Live bait for stripers besides shad?

[chi0082]

What else works for stripers besides shad? I'm having a hard time catching and keeping them alive. Do large shiners work? Small suckers or bluegills? Goldfish?

[Dan the fisherman]

I've always done real good on brooder minnows. That's all I used up until this passed fall.   But I'm sure all that u mentioned would work 

[Stump bumper]

If you get the Gizzards they stay alive alot better, those 10 in Gizzards will live on a hook all day. If you have them in your livewell pump out the water and pump more water in every hour.

Here is a video on tell the difference.

I have used little bluegill with no success, heard of someone using a 8inch crappie one time and hooking a 15lb striper, they also love trout but the Arkansas fish and game have a problem with that (both crappie and trout).....the best thing I can tell you about catching shad is to go with the wind. Hit shallows in coves were the wind is blowing into, wait until you see one flip on top, then be ready and throw but if you throw at little ones that is what you will get, they don't hand out together much.

[1969Larson]

I've been tearing them up on the brooder minnows they sell at hook line and sinker lately. 

[Stump bumper]

I would love to find some golden shiners about 8 inches long, you just can't find those for sale anywhere.

[chi0082]

I can get trout pretty easily, but they're hard to keep alive just like shad. They need cold clean water all the time. I'll see if I can get some big 5" shiners and 6 to 7 inch goldfish to try for the heck of it. If nothing, we'll catch some big catfish at the least right?!

[rps]

I suggest you avoid using trout for bait.

General Fishing Regulations

It is illegal to:

Use game fish and their parts, dead or alive, for bait or lures, except for 4-inch and smaller bream or bream over 4 inches that were caught by hook and line. (Bream over 4 inches must be counted toward your daily limit.)

[Stump bumper]

I was joking about the trout and crappie (not that stripers like them) just about using them for bait. It is OK in OK but not in Arkansas. Also teaming up with other fishermen on the lake helps in finding and catching bait. If I find bait while I am out I will text the location to other fishermen I know are on the lake, then when I am having trouble getting bait, friends are there to help. When I have too much bait, I will send out text also, that doesn't happen often but has happened.

If you find a place to get those big shiners let me know, the brooders at HLS are ok but I prefer bigger bait, I had some 10in gizzards the other day I thought were too big, but the 15lb stripers loved them, I thought it would take a 30lb striper to eat them but I was wrong and ran out quick.

[chi0082]

41 minutes ago, Stump bumper said:

I was joking about the trout and crappie (not that stripers like them) just about using them for bait. It is OK in OK but not in Arkansas. Also teaming up with other fishermen on the lake helps in finding and catching bait. If I find bait while I am out I will text the location to other fishermen I know are on the lake, then when I am having trouble getting bait, friends are there to help. When I have too much bait, I will send out text also, that doesn't happen often but has happened.

If you find a place to get those big shiners let me know, the brooders at HLS are ok but I prefer bigger bait, I had some 10in gizzards the other day I thought were too big, but the 15lb stripers loved them, I thought it would take a 30lb striper to eat them but I was wrong and ran out quick.

That's good to know. Didn't know trout were illegal in Arkie. I knew crappie were though. And yea I'm not out that much on beaver, but I'll definitely let you know where I can find some big shiners. Thanks for the pm. I'll keep your number handy.

[1969Larson]

10 hours ago, Stump bumper said:

 

If you find a place to get those big shiners let me know, the brooders at HLS are ok but I prefer bigger bait, I had some 10in gizzards the other day I thought were too big, but the 15lb stripers loved them, I thought it would take a 30lb striper to eat them but I was wrong and ran out quick.

What size hooks do you use on those big gizzards?  Do you hook them through the nose just like the little guys?