Beaver Lake Live Bait

[J-Doc]

ooooooooohhhhhhhhh.......me like!

Its a good thing Beaver doesn't have sharks. Scott would use you two guys as shark bait so he could get some good underwater photos. lol

[bfishn]

Even during the summer? ...

Yep. If you can see some, either flipping or swimming shallow you can catch a few in the daylight. Sometimes you can hit deeper (5-15') ones you graph at night, but be d... sure it's shad you're throwing down on.

Once you find a few productive spots, you can often count on them to produce regularly. I've got a few spots I can bet on getting at least a few anytime, even at high noon in mid-August, but you have to be really stealthy and hit them your first throw.

[Feathers and Fins]

First throw is the key after that you might as well pack it up, also problem is with Grand being off-limits more and more people are running over old go to spots and making harder and harder to get. If you find a spot do not tell anyone in fact learn how to crouch cast the net to not draw attention to yourself.

[nathanhooper]

Interesting. I've never tried it, and cant say I am itching to either. But maybe I will one day just for grins and giggles....er.....or cussing and swearing. I've seen it done and people make it look very easy. Ive thrown a net before just messing around trying to catch perch and had a heck of a time.

[Feathers and Fins]

Nathan I can teach a person to throw a net pretty fast if you are interested.

[bfishn]

The biggest problem most beginners have is using cheap, lightweight nets. a 5fter (radius) with 5-8 lbs of lead is a waste of time in clear water, the shad just swim away before it sinks to their level. Small mesh works for minnows or threadfins, but sinks slower (more resistance) than big mesh. A good gizzard net will cost you $75 and up, and you quickly learn to never pitch it where you can't see a clean bottom.

[J-Doc]

Nathan I can teach a person to throw a net pretty fast if you are interested.

Funny.....I can't seem to be able to still. I need on the water practice I guess.

[Bird Watcher]

There's also loopholes in those regulations. Just sayin.......

[Feathers and Fins]

I must agree on nets, most guys will get by with a cheap 5ft net and if you just throw at every ripple it is the net for you as loosing or tearing it up wont be so hard on the budget.

But for getting bait day in day out you will need to bite the bullet and get a good net. I do have the cheapy and when I am forced to get bait in bad areas I throw it. But my primary nets start at about 110.00$ and go up to almost 400.00$

Unless you get a custom net that will be even higher I suggest these, all are made by Super Spreader.

GS1500 Model 15134

SS1000 Model 15029

SS1000 Model 17057

[nathanhooper]

Nathan I can teach a person to throw a net pretty fast if you are interested.

I appreciate the offer. I'm more than likely not going to be trying it anytime soon though. So many things on my plate that adding another wont help much I don't think. Would be nice for having some good bait as I've never fished with actual shad before. But I think I'll stick to the other methods for now.