EricM
Well-known member
I went out again Thursday to find shad and enjoy the spring live bait bite. What a change from Monday! The shad were scattered and a good throw would maybe (MAYBE) get you 3-6 shad. I threw so many times that I can barely walk today because of the sharp back pains. Failing to get the net fully open didn't help, just a bad netting day all around for me. Another friend I have made on the river (Bob Shelton - Downrigger) was able to throw a smaller net way longer than I lasted and twice gave me a bunch of shad to supplement the few I had managed to collect. I owe you big-time Bob!
The bass were very tightly bunched and being 20-30 yards off of the spots resulted in almost no fish. There were a couple of guys throwing artificials and I invited them over to where I was doing well on live bait. The bass would hardly look at anything they threw while I was catching fish right next to them. I am shocked that so many fish would see various lures and presentations and never bite. In fact, even a dead or dying shad would mostly be ignored until I put a lively bait on and then fish would hit quickly. How many bass turn up there noses at our lures on an average day of casting? Unbelievable.
Oh, I forgot to mention my hands. Ow, ow, ow. Crap. Wet hands all day from the netting and the re-baiting of the shad and the unhooking of fish make the skin very soft, and lipping the bass tears the bejesus out of both thumbs after a day or two. I am limping around (remember my back?) with both thumbs swaddled in Band-Aids and sticking straight out since I don't dare try to bend them this morning.
I love fishing!
Here is a pic or two. Not nearly the big fish of the day but a great picture of a handsome, happy, hurting fellow. Also a pic of what happens to your rod if you fish with shad. The beautiful sparkly finish is actually a protective layer of shad scales. You should see the steering wheel of my truck..................
The bass were very tightly bunched and being 20-30 yards off of the spots resulted in almost no fish. There were a couple of guys throwing artificials and I invited them over to where I was doing well on live bait. The bass would hardly look at anything they threw while I was catching fish right next to them. I am shocked that so many fish would see various lures and presentations and never bite. In fact, even a dead or dying shad would mostly be ignored until I put a lively bait on and then fish would hit quickly. How many bass turn up there noses at our lures on an average day of casting? Unbelievable.
Oh, I forgot to mention my hands. Ow, ow, ow. Crap. Wet hands all day from the netting and the re-baiting of the shad and the unhooking of fish make the skin very soft, and lipping the bass tears the bejesus out of both thumbs after a day or two. I am limping around (remember my back?) with both thumbs swaddled in Band-Aids and sticking straight out since I don't dare try to bend them this morning.
I love fishing!
Here is a pic or two. Not nearly the big fish of the day but a great picture of a handsome, happy, hurting fellow. Also a pic of what happens to your rod if you fish with shad. The beautiful sparkly finish is actually a protective layer of shad scales. You should see the steering wheel of my truck..................
