What is everyone using for bait now that shad isn't around? Tried worms and gizzards with no luck

Shad are alway around. Big gizzard Shad, the bigger the better. We also use Drum, Carp, Buffalo. Anything hand sized is what I prefer. We also use some smaller stuff but 90% of our big fish come off out biggest baits.

What you mean shad aint around??? They always around! just got to find them.
Shad Ive been catching have been in 10 fow of water or less.

What lake are you trying to catch bait ?
I have been catching shad just fine from 7ft to 20ft

If you're bank fishing boat ramps and bridges with concrete abutments always hold shad...........even on the coldest winter days.If boat fishing use your electronics,I home in with 2D sonar then pick out my largest bait balls with side imaging.

Cut Carp is Good bait........

Anything I get in a cast net.

I usually use gizzard shad or carp but in the winter time when i have a hard time locating the shad I will use chicken. My biggest blue (47lbs) was caught on a piece of chicken.

Never tried chicken but I will double down on carp........when it really gets cold cut carp catches better than shad in my opinion.

I have always used primarily shad but if I catch bream or buffalo or drum in my cast net they are fair game. Buffalo should be a good bait in my opinion. It is oily and should work well. I've caught fish on it but it has not fished as well as shad for me. Bream is good, especially cut head pieces. I need to try the buffalo when it gets real cold and see if what Whistlebritches says holds true for Lavon. It is an interesting idea that it works better in cold water... And I like a challenge so... I will report back!

I went out yesterday on Lake Lavon, it was 42F and foggy, and first up catching some fresh bait. The ramps don't yield much now it's colder (I tried) but motoring around I spotted some bait 'balls' in the marina and out in the coves, in 10-15 feet of water. I threw my 6 foot net and nothing. I must have thrown that darn net 267 times, quite the workout, and managed to catch one single shad. Dang!

Then next thing my net got snagged, and dag blast it another $50 bites the dust.

Urgh.

I think my cheap net is probably closing on the way down. The other issue for me is knowing where those bait balls are when I throw my net. I still haven't got it nailed down.

It's time to get myself a taped net, one that stays open on the way down in deeper water. I have been putting this off as they are $150 a pop, and I recently went out with a buddy and he lost his brand new one first trip with a snag.

Cattin' R hard!!!

As Ken (KEGracing) recently posted 'get ready to laugh, cuss, and probably even cry some..' Yup.

Regarding carp, I have caught one a couple of times on the ramps but never used them as bait.

The local Asian market sells them whole, so think I might buy one and try my luck.

Yes it R Bob... I have cussed over a snagged net more times than I can count. But, I picked up a nugget of wisdom from El Gato Azul. When you learn to pattern the bait in deep water and you learn where they are 12 months out of the year, you can throw a net without worry of snagging. And the difference that a taped net makes is worth every penny of that $150.00! Bite the bullet Bob. Once you do you will be glad you did. If you are marking bait balls and not catching when you throw, it is usually one of two things. Either you are targeting small schools of bait that are too small to be throwing at, or the bait is very small and just swimming through the mesh of your net. I keep my taped net and I keep an old non-taped net on the boat too. If I smell a stump, I don't throw the taped net, I throw the old one that I won't be quite so mad about getting snagged.

I've tried, tried, and tried again using carp/buffalo. I just don't do as good on it as I do Shad, regardless of temps. And I would rather buy shad than use chicken, and shad are going for $10/lb right now. Sure, chicken will catch some, but it's not a natural forage for catfish. I will use drum/perch if I happen to catch any, but for me Shad is the ticket. And shad can be had YEAR ROUND from boat or bank. Might have to work for 'em a little, but they are there for the taking.

You can buy Shad?????

Where may I ask Sir do you buy it?