Hooking Shad?

Southpaw · Posted: Thu, Jul 10 2008 12:21 am Post subject: Hooking Shad?

OK, this may be a wore out topic, but since I'm new to the forum and haven't seen it in any of the threads, I would like to hear the different (and most productive) ways you guys hook your shad. I am giving up LMB fishing for awhile and trying to refine my catfishing skills. My current problem is in the jug line area. I am catching some fish but it seems like I am losing more shad off the hooks than I should be. I am using circle hooks and have been hooking them through the hard cartilage area on the top of their head. I have tried to utilize the "whole" shad on the hook but most times I end up with a nice gooey mess that won't stay on the hook. If any of you guys have a proven method and would like to share I would appreciate it, or if this has been discussed before just point me to the thread. Thanks.

polebender · Posted: Thu, Jul 10 2008 08:16 am Post subject:

these days i fish with heads mostly. cut the tails off and I always put the hook through one eye and out of the top of the head in the hard spot. if a fish gets it that can't swallow it whole, you will miss it. If you want more hookups then fillet the meat off the shad and worm it on the hook a couple of times.
_________________
Joe Simpson
www.4footcat.com
www.northtexastrophycats.com

MikeB · Posted: Thu, Jul 10 2008 08:52 am Post subject:

Agree with Joe. Only question is are you using fresh or frozen shad? Frozen smaller shad won't stay on a hook as well as fresh.

What size circles?

Southpaw · Posted: Thu, Jul 10 2008 09:20 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the reply...I'm using fresh shad caught the same day, and I think the hook size I'm using is 2/0 catfish hooks by Strike King. I will try the head and the fillet both and see which one produces better. I kind of suspected I was giving them too much bait and not enough hook and they were just pulling it off by the tail. I saw some older posts where you guys talked about cutting open the bellies and exposing the innards to help attract fish as well.

polebender · Posted: Thu, Jul 10 2008 09:39 pm Post subject:

whoa there!!! most are using 5 - 8 ought hooks and leaving as much as possible exposed. i use 6 and still try to barely hook the shad so that my hook can get i the fish. i always cut the shad in some fashion. if it is a small shad, i still slice the belly.
_________________
Joe Simpson
www.4footcat.com
www.northtexastrophycats.com

MikeB · Posted: Thu, Jul 10 2008 09:44 pm Post subject:

polebender wrote:

whoa there!!! most are using 5 - 8 ought hooks and leaving as much as possible exposed. i use 6 and still try to barely hook the shad so that my hook can get i the fish. i always cut the shad in some fashion. if it is a small shad, i still slice the belly.

Smallest hook I will use now is 5/0. I got a 14 inch Channel the other night and still gut hooked him. Don't drop below 5/0. You won't, IMHO, have enough hook exposed for a good hook set.

cheapersleeper · Posted: Thu, Jul 10 2008 09:52 pm Post subject:

Inexperienced as I am, I already tested that whole hook size thing out. I have caught 7 or 8 inch catfish on 4/0 and 5/0 so I no longer worry about the hooks being to big. That is using circles.
_________________
"I was getting too many snakes in the house, otherwise I would have stayed,"

Southpaw · Posted: Sat, Jul 12 2008 12:26 am Post subject:

OK thanks, I guess I need to upgrade.