Find The Bait

This time of year on major lakes around the country, shad fry are schooling up. There are also a number of baby bluegill about. Bluegill are ubiquitous in most of the Eastern part of the countries lakes, creeks, rivers, and ponds. Where you find schools of these prey fish you find predators. These could include Largemouth and Smallmouth bass, stripes (genus Morone), crappie, large bluegill, and catfish. If you can catch some of these fry when you find them (check you local regulations), these will most likely make the best bait. I learned this the hard way while fishing recently. The nicest fish I caught all day was on a dead shad minnow that I scooped from the water as opposed to my store bought live minnows. Running small lures such as creature baits and crankbaits under schools of small shad is also a good method to catch predator fish. To find fry, look in large creeks that feed reservoirs near drop-offs and points. Also look in the backs of bays near insect hatches such as mayflies and around boat docks.