Match the hatch

[Bartman]

I've been checking the contents of crappie's stomachs that I've been cleaning. Almost all of them have 3-4" shad in them. My question is, why do most people (including me) not use larger baits this time of the year? My first thought would be a white or silver 3-4" swim bait? When I get minnows, I always get bass minnows but they are not near the size of shad that I'm seeing. Can you catch the shad and use them as bait? What do you think???

Bartman

[8fishermen]

Shad are very hard to keep alive. Not sure where you live, I'm in MS. I caught a few fish the other night on 1" long shad I caught with a dip net under my lights. I've been told you can keep them in a aerated oval bait tank, like the ones used for saltwater.