Where can I catch gizzard shad at? I'm new to Texas, from AZ. I know how to fish, so I just need to find a couple dozen so I can get some stripers for the grill next week. Daughter is getting married and wants a small party. She says she want some Striper or Hybrids for the grill. Any help will be appreciated (on shad locations, I know where the stripers are. If you give me a location, you can PM me or share for the rest of us. I only get to fish about 20 days a year due to I'm a old man and I love to catch fish when I fish. So I need some lively shad to catch a couple fish. Thanks for any help.

Long bridge, either end.

Again, new to Texas. If i cast net near a bridge, won't i get stuck on rocks?

Dang, MrG gives advice on catching..............
How bout some advice on where and how to catch fish MRG.....Lets say I meet you out there on the 16th so u can school me a bit.......or u could just send me a message on where the monsters are located......

if you want regular shad, dont know the real name, i know they are not gizzard shads go to lake grapevine and hit the bubbles. You will get plenty! if you are near lewisville hit up crappieterrorist. He knows where they are at. Great guide also!

Old Salt, which lake are you fishing? That bit of info would probably garner some useful replies for you.

For what it's worth, I've been netting my shad in 2-10 feet of water in muddy or sandy coves

-Just Gizzard Shad.

That makes a bit more sence. Thanks Zeek. I will try some coves tomorrow. I'm at Lavon and Hubbard. More so at Collin Park Marina.

The wind blows micro-organisms into the coves and along long points (food source for shad). Look for birds in the wind blown areas, either gulls or egrets. Also, lighted launch areas in the wee hours before daybreak.

Well, I was leaving my slip the other day and saw Tarponfly (Carey Thorn) cast netting for bait. I stopped by to have a chat with him about the crappie and catching bait. It's amazing how much information he will tell you about topics that you ask him. He said he was going to Denison Dam for the stripers, that's why he was getting bait. He stopped cast netting and chatted with me for about a half an hour. I told him about my slip and what I have done with it and asked me if he could see it. I took him to my slip and he didn't even touch my gear, he could see I had all the wrong set-ups from 20 feet away. He went back to his truck and came back to my slip with a rod and showed me a bunch of things on how to catch crappie. His first cast into my slip he hooked up with a 2.8 pound white crappie! Carey left to go get more bait and had a spool of 4 pound line that he told me to string up on my rod. I did the deed and started fishing the slips and other areas catching a total of 12 keeper crappie. Today, this morning, I caught my own bait and caught some nice hybrids out of Ray Hubbard. So my props goes out to Mr. Tarponfly for all the great info and nudging me in the right direction. Thank you again Sir.

awsome..nice to know there are nice people still helping each other out.

+1 sasquatch
windblown sides never fail just have to find their depth

I always help people out. just because im a guide, does not mean im stingy. i will tell you how and where to catch fish(or bait in this matter) its the "way" to catch fish is what matters.... i can sit here all night and tell you where aznd what i was using to catch fish, but some people dont know how to use the baits and lures right, to catch a fish. the other night i showed Theoldsalt a couple things on how to catch crappie. he was doing it right, but he was using his striper rigs to jig with 10 lb line to try to catch them...... its all about how to use your gear. you have to understand that i have clients fish w/ me that have more lures, rods, tackle, ect...than i have.... but still cant catch a fish to save thier life. thats where a guide comes in handy here and there...... im not saying i know everything yet, but i know how to catch almost any fish that swims in Texas...... after the sanbass run next year in Rowlett Creek, i will be buying a boat. then i will be full time guiding on Lavon/Hubbard/ and Texoma. I promise to all other guides i will never talk smack or belittle another guide. I am who i am, -just another guy that loves to fish and show people how to fish. as for the people that have met me, im sure they will say the same..... even after some of the horror stories about going out w/ some guides that were awful (as some of my client have reported to me) i will never say anything to put down another guide. i have built my client base up and in two years i will have to say, i will be full time guiding. every lake needs a guide and i think you guides on hubbard and lavon need a good replacment for when you are gone....yall are getting old and near 50, so tell me all your secrets before you go and i promise to keep the fishing great for the upcoming anglers!

What's wrong with using 10 lb line to catch crappie? Half of the guides out there use that when fishing the timber. Now using the striper rods and reels might be something else. Good job on helping the guy out to catch some fish.

Nothing i use it all the time,,when jigging heavy cover,,i also bend my hooks out then back so i can pull them lose if hung up,,if havent tried it do,,