Cast Net

[Fish Hound]

I finally purchased a cast net to get some shad and then try to hook up with a striper. I thought I picked up a 6 footer but when I got home the plastic case had 5 foot on it but I went ahead and kept it. It is a Betts Old Salt so hopefully a decent one and the 5 foot size doesn't end up being too small.

After you tubing a bunch of ways of how to throw it (several with bikini clad gals) I can get a pretty decent spread in the back yard. The big question is where did the shad go? This past fall up in the river arms I was seeing thousands right at the surface but when I got out this past weekend I saw none visually.

Do they have seasonal patterns on where they go? This time of year do you find them on your graph and then toss the net in hopes of getting some? Any help or insight would be appreciated.

Thanks

[Stump bumper]

You have to get up early to find them in the back of the coves and keep your eyes open and net ready. If you see one flip in range, throw, if you see one run under the boat throw in front of it. Sometimes you get none sometimes a net full. This process can be 10-15 minutes or two hours, then there is the day they come up to you in 100 feet of water and start feeding on top. I have been going out around noon and not finding anything. Watching birds can lead you to shad if you sneak up on them before someone runs their boat across them on plane.

I have never had luck throwing at those that black out the screen on the depth finder in 50 feet of water, they are usually smaller than the holes in the net. Good luck and don't get discouraged it is rewarding first time you get a net full of 6-8 inch gizzards when you took the shot for the 20th time with no hope left.

It helps if you go out with someone better than you, like Dan and trade off when one of you gets lucky, Dan is a shad master.

Also a 5 foot net that you can throw is better than a 8 foot net that you can't get a spread on, so practice makes sometimes works. Myself I get a perfect spread until I see those big gizzards running fast and then my 6 foot net spreads about a foot.

When it warms up they will be spawning and easier to get for awhile, right now they are hanging deep after sunrise. Good luck and don't throw at turtles, they are harder to get out of the net than you would think, don't ask...... 

 

[Dan the fisherman]

Firstly, thanks for the compliment stump.  But I'm no master, I'm just stubborn as a mule and rarely leave without getting bait. Really the only time I leave without bait is when I'm in a pinch for time. Like if I get a late start ( later than 11am).  Shad r in the 3-7 foot range now and can be tricky to get. What I've learned is  U have to make sure u have at least 1lb of weight per liner foot of cast net. Next for me was practice practice and more practice.  Like u, I learned off the interweb ( I watched some bikini stuff too lol)!!  Then was the patience, u won't always get bait in ur first or 30th throw, but it will happen if u put the time in.  As far as deep water cast netting, I always make sure the bait is at least 10 feet from the suface, if u have down scan that helps identify if they're gizzards or thread find.  I find gizzards will hold up the best. If u have some kind of electronic trolling motor with remote that helps also as I can mark them off the back ,stop the trolling motor and drop my net. Hope this helps fish hound.  I find myself enjoying shad catching as much as the striper hunt. That's just me I reckon, but If u find the same thing interesting, bait catching won't be such a chore   Good luck and stay safe man. 

[Dan the fisherman]

I'll only throwing a 6footer btw

[Gavin]

Bigger net after you figure that one out. 10-15, spread is better. My daughters learned on the beach tossing small nets in the surf last summer. Both caught Snook later on the bait they gathered.

[Fish Hound]

Thanks guys for all the input, going to try it this weekend. I'll second Stumps assertion that there are some masters on here. Dan with shad and stripers, and LM too. There is Lance with the crappie and all the other guys with different species, techniques, lures. etc. I have learned a lot about this lake since finding this board

Dan I'm like you I like catching the bait as well. I remember growing up as a kid we would go seine ponds, creeks, sloughs, for bait and it was always the anticipation of seeing what you got in it when it was pulled up. That and checking a trot line also back in the day. Grabbing the main line and feeling something on there always got the excitement level up.

[Fish Hound]

Due to a lot of factors I never really got a chance to use the cast net on beaver but did this past weekend. Was trolling flats and channel edges north of 412 bridge and would see some shad flicking on the surface as well as seeing some good size shad balls on the locator. Wind was nil and had an area where the water was slick and I could see some and made a decent throw and got probably 40-50. Next purchase or build will have to be a bait tank. They don't live long in one of those yellow/white bait buckets. Boat is small so bait tank will have to be as well. Maybe a converted 5 gallon bucket with an aerator. Probably won't be able to put very many in it. I'll look for plans online.

 Did not catch anything on the shad but pulled in a few white bass trolling. Used a fire tiger hot n tot and a shad colored Storm Arashi crank. 15-20 fow

[Dan the fisherman]

I'm going to think that what u caught were threadfin shad.  Gizzard shad are what ur going to want for stripers though. 

[Fish Hound]

looks like that's what they were according to the picture. Will the gizzard be further down the lake?

[Dan the fisherman]

I've caught them all over the lake.  From blue springs to rocky branch.  Just gotta find the right water temp. Not an easy task, but with time you'll start to figure out where and when....  catch them shallow then learn/try to get them deep. It'll pay off