Fishing with Live Shad

[ppowell]

Anyone catch their own bait (shad)? I know for shad you need a large circulating bait tank if you want to keep them alive for a long time. Giving that I don't have a big boat, has anyone developed a system for smaller boats?

I'm thinking about building something, maybe using a cooler, aerator, etc. Anyone done this?

[skeetbum]

I thought that shad had to have a replaced water system instead of recirculating. I don’t use much live bait so I’m no authority. Richard Gene does a video on you tube, he might have a few answers.

[huntinslabs]

There are videos on youtube making a continuous flow baitwell using a plastic 55 gallon drum. Replace the 55 gallon drum with a 10 gallon pool chemical bucket from a pool supply store. Just have to watch and not overcrowd the baitwell.

[skeetbum]

Something else I thought of that might help. Look at most good baitwells and notice that they have no corners. An article I read some time back that bait find comfort in a crowd and if they crowd into a corner, the oxygen is depleted and they can suffer from that. Just two more cents.

[J.M.]

You can buy grayline and keepalive tanks in small sizes. You need to insulate your tank if you build one a large round water cooler might work. I built several and some worked fairly well but in the end I got a tank made for keeping shad.

[SpeckledSlab]

Is there that big of difference using shad rather than minnows, which are a hardier bait? Live shad here in Florida are used for Striped Bass and dead shad for catfish. Largemouth Bass love shad minnows but we have never used them as bait for crappie.

[ppowell]

Is there that big of difference using shad rather than minnows, which are a hardier bait? Live shad here in Florida are used for Striped Bass and dead shad for catfish. Largemouth Bass love shad minnows but we have never used them as bait for crappie.

Yes they will catch more than minnows because they are the forage the fish are use to eating. Also I'm tired of driving 40 minutes out of my way for overpriced minnows, would rather catch my own for free.

I'm putting a plan together:

• 10 gallon igloo water cooler
• Install aerator similar to this: https://youtu.be/FQpXN5VACHw

Will be a fun project

[scout-j-m]

I once thought about trying to make one. I was going to chop a 55 gal drum in half and then cut down a 30 gal one, then suspend the 30 in the 55 and fill the void with pour foam. From there do like you see in the videos and hope that the insulation helps in keeping water chilled.

[crappie wrangler]

If you asked one if the Striper guides on lake Texoma they would tell you more than you never wanted to know about keeping shad alive in a tank. Texoma Striper fishermen have their own website (sixoldgeezers.com). Gray line/Sunshine bait tanks probably work the best. Designed and built by the late Sunshine George Lening. His widow keeps the company going these days.

[CliffordN]

I made my own, out of a fifteen gallon restaurant bucket, which seems to be big enough, but not too bulky for my boat. It can fill and empty itself, recirculate, or constantly pull and dump fresh water. Got a real plumbing job hanging off the side, valves everywhere, and two bilge pumps, but it still needs a filter... (Seen here without the intake or exhaust hoses that go over the side attached)... I built it to fish for big cats and stripers. It will keep bluegills alive for over a week. Shad are a lot harder to deal with, especially when it is hot... Make sure you use a white bucket... They also make some salts, and other things you can add that will help... Be careful about dumping ice in, because they will shock from the fast temp change.. Not sure why the image turned sideways...