Can perch be used as a cut bait? I don't really know what shad looks like or where to even start catching it. Anybody know of a spot near Georgetown?

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Jesse Garcia
SnakePool Reptiles and Design

I had that same question last saturday night, and the answer is YES! My cut perch was hit just as much or more than the worms I was using on my other rod...

THis is a shad and yes like he said cut perch will work if you fish where there isnt alot of gar

Thanks...

I don't think I have seen anything like that. I have seen alot minnows and perch but nothing like that.

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Jesse Garcia
SnakePool Reptiles and Design

The picture is kind of mis-leading, shad usually look frail, soft, white with a dark spot. They are usually in the 2-4 inch range but can grow VERY big. They die quickly once out of the water, actually they seem to die pretty quick in a minnow bucket as well. But they are just as good dead or alive. Perfect for cutbait since they are very oily. Next time you're at your favorite lake or river, throw a net around the shore area and see if you catch a mess of them.

Perch wise, YES they are excellent cut bait. I scale them first, you can use them in various ways as cut bait.

Whole, with a few slices in them to let the juices flow.

Cut in small sections, place a bunch on your hook.

Just the heads only, leave a little bit of guys trailing for scent.

Just the tails only, again leave some guts trailing.

Guts only! Alot of catmen use just the guts.

Clean skinless fillets, this works good too. Long fillet strips, dipped in your favorite scent or dip bait.

Get the idea?

Ihave had better luck on shad than perch. I have used them both at various times. Yes the gar like them, but again it is my experience that gar will nibble and take shad too.
A fun thing I like to do is to go early with a fly rod and very small hook, put a piece of earthworm on and cast around shaded areas to catch the perch ( and sometimes crappie). I then keep them alive as long as possible but that is not real critical since you will be cutting them up anyway.
This gives you a little fun catching the bait and the kitties. I dont keep the crappie unless they are legal of course.

Just an add on to my previous memo. I do not use crappie as bait. If they are legal I may take them home for a meal. I usually let them go. Just to let yall know I do have some cooth ha

Are you looking for a spot to catch shad in Georgetown? or did you mean catfish? I have heard that lake Georgetown is good for fishing, and I've been meaning to check it out. I have also hear of granger lake. Never been there though. Good luck.

SNAKEPOOL
DO NOT USE CRAPPIE FOR CUT BAIT OR YELLOW BELLIES ARE ANY OTHER FISH THAT IS CALLED GAME FISH!!!!!IF THE GAME WARDEN CHECKS YOU AND YOU ARE USEING CUT GAME FISH FOR BAIT THE FINE WILL SET YOU BACK A GREAT DEAL OF MONEY!

BERNIE

BERNIE
I guess I did not make it clear in my note about the crappie. I know they are illegal to use as bait. Thanks for headiing off any misunderstanding about that. and yes the game wardens have no sence of humor when they see crappie used as bait.

Snakepool,
I saw some guys throwing a castnet at the Georgtown Park, at the waterfall. The shad get caught up in the underwash at the fall. Its only belly deep in that area 10 ft. befor the falls.

Good luck.

Georgetown Park? Is that off of Country Club Road by Williams Dr?

If so I live about a mile from it. I live behind the Compass Bank and the Racetrac.

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Jesse Garcia
SnakePool Reptiles and Design

My Grandson and I have been doing the cut and salted thing with our perch. Since we are so far from water we gotta catch and keep bait for longer periods. We have been catching, cutting in half or thirds the perch and putting them in salt (the kind w/o iodine). The technique works well, have not yet given it the ACID test, does it catch the kitties?

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Thanks and Gig'em, Mark Fairchild