Cast Netting.... catching your own bait

[Alaskageek]

So found an old 6ft cast net when cleaning out the shed.... and am working on learning to throw it........ but I've got no idea where in the water to actually find shad/minnows.  Is it as basic as trolling around until you see bait fish on top of the water then whip over there and throw the net?  Or do you use your electronics to find a bait ball a feet below the surface, then spin around, troll back to  it and throw?  With the real lack of shad at the bait stores....figure it's time to learn.  

[Poohy]

look on Utube,guys catching shad below Dam

[Dirtrider389]

Looking for shad on the surface only works in the later summer, this time of year ur better off looking for balls of shad using sonar but ur likely to catch other species as well

[Ranger520vx]

Once the water warms up some I find them around docks in the backs of coves. Usually can use the throw net and get them in the back of our cove.

[MOPanfisher]

Later in fall the upper end of the lake is absolutely rotten with shad, even the gulls just swim around eating them.  Doesn't help right now though.  You can at time get shad below the dam, but it's tough to do when people are fishing there.

[fishinwrench]

Dam tailraces are where most guys around here go to load up on them. Usually only takes 3-4 throws.

If you know of a spring inflow you can get them there also, especially big ones if that's what you want.... but the water is often clear and they can be spooky, so it takes more throws to fill a bucket.  

[wily]

Son keeps one in the boat....just for fun.  But we usually see them in backs of the creeks with water running into them.  

[fishinwrench]

I had a 10 footer that I could throw really well, and I wish I knew what brand it was, or that I had taken better care of it, because I got another one and I can't throw it worth a crap.    

Saw a guy fling his dentures in the lake once trying to throw a net....That was hilarious! 😅

[Maverickpro201]

If you go down to Texas, the illegals can show you how to do it. But they keep everything that comes in the net. Suppose to be catching Tilapia. But they keep bass and anything else. Game Wardens bust them, write tickets to them, take their fish and they just go back out and do it again and again. It is unbelievable.

Practice and someone who knows how to throw one, to show you. You will get it, when Striper fishing, we would hit the boat docks first thing in the morning and backs of coves. Almost always got more than what we needed for the daY. You do need a round bucket or small round barrel to keep them alive. That's what I know.