I hook them through the back just below the dorsal fin. I mostly use a Mr. Whiskers 2/0 hook. It's a Kale style hook.

use mostly cut shad, with cut heads and tails off and use bellys with the gizzards, seems to be caviar for cats.... when sucked out will replace... throw heads and tails for chum

have been told use heads and nothing else to each their own, have had more luck with gizzards tho


have went so far as to big gizards taking the gizzards out and hooking directly on hook and cutting rest for chum and throwing out small pieces just my .02

I have hooked them under the eyes(middle position) for many years. Though mortality is low. I agree the bigger shad are more hardy for keeping alive on the hook for longer periods of time. I have been using lighter hooks but at the expense of a few lost fish due to hooks straightening. I cast all of my rigs when shorefishing and have had very few shad come up alive after about 15 minutes of fishing. It seems to me though I catch fish as often on live shad as I do on cut shad or whole dead shad. I have even used a dried up shad (when I couldn't locate any within reach of shore) and caught a 23 pounder within 15 minutes.