Anyone tried for them yet this year? Possibly going to try it out tomorrow. . .
Probably about 4-6 weeks too early, depending on how the weather does.
But it never hurts to try. 
They are my favorite light tackle fish! Pound for pound they fight like a champ!
“you win some, you lose some…but nothing beats getting some!”
yeah I think we are too early for them. I don’t think I’m going to try it until early/mid Feb. I’m in the middle of closing on a house anyway and gotta work on my outboard before I can fish.
Can’t wait though, been stocking up on tackle for it.
Saying “I am offended” is telling everyone else that you cannot control your own emotions, and thus you need everyone else to do it for you.
I was out in March last year, the DNR fella that was counting how many shad were caught (we didn’t catch any that day) said the bite was almost over that they had been on since Christmas time. . . I didn’t get out the other day but going to go soon just to give it a shot. . .
What do you do with them? Are they any good to eat?
BOB
quote:
Originally posted by Bob 241What do you do with them? Are they any good to eat?
BOB
A few folks will eat them, but mostly the roe from the females is used in dishes like eggs-n-eggs (scrambled roe and chicken eggs).
However, they do make fantastic cut bait for the rest of the year, and are a TON of fun to catch on light tackle.
Saying “I am offended” is telling everyone else that you cannot control your own emotions, and thus you need everyone else to do it for you.
I don’t think I want any roe, but who knows I thought shrimp and grits just sounded awful until I ate some. Another one I haven’t got up the nerve to try is catfish stew. You can take the man out of the mountains but you can’t take the mountains out of the man.
BOB
they’re always there by valentines day- lots of fun on an ultralight even if you just release them.
Any tips for a newbie? I think I’m gonna try for some this year
Chartreuse or white small curly tail grubs on a 1/8 oz jighead. Add some split shot about 12-24" up your line to get down into the water column as needed. The more water they are releasing from the dam, the better.
You can call 1 (800) 925-2537 to hear a recording of how much water will be released each day and what time they will be releasing water.
Semper Fi
18’ Sterling
115 Yamaha
Big Ugly Homemade Blue Push Pole
Father in law gets the roe out of them & uses them for fertilizer in his garden. Best fertilizer around.
21 Contender
quote:
Originally posted by Bob 241I don’t think I want any roe, but who knows I thought shrimp and grits just sounded awful until I ate some. Another one I haven’t got up the nerve to try is catfish stew. You can take the man out of the mountains but you can’t take the mountains out of the man.
BOB
Dang Bob! No catfish stew?! Best advice I can give is when someone invites you for some, listen to see if other brag about how good it is. If you hear, “Man, that dude makes the best catfish stew!” then get some!
Some will boil the catfish and use the stock, I lightly boil my catfish fillets first draining the water before adding to the stew. I don’t care for a strong fish taste, other do.
Other than that there are basically two types, red and white. One just has more ketchup in it.
Nope! I quit drinking several years ago and I think I would have to be plastered just to think about it. Fried crappie or flounder will have to do.
BOB
They are here
“There is a strange sense of pleasure being beat to hell by a storm when you’re on a boat that is not going to sink.” JB
quote:
Originally posted by SmokeyThey are here
Thank you good “sir”
“There is a strange sense of pleasure being beat to hell by a storm when you’re on a boat that is not going to sink.” JB
last year was my first year trying it and i was instantly addicted! for the new guys i rigged 2 small jigs with 2" chart grubs about 18" apart with a heavy split shot in the middle. cast slightly upstream, close the bail, and let current move the line while holding tight. most hits were around the last third of the drift and once they were thick i was catching one (sometimes doubles) most every cast. go anywhere towards the middle and drop a sabiki rig to tear up the herring (shad will hit a sabiki rig too). cut a chunk of shad or herring and drop it down you may hook up with a blue cat. also be very aware of the do not cross line about 200 yards from the dam on both sides of the bank. come late feb/early march i wanna make a trip up from georgia to do it again of course in my trademark kayak i tried the roe a couple times and it was ok (im sure someone that knows what theyre doing could make it much better than me) but i also gave away a couple roe shad. i kept a few for shark, catfish, and crab bait but tossed a good most of them back. oh yea…heads up for pelicans after a free handout!
Myself, Stretch Armstrong and another buddy hit the Cooper for them on Monday. We only caught 10 with at least another 5 or so getting away. Our boat and another boat were the only ones landing them out of about 7 boats on the water.
Do y’all try to get as close to the dam when you target them?
close to the dam will be the most crowded and yes fish will be caught there but plenty are to be had a bit farther from the dam too. i was always downstream a ways and once they get running strong it honestly doesnt seem to make a whole ton of difference. sure they will pile up by the dam, but the downstream people will get the first crack at them when a school moves through. when i was mostly done fishing id paddle away from the main boats and drift a while and still pick plenty of fish up. sometimes just for fun id put a 3oz sinker ahead of my jigs and troll em while i was paddling back and caught shad halfway between the dam and gilligans too. no difficult technique needed the best way to learn is get out there and start fishing. once you hook a few and figure it out you should pick it up pretty quickly.