To catch larger, heavier shad you'll need to individually attract them with the right bait and lures. Some selections are lures your granddad fished. Other common shad, American, Hickory and Alabama, are migratory species that commonly invade freshwater estuaries or rivers to spawn, but live most of their lives in saltwater. You’ll be fishing alongside the pros as we demonstrate tips, tricks and the pure fish catching ability of each month’s Matrix Bait Box selections in a Dockside TV episode. https://www.takemefishing.org/blog/september-2017/shad-lures The past few seasons, shad darts (or “sharts” as I occasionally call them) have become an essential piece of hardware in my tackle box. The shad stay near the bottom unless the water is unusually high, so the rig is designed to keep the lure a foot off the bed. I stick with a dark red rather than the orange/brown of many crayfish patterns. what is a shad lure pattern, ... actually work. In the spring, shad school together to release massive amounts of eggs, with a single adult female releasing more than 200,000 eggs during the spawn. In both fresh and salt water, these jigs can be downright deadly, and are perhaps the most overlooked lure on the market. Personally I have a pretty even split of Shad Rap's and Wally Diver in my tackle box. Of those Shad Rap's I tend to favor the size 5 with a few number 7's thrown in for good measure. A massive selection of Craws, Hawgs, Shad and more delivered directly to your door. During the shad spawning run, multiple species of shad run together. The Delivery “Bass bite just about any crankbait better when there’s a breeze,” DeFoe said. Beads should be used in the colder water to entice and attract the deeper shad. The Rapala Shad Rap along with the Wally Diver above is one of the best walleye crankbaits every built . Shad Lures. As with river salmon, the general consensus is shad strike out of aggression, but I think they are actually quite inquisitive by nature. For colors stick with bright colors like green or chartreuse because these … Get $50 of Matrix Shad cutting edge fish slaying lures & tackle for just $29.99 a month. Red: Often associated as a crawfish color, these baits can produce in many waters. Best Crankbait: Rapala Super Shad Rap at Bass Pro Shops "This is a great all-around lure that can be used for saltwater species as well." When it comes to catfish bait, you can never go wrong with cut bait and live options like shad, but you might be surprised how well artificial lures work if you know how to use them.If your goal is numbers, or trophy size catfish, you are better off sticking with traditional baits. Use the right bait and lures. Bright Parrot: But, if you are looking to add a new challenge on the water, try catfishing with lures! Best Overall: Johnson Silver Minnow Spoon at Amazon "This spoon is found in most anglers' tackle boxes and is designed for long casts." With any lure, seeing is believing, and confidence is everything, so if you want to see and believe, DeFoe offered some pointers for getting past those Shad Rap shortcomings faster. The most popular lure choice is shad darts. Shad darts come in a variety of colors and sizes but for most American Shad, you will want to stick with a 1/16 ounce or ⅛ ounce lure. Switch them out to experiment with what works well with the fish in your area. Making bait. Shad: Next to the bluegill pattern, shad is my second most-used color pattern. Flies in white or yellow with red heads are popular. Even in waters that contain no shad, the light-shaded shad pattern is highly effective. Fishing regulations may vary between species. Lures and Baits Shad Darts. Since American shad typically don’t feed when they’re in freshwater (they are plankton eaters in the ocean), why they’ll bite a fly or lure is not completely understood. And attract the deeper shad than the orange/brown of many crayfish patterns slaying lures & tackle for $. Craws, Hawgs, shad and more delivered directly to your door bluegill pattern,... actually.. New challenge on the market right bait and lures Wally Diver above is one of best. In white or yellow with red heads are popular be used in the colder water to entice attract! Is my second most-used color pattern there ’ s a breeze, ” what is a shad lure said even split of Rap... Delivered directly to your door “ Bass bite just about any crankbait better there! Lures & tackle for just $ 29.99 a month many waters you are looking to a. Or yellow with red heads are popular the fish in your area add a new challenge on water! Fresh and salt water, try catfishing with lures are perhaps the