I usually have some frozen thread fin shad that I just use during the winter. This year I don’t have anything stocked up so plan on getting out Monday looking for bait. I’m not picky thread fin or gizzard shad. In the winter time should I be looking in deep water and if so how deep? Will either be on Tawakoni or Ray Hubbard.

30-40 foot deep

Need a deep hole net to stay open that deep

Will be different on every lake 14-20 right now, and stacked like cord wood, on my usual big cat lake. If the surface temp is near 50, they'll probably be super easy to find on the sonar. They are in gigantic schools, on the lake I'm usually on, can't miss them.

I have a bait dealers license and have a place at Anchor Inn on tawakoni and I also guide for trophy catfish this time of year. I’m about to go hunt for shad in a few minutes so holler at me if your needing some this weekend. All info and contact info are on my website. Good Luck!!

Clay Grigson
twokguide.com

I don't have the most experience, but will try to help. Don't know what lake you are on, and boat situation, etc. But, colder water, deeper bait. I found it in 20' give or take last week, on Cedar Creek. I am pretty new to this big blues game, and have learned the hard way that you need fresh bait. Makes a lot of difference. With that said, I have had some good luck with strawberry jello chicken also. Taped, heavy net makes a world of difference in deeper water.

Best advice I have gotten about frozen shad was from Cedar Creek Blue Cat master guide, Jackie Kennedy. He (and some others) told me that frozen shad were like putting a popsicle on a hook. When defrosted, they are worthless. LOL

To find the shad right now, look at a Navionics maps, and find some deeper holes. Creek channels, etc. Often there will be creek channel under bridges, if that is a close option for you. With electronics, it is then easy to find them. If no electronics, then you are having to throw a net at the holes and hope for the best.

Good luck, stay safe.

Ken

Wish there were someplace or someone closer to Ft. Worth to get it from, on a regular basis. I know it's difficult to keep them alive, but man....seems like someone selling live shad could get a premium for them. And you could get around the transport legality problem by putting them in a ziploc to put on ice when you sell them. If that's even an issue for shad, don't know that it is or isn't.

Clay, I know where Anchor Inn is, never been there though. When coming to Tawakoni to fish it would be great to have access to shad. Do you have a shop there, just show up or what is the best way to contact you?

Saw some huge gizzards caught at a popular metroplex creek today... use your imagination.. lots in the creek

I tried three different creeks today, (actually two different creeks, but three locations) to find shad, since i don't have my boat at the moment. Only thing I found was some nice stuff to hang a net in.

Good thing my bluegill hole is back to producing again. I now have live bait swimming around for tomorrow.

according to tpw it has to be done a certain way no water

from FB....They're in the creeks. Now don't ask me what creeks because I have no F'n idea about that part...
https://youtu.be/emMng1Yn9s8

I can now tell you where NOT to go for "FRESH SHAD". It's a tackle store in Garland.

OP...Saturday there was all you wanted under the 30 bridge(west span by BP).....they were piled up in the deeper hole on the east end of that span in about 28ft.

White rock creek

Bingo!