[magicman22]

My state does not allow the use of live gizzard shad but it can be used dead. The regulations specifically state that gizzard shad caught for bait must be imediatelly killed.

So what is the best way to use dead shad in the 3-5" range? Also, to save bait for later use I saw some people on here freeze it and some say it won't work frozen. Whats your opinion on this?

 

[kcgeoff]

Just make cut bait out of the shad. Toss them on ice when you catch them to keep them fresh. Then when your ready to bait up scale both sides of the shad. Then cut it into sections the head and middle gut pocket sections on the best bait. You can also use the shad whole just cut the tail off to get the blood flowing. You can also fillet the side of the shad off and then use the fillet or use the whole shad with the filleted side missing. Match bait size to the size fish you aspect to encounter and also remember to match the hook size to the bait size. I have found its best to hook cut bait just one time. You get a much better hook set this way.

You can use frozen shad especially if you can't get fresh shad. But fresh shad always out produces frozen and stays on the hook better.

 

[bigpapa15206]

Huh? you have to kill them immediately, why cant you use them live? That sucks man, it doesnt make any sense. If you can find out why, i would love to hear the reasoning behind this. Sorry if I seem like im mocking you, I am just blown away by this.

 

[magicman22]

well bigpapa15206, my guess is that they are afraid that careless fishermen will turn live shad loose in all of the lakes that DNR has worked hard to stock with game fish and throw off the ratio of fish or change the habitat that they want. Around here about the only place to find shad is the Des Moines River (i'm in Iowa).

This is directly from the Iowa DNR bait regulations:

Alive or dead bait can be used from the following species:

Minnows
chubs
shiners
suckers
dace
stonerollers
mud-minnow
redhorse
blunt-nose minnow
fathead minnow
green sunfish
orange-spotted sunfish
frogs
crayfish
salamanders
mussels
Only dead bait can be used from the following species: gizzard shad.

You cannot possess live gizzard shad at any lake. Any gizzard shad taken for bait purposes must be killed immediately.