I grew up in Louisiana castnetting the bayou spilways for shad to fish with or the canals of the marshes for shrimp but I have never gone out in a lake and thrown a cast net.

I've been looking at castnets for a while now and am thinking of picking up a new one but my only dilema is how do I use it here in TX lakes? I have no idea how to locate shad or what to even look for when it comes to these big lakes.

My home lake is Joe Pool which is probably where I will use the shad the most. I'm not asking for a honey hole here but just a clue of what I should be looking for. I figured this section was the best place to post this question.

hit your boat ramps early in the am. shad are just about ready to start spawning in the shallows. in the winter they go deep and are a little harder to get.

Boat ramps early in the am.

Just wait until I get to the lake and throw our net in the oposite direction I do.. They must be over there

Texas net cannot be larger than 7ft, In oklahoma it is 10ft(I think). On texoma in the winter I throw my net around the lights in the marina, this was easy last year but this year has been tougher.

I use my fish finder to show me big shad balls. I toss on them when they are on the screen for a good distance (big bait ball)

I will not throw unless they are on the screen for over 10yrds and REALLY thick on it.

Good luck, Shad can be tough to find on some lakes

In the next few weeks they will be spawning. When they do, you will see them running the shore line in large schools. Watch for egrets and herrins feeding along the shoreline. Best to be early.

Wayner

Thanks gentlemen! Exactly the info I was looking for.

What he said. Should start to be there. Birds are the best indication in the morning

Along the same lines I have another question. Is catching large quantities and freezing leftover shad better than just buying the bags of dead shad at walmart for those days when you can't find anything? Is one better than the other or do both pretty much suck? I'm getting better w/ a castnet but still have some of those crappy days...

Even I can answer that. When you are freezing shad, they will most likely be a whole lot fresher than the ones sealed in preservatives from Walmart.

Not to mention, I'm a big fan of catching bait in or as close to the waters I fish in as possible. I believe this presents a more natural meal, of course with that being said, I've caught countless catfish on the most non natural baits like chicken livers, hot dogs, and blackbird hearts....yes, that's what I said, blackbird hearts.

Kinda what I figured, just wanted it reenforced, thanks.

i never caught a thing on the preserved baits at walmart..there is something wrong with those shad in a bag that u dont have to freeze.

Some one told me they have embalming fluid on them I don�t know but that stuff cant taste good

SKIPJACK HERRING
GIZZARD SHAD
THREADFIN SHAD
LIVE PERCH