Shad

I fish the Minnesota most of the time and today I found a shad that had just recently found himself high and dry on a rock.Last year I saw some guys kicking the water and I asked them what they were doing,well since I couldn’t understand the language they showed me a small silver fish and then showed me thier stringer.It was quite impressive.

Have any of you catmen tried shad for channels or flatheads with any success?And does any one know if there is any baitshops that carry them?

I wold use shad over anything…… for channels cats, the problen is I just don’t know a biate shop that has ever soold live shad…… I need to get another throw net and try to catch some……. I always catch suckers and I have good success…. with them as well….. but I have used shad and they are an awsome…. oily baite

I’ve used gizzard shad for cut bait. I still have some in my freezer ready to go. Shad has a very strong scent, very oily as mentioned. You pretty much can’t keep fish off your hook when you’re using shad. By far the best cut bait I’ve tried.

I don’t think throw nets are legal in MN, but you could seine them or try to catch them on hook and line. They get up to 2 pounds and are very abundant in the big rivers. Where I got mine was the King NSP plant channel on the St. Croix. Go there (or a similar area where there is warm water discharge) in the winter or spring (got mine in April). The whole channel will be full of thousands of half pound shad schooling up in the shallows. There are so many that people fishing for other species will accidentally snag them almost constantly and then either throw them on the bank or back in the water. Shad are very fragile, and most die after being hooked so you’ll find as many as you want along the shore or in the shallows.

That’s where I’ve caught them too. The NSP plant on the St. Croix near Stillwater. In the early spring there are thousands of them near the discharge just popping on the surface everywhere. I snagged a few by accident on cranks. I’ll have to freeze some next spring. Vern

Hey guys.

I was wondering is that private property or is there some way to get to that channel without a boat? I always see people fishing from shore there when I go by. Thanks much

It’s NSP property but they let people fish there. There is a gravel parking lot and you can walk in from there. It’s about a block long walk or so. I believe it’s actually in Oak Park Heights. Unlike some powerplants, I’ve never had to sign in with security. Vern

the trail goes along the right side of the access road (follow the long stretch of steel fencing). it’s a pretty long walk but well worth it to get those shad. there may be some there now, but there will be thousands more in the spring. it’s strange though i have never had good fishing there, despite all the fish activity.