Fishing Forum

Hello guys,

I have been doing a lot of reading on netting shad lately. Most of the articles say either get 'em in a aerated bucket or on ice immediately. However, I ran across an article that said to salt them down immediately. Basically alternate layers of shad and salt. The guy claimed that it dehydrated the shad fast and helped preserve the smell and such that attract fish. I have never done this and was wondering if anyone here had tried this. If so, what were the results? I don't like killing anything uselessly so maybe i'll experiment w/ salting a small amount and freezing the rest next time I get lucky with 'em. I can then test them out on separate poles.

Thanks for reading,
Mark
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Well its always worth a try. I think the best approach is keep them in a aerated livewell/bucket long as possible. There is also this "magic formula juice" that you squirt into the well its supposed to keep em live longer. Never used it, most fishing retail stores sell it.

Once there dead there still effective as is but a little flavor here and there would make your offering more desirable whether it be salt,garlic,etc. I do have a little bit of experience with doing the rock salt method with chubs it does make em tuffer and harder to fall off the hook and throws off a oily scent trail. Best to experiment and see whats works best.
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[quote Telbone] The guy claimed that it dehydrated the shad fast and helped preserve the smell and such that attract fish.[/quote]
I'd say he is correct about the first part, but I personally doubt the second part. While salting them dries them out and can allow them to keep indefinitely, I don't think it would make them more attractive to our local striper.
They eat shad all day, but I don't think they're down their with salt shakers [] lol



It doesn't mean that they wouldn't catch a fish, but a fisherman's best bet is to match the hatch. So I'd say a frozen, unsalted shad would be the next best thing to a live shad.

Whatever you have left over after a days fishing can be taken home a saved for those days when you can't net any. I'd recommend icing them down for transport home, then lay them out on a cookie sheet (that will fit in your freezer) lined w/ wax paper. Spread them out so the freeze individually.

Have you ever seen the bagged shad they sell at the bait store? Absolute crap... almost guaranteed not to catch fish lol. This is part of the reason I don't think salting them is a great idea.

http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gfo...ad;#589053




[quote Telbone] I don't like killing anything uselessly so maybe i'll experiment w/ salting a small amount and freezing the rest next time I get lucky with 'em. I can then test them out on separate poles. [/quote]

As long as you use the bait, it wouldn't be a wanton waste or senseless killing. You've got the right idea testing them out and seeing your results. Maybe try 3 different methods out and see what works.
1. bury them in kosher salt, fully dried
2. lightly salted and frozen
3. straight frozen

My money is on the straight frozen ones =) but that's just my guess...

If you ever have to much shad, I'll take some off your hands, haha.

Be sure to post your results.
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This site says salt in the live-well water helps shad survive longer.

http://www.arkansasstripers.com/salt-and-shad.htm
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It is not uncommon to put in a small amount of "aquarium" salt into a fresh water fish tank. I think it helps with some sort of electrolyte process for the fish. Maybe this is similar to humans drinking gatorade instead of just pure water???
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You have to be a tuff fish if you live in our fish tank, we give them straight Las Vegas Tap water and food.... haven't lost one yet....

i hate getting so technical about keeping minows living
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Either get an aerator or construct a shad live well using a laundry basket with fine holes. I used a hard plastic basket and tied some of the water noodle material around the edge so that it would float. When boulder harbor was still open, I would net shad and put them in the floating basket, it worked pretty well. Only problem I ran into was the birds learned that there was free shad in the well and I would have to guard it from them.

I freeze all my shad that I dont use and feed it to my three huge Silver Arowanas.
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lol lvfishingdude puts them fish through the rigors if they wanna be bait..
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we used to salt "cure" our fresh herring before freezing them up in the pacific nw and use them later mooching for salmon i'm reckoning its the same principle. i know they stayed on the hook alot better than "un-cured" herring. if ya decide to do it use rock salt. good luck
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Hello folks,

Just wanted to thank everyone for the responces to my post. Lotsa good info there.

Mark
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Ive used dead shad fer days on end !!!! Heres a simple brine solution that works on shad-chubs-suckers-carp-shiners all-non-game fish.. 1 gallon bucket , half full of cold water , put 1 egg not cracked in the bucket , add salt an stir till egg floats , pull egg out stir in baitfish lightly stir for 5 mins let sit for 5 mins pull bait out and set on a rack or something that the solution will drip off .. I use a piece of perforated sheetmetal but most anything will work !!! Ive used this method a million times and it preserves them well !! once youve let them drip dry place in a ziplock bag and throwem in the freezer or on ice and your ready ta go !!! I learned this brine trick from a buddy who uses shad in oklahoma by the 40qt ice chest full for blue and flathead cats !!!Okiees know best LOL[]
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Hydrogen Peroxide for your livewell

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This tip will work equally well for keeping live minnows or for your catch for weigh-in.
To super oxygenate your livewell water add hydrogen peroxide at the ratio of 1 ounce hydrogen peroxide to 5 gallons of water. Do not excede this ratio. This is how this works.Water is H2O, hydrogen peroxide is H2O2. The extra oxygen atom in hydrogen peroxide bonds with the water molecules to super oxygenate your livewell water.
You can fish all day without using a water or air pump. You do still need to keep the water cool however. Place ice in a 1 quart zip lock baggie and place in the livewell water, or use a commercially made frozen cooler gel pack.
The hydrogen peroxide is also handy for those fishing mishaps that require minor first aide.
Happy fishing! (highjacked from another site)
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Hey this is some really good info.[cool]
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