12-30-2017, 05:10 AM
Pat will respond, that I am sure. But, until.....
I use to fish around shad in Colorado and Louisiana and have dealt with Threadfin and Gizzard shad before. In both areas, and with both species, the 2nd year shad are still small enough for even Small Mouth Bass and 3rd year is well within Large Mouth Bass size.
In fact, the truth is that a predator species will eat a bait/fish that stretches from the tip of its nose to the anus vent. Granted, that is the upper end, but they will do it, and for a 20 inch Wiper, that means that the shad could be around ......... well let's say that no threadfin could ever be too big and few Gizzard shad would ever make it. It should be noted that Willard are Gizzard shad so they are the larger of the two shad species.
So, yes, the 2nd year, and even the 3rd year will be available to the Walleyes, Wipers, Catfish, etc.
Next question, open water? Yes, the later generation shad will be more open water in their behavior. But, they will move to follow the food so when the plankton start they will follow the concentrations. I find that shad do not avoid the shore.
I use to fish around shad in Colorado and Louisiana and have dealt with Threadfin and Gizzard shad before. In both areas, and with both species, the 2nd year shad are still small enough for even Small Mouth Bass and 3rd year is well within Large Mouth Bass size.
In fact, the truth is that a predator species will eat a bait/fish that stretches from the tip of its nose to the anus vent. Granted, that is the upper end, but they will do it, and for a 20 inch Wiper, that means that the shad could be around ......... well let's say that no threadfin could ever be too big and few Gizzard shad would ever make it. It should be noted that Willard are Gizzard shad so they are the larger of the two shad species.
So, yes, the 2nd year, and even the 3rd year will be available to the Walleyes, Wipers, Catfish, etc.
Next question, open water? Yes, the later generation shad will be more open water in their behavior. But, they will move to follow the food so when the plankton start they will follow the concentrations. I find that shad do not avoid the shore.