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CATCHING SHAD??? FREEZING SHAD???O
I'm wanting to get into cat fishing more so I want some pointers on catching shad from the pros on CDC. I have been practicing quite a bit and got pretty good at throwing a 5 ft cast net. I went out to binder and caught only four (big) shad today but could not find many schooling and I had two yelling children with me. I live close to a Missouri and Osage River access, and also fish LOZ a lot. Any pointers on netting shad would be appreciated. Location, time of year, water levels, whatever....alsO opinions on freezing shad and how effective frozen shad is. Thanks
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Be extremely careful when you net shad from mo River and Osage you may get Asian carp instead of shad. If you freeze them it isn't a problem. Just don't transport to other area. You may spread the problem. Our experience with freezing shad is they get mushy. They are a hard fish to keep from getting mushy. We just put them in zip lock freezer bags. Several years ago I got an idea and tried it once. Took a cake pan and put a THICK layer of newspaper downi it. Then about 1/4 inch of salt. Cheapest you can find. Then a layer of shad. Then more salt. Covered tightly with Saran Wrap and put in frig for days. It sort of dehydrates them. Makes them a little tougher.
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There is no way in H my wife would let me put either of them in the freezer,let alone the fridge..........
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I have heard skip jack herring works and freezes much better. Do not know where you can catch them around here though.
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We can catch sometimes on the Osage. Just use small lures or beetle spins. Best time is Early. Don't seem to like boat traffic. They will go down and shut mouth.
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Take along an ice chest and pour a little water in with the ice then dump some salt in with the ice and water, Like when we made home made ice cream water, salt, and ice is colder then ice itself catch shad put in water fast then when finished drain water and you have fresh frozen shad and it works. When water is drained off you have a chunk of ice with shad frozen in it. Go to Steve Douglas web site Discover Catfishing he as an article on it there. He also as a bunch of you tube video's that is pretty good too. Just Google him and good luck. Also if looking for some good rods and that are really good for the money check out Rippn-lips rods by John Jameison..
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The big deal about shad is finding them. If you're not spotting them on the surface then you have to find them with your depth finder. A bigger net would get you more bait but is a bit more difficult to throw. Check out some youtube videos for pointers on how to throw a cast net. Packing your shad in salt in a big neck plastic bottle will work to help preserve them as well. Personally I use a lot of bluegill or perch for cat bait, it works about as well, gills are usually easier to catch than shad and freeze better than shad in that they don't get mushy when thawed out. Asian carp work for cat bait also, just make sure they are dead when transporting them as it is illegal to have live ones in your possession (for good reason). Keep in mind that for cat fishing they seem to prefer fresh rather than frozen most days even though sometimes fresh is not possible. Some days shrimp can be killer bait and fairly cheap at walmart . It's a good back up when other bait is elusive, livers too. Good Luck
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forgot to put this in try Missouri Catfishing Forum. It is just like CDC here only for missouri cats in think you will like the knowledge there for Cats
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don't waste your time looing for shad on the MO river. very slim pickings out there. go to LOZ or any big lake, and find a wind blown cove and throw your net around the banks. or when they are running water at bagnal, throw your net along the concrete wall up by the dam. some nice shad there some days. your 5ft net is fine for shad up to maybe 10ft deep. for deeper schools of shad larger, heavier nets work better. I use a cheap 6ft net for shallow water but my deep water net is a betts super pro, 8ft net, 5/8 mesh and 1.5lbs of lead per ft. sinks like a rock and smaller shad can get through the mesh.
I prefer fresh bait but I freeze bait too. the salt/water/ice flash freezing method is the only way to go for stocking up the freezer. be sure to use non iodized salt, like canning or pickling salt. seems to get the water colder. when you get home, put a few shad in a good, freezer ziplock, then fill it with water and then salt the water until it turns really cloudy. seems like a lot of effort but you will have much better bait.
but shad is not the only tool in the box. skipjacks are great. goldeneye's (locally called moon eye's) are a favorite of mine. cut or live carp or suckers are great. I always have some bluegills or goldfish along too.
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