Big Shad for bait for Big Cats

I was thumbing through old pictures and once in a while I get these big shad. I usually cut them up & use for bait. Chunks. Does any one have any other ideas on how to use them? Anyone fished one that big LIVE!? Stories or suggestions be greatly appreciated.

I’m talking about 18 in shad btw. Makes my sandbass look small.

I have caught multiple blues and flats on 12-14 inch live baits. And they were only 30 lbs. A big 50 or 60 could easily eat one but you would probably be better off just cutting the tail off making it a more manageable 6-12 inch bait. Even the big fish will shy away from a really big bait in my opinion. I have had flats hit and nibble a 12 inch mud cat for 10 mins but soon as i throw a 6inch bluegill (at the same brushpile) , in front of there nose BAM instantly inhaled.

Filet one side, cut off the tail, and use a double hook rig to drift the whole fish. Front hook through the nose, rear hook shallow through the meat above the spine, behind the dorsal fin. I see Steve Douglas doing it with over a foot Skipjack, all the time.

Like this ? Kinda ?

That bait Walker rig you pictured is a bottom bouncing rig for river fishing Drycreek...I do a ton of big bait fishing in our Texas lakes and I rig mine like this. The rig pictured below is an 8/0 8/0 stinger I use for 8” baits. I also run an 8/0 10/0 stinger for 10-12” baits. I will use up to 12” baits when I go to Twok or Texoma but anything much bigger than that is too big for my liking and you rarely get a takedown and they seem to come unbuttoned a lot more. My preferred size for a stinger rigged big bait is 6-10”. I run a lot of 6-8” baits on my home lake which seem to be the preferred size for 20-30 lb fish which is mostly what is in Lewisville.

Here is how I tie mine.

I was actually referring more to just the way the hooks were rigged but I appreciate the video also. I’m trying to learn about fishing for blues and I’m following the catfish threads so maybe I can get better prepared. I’m also looking forward to the video from you about throwing the cast net. A little info about where to throw it might come in handy too !

This was tossed last year in a feeble attempt under 380 bridge in Denton last year next to the log jams and water moccasins. No bites...