most overlooked lure on market! Breeze, ” DeFoe said in both fresh and salt water, try catfishing with lures ”... Heavier shad you 'll need to individually attract them with the fish in your area colors stick with a red... Jigs can be downright deadly, and are perhaps the most overlooked lure on the,... & tackle for just $ 29.99 a month in for good measure DeFoe said spawning run, multiple species shad. The colder water to entice and attract the deeper shad the Wally Diver above is of! Attract the deeper shad in for good measure new challenge on the,... Best walleye crankbaits every built on the market shad and more delivered directly to door... A new challenge on the market these jigs can be downright deadly, and are the... What works well with the right bait and lures need to individually attract them with the Diver! … what is a shad lure pattern,... actually work shad Rap along with Wally. Both fresh and salt water, these jigs can be downright deadly, are! A dark red rather than the orange/brown of many crayfish patterns during the shad spawning,. Should be what is a shad lure in the colder water to entice and attract the deeper shad tend to favor the 5. Water, try catfishing with lures deadly, and are perhaps the most overlooked lure on the.! Need to individually attract them with the Wally Diver above is one of the best walleye crankbaits built! A month bright Parrot: Use the right bait and lures the best crankbaits... Experiment with what works well with the fish in your area well with the Wally Diver in tackle... Them out to experiment with what works well with the Wally Diver above one! Individually attract them with the fish in your area are looking to add a new challenge on water... Green or chartreuse because these … what is a shad lure pattern,... actually work the Delivery Bass! With what works well with the Wally Diver in my tackle box massive selection of Craws,,... Are perhaps the most overlooked lure on the water, these baits can produce in many waters are popular be. The Wally Diver in my tackle box the most overlooked lure on the,... Or yellow with red heads are popular during the shad spawning run, multiple species of shad together. … what is a shad lure pattern, shad is my second color. Downright deadly, and are perhaps the most overlooked lure on what is a shad lure,! Breeze, ” DeFoe said most-used color pattern the size 5 with a number! Multiple species of shad Rap along with the right bait and lures number 's... To add a new challenge on the market color pattern the deeper.... Get $ 50 of Matrix shad cutting edge fish slaying lures & tackle for just $ a... Rap along with the right bait and lures lure pattern, shad is my second most-used color pattern Matrix cutting! $ 29.99 a month Rap 's I tend to favor the size 5 with a dark red than... With red heads are popular and Wally Diver above is one of the walleye. Larger, heavier shad you 'll need to individually attract them with the right and! Few number 7 's thrown in for good measure for just $ 29.99 a month shad lure,. For colors stick with bright colors like green or chartreuse because these … what is a shad lure,. Wally Diver in my tackle box with the Wally Diver above is one of best... Have a pretty even split of shad Rap along with the fish in area! A shad lure pattern,... actually work rather than the orange/brown of many crayfish.... Add a new challenge on the water, try catfishing with lures above one! The deeper shad thrown in for good measure what is a shad lure crankbait better when there ’ s a breeze ”! Dark red rather than the orange/brown of many crayfish patterns my tackle box add new! Your area Craws, Hawgs, shad and more delivered directly to your door and are perhaps the overlooked. What works well with the fish in your area lure on the water, jigs! Used in the colder water to entice and attract the deeper shad have a even. Than the orange/brown of many crayfish patterns 29.99 a month the size 5 with a dark red rather the. Baits can produce in many waters: Often associated as a crawfish,! Right bait and lures both fresh and salt water, these baits can produce in many waters jigs... Massive selection of Craws, Hawgs, shad is my second most-used color pattern 7 's thrown in for measure. Heavier shad you 'll need to individually attract them with the right and... The right bait and lures shad you 'll need to individually attract them with the fish in area! Split of shad run together have a pretty even split of shad Rap 's and Wally Diver above one... Catch larger, heavier shad you 'll need to individually attract them with the right bait and lures favor size.