sandbass. Hopefully people are checking the tongue patch and throwing them back.

Yes sir!. Would enjoy another trip with you on Cedar Creek in the future.

There are some big smiles in the pictures. Great job.

CenTexan, am I the only one who doesn't get the title of your post? Did you mean 7-17 thru 7-19?

I've been wondering the same thing.

That's my go to as well however I havmt spent much time on the deep side of the old dam. Ill need to give that a try next time I'm out. Here is a real nice one my wife caught earlier in the summer. Just off the south end of the road bed on the deep side if the last hump before the river channel. She was vertically jigging a big slab.
I'll be in whitney in the morning and gonna give it hell. I'll have a kiddos out so I have to produce!