Well I bit off a little more than I could chew. Was at the dam fishing and it strarted getting dark, decided to head in close to the ramp/powerplant to fish and by the time I got ready to go it was dark and there was an immense fog that came with nightfall. Just my luck, my brand new spotlights lighter adapter broke just like the same one I just got done returning to walmart. So needless to say it was a LONG trip back to the dock, I couldnt see the power plant until I was right up on it thats how foggy it was.

Anyway, fished with frozen shad, chicken livers, goldfish and minnows. I drifted, I sat with tight lines, I fished all around the open lake and inland by the powerplant. I didnt have so much as a single nibble all night.

I guess maybe the rain in the morning got things kind of out of wack....

Its amazing how empty a lake can be on the evening of a Superbowl.

-shawn

i think you need to get some fresh shad. are you using some sort of chute to slow the boat? this weekend produced several fish this weekend 25# and bigger on lavon.

Yep I agree, its all about the fresh shad and there in lies my problem. After reading numerous articles on drifting and various styles I have tried a couple but everything has lead me back to one major problem and thats bait. I do have a sock and Saturday it was neccessary but on Sunday for the most part I was on a slow drift already, thought it was going to be a good day but apparently the big fish wont budge on thier preferance in bait.

Do you have any tips by chance for catching shad on Lavon in cold weather/currently?

thx

-shawn

deep water and patience. sometimes you dont relize it but your net is closing before you get there. jerry taught me a trick to put some elictrical tape at the top to keep it from closing on the way down to the deep water and it will come loose when you pull up after it hits bottom.

using something on the strings to prevent it from closing while falling but not prevent it from closing under force, thats a pretty good idea. Also isnt it great how electrical tape works on everything! thx for the tip f&h.

-shawn

Leseulen


When catching bait in deep water in the winter having the right net will help a lot. The standard run of the mill cast nets they sell around here are not made for deep water. They dont have enough weight on them and the mesh is too small.

If you will go to a higher end net for catching winter bait then you will have better success catching shad in deep water.

Try going up to a 1/2" mesh that is 1.5 LB per foot (most folks throw a 3/8" mesh 1/2 Lb Per Ft).

These heavy nets with big mesh cost a lot but if you take care of them they will last a while and I PROMISE you they will pay off when your out catching bait.

This is the net I use for winter bait. Item 10670 at the link below. The only problem is that the smaller shad will swim right through it.

http://www.castnets.com/cart/products.asp?category=3

www.txcatfishguide.com

thank you much txcatguide, I am going to go to BPS and take a look, thier web page says they have an equivelant cast net for about the same money.

thx again!

-shawn