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What to do when you can't find the shad? #14358294 05/02/22 11:27 PM
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z289sec Offline OP
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Normally on my home lake, Lake Worth, when the water hits 68 or so surface temp, the shad start aggressively flipping on the surface and spawning up near the banks. This year, after a winter of hardly being able locate any shad, I haven't caught a single shad up shallow in my normal locations I go to net them every year. Shallow water docks, docks near rock walls, outcroppings of concrete barriers, boat ramps, wind-blown banks, all the likely areas.

Either they have all gone way, way up the inlet creek to the nature center. Or, the numbers have dramatically dropped. Also having a tough time locating any catfish or any other fish feeding on them, up shallow like should be happening right now. I've even noticed fewer birds standing in the shallows, and the ones that are there seem to be actively searching and not finding any either.

Anyone else fish Lake Worth and notice this at all?

Last edited by z289sec; 05/02/22 11:29 PM.
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Re: What to do when you can't find the shad? [Re: z289sec] #14358699 05/03/22 02:23 PM
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Haven't been to Lake Worth in a while, but during my trip out with Chad Ferguson on EM he stated that its harder to find smaller shad this year than in the past few years. He is 100% believer that the last 2 years cold snaps have really killed off a lot of the smaller/younger shad. Kinda makes sense...

But I will say on PK the last couple of weeks there have been massive schools of shad as far back in the pockets as you could go.


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Re: What to do when you can't find the shad? [Re: z289sec] #14359004 05/03/22 09:04 PM
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I was on Richland Chambers Saturday, and small shad so thick you could walk on them I think... Also seeing them good on Cedar Creek, but have not fished as much there in last few weeks.

I think they are there, but so much wind this spring, and later than normal temperatures might have the patterns different? I really dont know.

Good luck!

Ken


2014 Premier Alante 235 RF tritoon. Momma's boat. But I get to fish on her.

A country boy will survive... but those who cross him?

Cedar Creek personal best:
Blue Cat 31.55 lbs
Hybrid 6.2 lbs
Crappie 2.1 lbs
Re: What to do when you can't find the shad? [Re: Fish Killer] #14359239 05/04/22 01:29 AM
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z289sec Offline OP
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Originally Posted by Fish Killer
Haven't been to Lake Worth in a while, but during my trip out with Chad Ferguson on EM he stated that its harder to find smaller shad this year than in the past few years. He is 100% believer that the last 2 years cold snaps have really killed off a lot of the smaller/younger shad. Kinda makes sense...

But I will say on PK the last couple of weeks there have been massive schools of shad as far back in the pockets as you could go.



Lake Worth seems to be the only lake I'm having trouble on. I guess since it doesn't have hardly anywhere over 21 foot deep, a lot of them just couldn't handle the cold. I can find them on Eagle Mountain, but they are nowhere near as thick as they were back before the Feb 2021 deep freeze.

Last edited by z289sec; 05/04/22 01:30 AM.
Re: What to do when you can't find the shad? [Re: z289sec] #14359671 05/04/22 02:53 PM
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Originally Posted by z289sec
Originally Posted by Fish Killer
Haven't been to Lake Worth in a while, but during my trip out with Chad Ferguson on EM he stated that its harder to find smaller shad this year than in the past few years. He is 100% believer that the last 2 years cold snaps have really killed off a lot of the smaller/younger shad. Kinda makes sense...

But I will say on PK the last couple of weeks there have been massive schools of shad as far back in the pockets as you could go.



Lake Worth seems to be the only lake I'm having trouble on. I guess since it doesn't have hardly anywhere over 21 foot deep, a lot of them just couldn't handle the cold. I can find them on Eagle Mountain, but they are nowhere near as thick as they were back before the Feb 2021 deep freeze.



Makes a lot of sense with Worth being a shallower/smaller body of water. Colder temps are going to hit the biomass a lot harder.


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Re: What to do when you can't find the shad? [Re: z289sec] #14360955 05/05/22 07:39 PM
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some ppl use chicken..look up some videos by a guy named Dieter Melhorn..good videos (not affiliated in anyway, was just watching some of his videos recently)

Re: What to do when you can't find the shad? [Re: Flip Flop Fisher] #14361088 05/05/22 11:41 PM
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Originally Posted by Flip Flop Fisher
some ppl use chicken..look up some videos by a guy named Dieter Melhorn..good videos (not affiliated in anyway, was just watching some of his videos recently)


I've used chicken breast since way before it was all over the internet...lol

Re: What to do when you can't find the shad? [Re: z289sec] #14361270 05/06/22 06:21 AM
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Pm sent

Re: What to do when you can't find the shad? [Re: z289sec] #14361340 05/06/22 12:30 PM
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Live large minnows, jello chicken, shrimp, crawfish. Been meaning to try cracked blue crabs for blue catfish.


�Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?" - The Messiah
Re: What to do when you can't find the shad? [Re: z289sec] #14362796 05/08/22 09:08 PM
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z289sec Offline OP
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Just some FYI, netted about 300 shad in one cast of the net on Eagle Mountain Friday morning, they were everywhere, all over the boat dock at Twin points. Was nice to have live bait all morning, put probably 120 or so in the bait tank, released over half of them back live. Didn't lose a single one. Tried Lake Worth yesterday evening, and they're still missing in action. Poor old kitty fish may starve this winter.

Last edited by z289sec; 05/08/22 09:10 PM.
Re: What to do when you can't find the shad? [Re: z289sec] #14362827 05/08/22 09:54 PM
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If I do not have fresh shad, I use night crawlers or red wigglers (2-4 worms on a midsize hook). It works for eaters.


Last edited by Bobbycat; 05/08/22 09:55 PM.
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