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Find the Shad in
the Post Spawn
By
Steve Magnelia
TPWD Fisheries Biologist
4/26/2006
The April 2006 Lake Guntersville
BASS Elite Series event was a textbook example of anglers utilizing
both spawn and post-spawn patterns. Techniques used by the top five
finishers included bed fishing, blind casting in spawning areas for
recently spawned out fish and power fishing outside edges for true
post spawn bass. The biggest key to success for those anglers
fishing post spawn patterns was the presence of spawning shad in and
around the abundant Guntersville grass beds, and using shad
imitating spinnerbaits and crankbaits to fool the fish into biting.
Once bass complete spawning a portion of the population makes the
move to offshore areas where the predominant food source will be
young gizzard and threadfin shad. Often the migration to deeper
areas can happen within a matter of days. The presence of spawning
adult shad in shallow areas and recently spawned juvenile shad on
structural elements can be an important clue for locating bass this
time of year.
Central Texas Reservoirs contain
both gizzard and threadfin shad. Both species are important food
items for black bass in most southern reservoirs. One important
distinction between the species is that gizzard shad reach a much
larger maximum size than threadfin shad, often reaching 10-15 inches
in length. Both species are prolific spawners, with peak spawning
occurring from late-March to early May (around water temperatures of
70 degrees). Growth is rapid providing a large influx of food items
just when most bass are finishing spawning. By mid-May young
gizzard shad are already 1-1.5 inches in length. At larger sizes (>
5 inches) only large black bass or striped bass can prey on them.
Striped bass are often stocked to utilize overabundant large gizzard
shad. There is debate among fisheries professionals regarding the
importance of large gizzard shad as food items for producing lunker
size largemouth bass; however, based on their success in raising
bass to large sizes in ponds containing gizzard shad, some private
pond consultants theorize that gizzard shad may be an important
component for growing trophy bass. Threadfin shad rarely grow
larger than 6 inches and are good bass prey throughout their entire
life span. Spawning continues throughout the summer and individuals
hatched in late spring commonly mature and spawn late in their first
summer. Spawning activity takes place from dawn to shortly after
sunrise. Often on Lake
Buchanan I’ve observed huge
schools of spawning threadfin shad along the banks early in the
morning. As the sun hits the water they disappear from the
shallows, moving to deeper water.
Because shad utilize open water
habitat bass often intercept schools of recently spawned shad along
structural elements near deep water. At Guntersville weed edges
near deep water were key areas, but on a reservoir without
vegetation key areas could be ledges, the ends of main lake points
or boat docks suspended over deep water. Weedlines aren’t usually
fully developed this time of year, so depths where bass and shad
come together usually aren’t as great as during the heat of summer.
In clear water situations bait presentations which call suspended
fish up or suspend around structure or cover are often effective.
The post spawn period in Central Texas usually hits a peak in May.
Once water temperatures hit the upper 70 or low 80 degree mark
deeper summer structure spots become more important. Knowing where
the concentrations of shad are spawning at this time of year,
following them during the day from shallow water at dawn to deeper
areas during the day, thinking of where bass will intercept them and
using lures that mimic small shad should be part of your game plan
for catching bass during the post spawn period. |
