How To Catch Fish Feeding On Shad Schools?

[Riverwhy]

I made a recent trip to Lake Norfork and noticed some pretty active fish feeding on the shad schools. We caught a few nice white bass under the schools on a white rooster tail and a couple of nice largemouth on a Zara Spook. However, my success ratio was fairly limited considering the time spent fishing these schools. Are there better methods right now to trigger more strikes?

[J-Doc]

Dynamite. Sure fire method. Lol

I've wondered the same thing. Matching the hatch but make it different. I've been told burning a Kastmaster spoon through them works. I tried it. Didn't work for me.

[Riverwhy]

We tried a silver hot-n-tot, a Kastmaster, and a silver rattle trap without success.

[Bird Watcher]

I've seen small clousers work well on a fly rod when all else fails. Something about the neutral buoyancy seems to trigger them.

[fishinwrench]

Whites tend to blitz and gorge....then chill awhile.

Trying to tempt them into biting when they are in temporary chill mode is usually nothing but casting practice.

Make a dozen casts where they are hanging out, if you get no love then set your rod down and don't show it to them again for 15-20 minutes (unless they blitz before that).

[J-Doc]

Whites tend to blitz and gorge....then chill awhile.

Trying to tempt them into biting when they are in temporary chill mode is usually nothing but casting practice.

Make a dozen casts where they are hanging out, if you get no love then set your rod down and don't show it to them again for 15-20 minutes (unless they blitz before that).

That's pretty accurate from what I've seen.

When I troll for fish, if there is a white within 50yrds of a Flicker Shad they come and get it. The other night, I found a big school. Dropped a Flicker and got a nibble. Too the bait and never hooked up. I was shocked. It’s almost as good as dynamite on whites.

When their bellies are full and they are just snacking lightly…….they just don’t want a big meal.

[Kelroy]

Best success I had was running a Live Target BaitBall deep diver under the shad. The whites tore it up, but doesn't account for much when you're after LM.

[Feathers and Fins]

1st rule is stay at maximum casting distance from them, you want to be able to cast to the back of the boil or middle never the front. The further away the best as boat and noise puts them down.

2nd Cast bubble is your friend tie it on fill half way with water and have a 3to 5 ft leader behind it with a Bobby Garland, Clouser or some other fly on and hang on. Nice thing about a fly it can be paused the bobber is the noise maker the bait gets the bite.

3rd one onf these days I will learn to stop giving my secrets away lol.

[Riverwhy]

I appreciate the responses. If I can get out in the next couple of weeks I'll report back with the results of the new tactics.

[Wayne SW/MO]

I think I've had my best luck but dropping some something silver in front of them and just letting fall. It does need be somethimg slow. My secon choice is the Shallow Shad Rap run close to them. I think anything that barly breaks the surface and looks fishy can work.