Would like to hear some opinions on rigging w live shad please.

Planning to fish Richland Chambers and Texoma a little more.

What type, brand and size line?

What type and size hook?

What rigging methods?

I primarily fish for bigger blue cats, drifting Santee Cooper type rigs. But enjoy the hybrids and stripers. Added another boat w trailer so I will stray from Cedar Creek more in the future. Will still fish there too!

Thanks in advance!

Ken

Carolina rig with a 1 oz weight and about an 18” leader. 1/0 kahle hook is what I use

I usually use 15 pound mainline and a 20 pound clear leader.

Thank you sir!

Happy Fathers Day to all!

Ken

Keep in mind size of hook is determined by size of bait. I prefer 2/0-3/0 Kalh… but. I prefer bigger baits. Personally I’m not a fan of circle hooks

20# Offshore Angler Tightline. 20# Big game leader.

Owner SSW 5315 1/0- If I snell. If not, then 1/0 Mustad Kahle.

Carolina rig. 1.5oz egg, bead, Spro barrel swivel, 24" leader, hook.

Started using the Meathunter Flex 7' rods for straight lining. Little pricey at $74, but they kick the snot out of any other rod I've used for straight lining shad. I use them for box Blue Cats too. They load up really nicely.

25lb big game main line, seagur invisx 17-20lb leader 3’, 2oz egg sinker, 1/0 or 2/0 Gamakatsu octopus or circle hook

20 big game backer
1oz egg
Swivel
3’ 15lb flouro leader
1/0 or 2/0 Gamagatzu octopus circle.

I run this and it pays my mortgage.

Thank you everyone !

Looking forward to playing this new game.

Surprised a little, but shouldn't be I guess, how many use the Big Game line. I have used it for a long time on my big blue cat rods with great results. Love the solar green to see when pulling planner boards. Etc. Good price, good life and it works!

Keep the info coming.

Ken

^^this

I've had mixed results using circle hooks with live shad. Often the fish will hit the bait & it's gets spun around so that the hook ends up buried in the shads head. Very annoying.

But when using cut shad, circle hooks work great!

(hint, if you can get ahold of any brightly colored sunfish, try using them live as well)

One more thing is make sure you bring a cooler and ice because when fishing live bait there are always some fishing that swallow the bait and get gut hooked.

I usually just catch and release unless someone fishing with me wants to keep fish, but even then we always end up with a couple fish that didn’t make it.

Are Goldfish legal to use as bait in Texas ??

15 lbs mono and 1/0 Kahle. I don't like circle hooks because they were designed not to catch fish unless the hook lands just right while the mouth is closed. I want a hook that will hook anything it comes in contact with whethere the mouth is open or closed.

Carolina rig with 1/2 oz to 1oz egg sinker. Lighter weight for trheadfins heavier for big gizzards. 20lb on reel and 14lb leader. I use about 3' of leader. If a fish swallows the bait I like to be able to retie the hook without completely re-rigging. I use 2/0 Tru Turn hooks and mash down the bait keeper barbs by the eye. If don't they tear up your fingers. I like the Tru Turns because they are thinner then other hooks.

Carolina type rig

Ande 20-pound mono

20lb Floro leader, 2.5 to 3 feet

Gamakatsu Octopus Circle hooks....2/0 or 3/0

A "bait button" from Bass Pro ( Catmaxx no shock spacer) helps keep the Shad from spinning on the hook. It works well....

Second what Zeke said about sunfish...Hybrids will kill them on sight.