I am using cut shad for the first time today and i would love some tips. I am fishing from the bank with tight lines.

How big a shad depends on the presentation. Fillets. Chunks. The Head. Whole(minus the tail) scrape them tail to head to knock the slime and scales off. When I fish whole I hit the knife across the sides to put a few little bleeder slits in them. Good luck.

Couple things. First, this time of year, cut smaller chunks...like the size of quarters, maybe just a little larger.

Second, don't hook the shad very deep. Hook them just under the backbone so that almost all your hook is exposed. (fish won't care)

Third, after hooking the shad, take a quick look at the point of your hook and make sure it does not have a little scale on it. If it does, knock it off.

Fourth, don't use the tails....


Have fun!

If dipped in Fort Worth Stockyards liquid smoke you will get a few more bites!!

the liquid smoke is great for catfish and ON catfish! It works great BOTH ways!

I understand all the rest of that but why not the tail? I fished twok today, used bluegill for bait and caught a 14# on a tail. Usually not good or what?

nope, not usually good, plus normally a fisherman has enough bait to discard tail and use the head or mid section.

Scale 'em, cut off the tail and discard. On the larger ones, starting at the tail end, filet one side, but leave the flap attached to the shad so the guts are exposed. Flip the flap up and then put the hook through the flap and then through the eye, so that the flap is held up, exposing the guts. Spray it with a couple of shots of Dead Red.

On the smaller ones, cut into sections. Split open the belly, exposing the guts.