How to trap shad?

><>J · **Posted:** Tue Jan 10, 2017 3:00 pm

I primarily fish for perch and pike (been skunked too many times with walleye, it's not good for my fishing self-esteem! :oops:

). I'm aware that BOQ is teeming with shad and would love to trap them for bait for pike. How can it be done? Where could I find open water to throw my minnow traps in? Would it be legal? (I know I would need a license if I have over X numbers of baitfish). Are there any bait shops who sell them?

EagleEyesFlash · **Posted:** Tue Jan 10, 2017 3:53 pm

Probably with a throw net .
However gizzard shad ( is there another type of shad in Ontario ? ) are NOT legal as bait in Ontario.
They are not on the permitted bait fish list.
http://files.ontario.ca/environment-and ... 198219.pdf

Neither are Alewife.

Cisco / Lake Herring are though, hard to trap too.

So you have to be careful identifying what you are trapping. And this is my own opinion, most people
don't know what type of fish make up all those bait balls around Quinte. Would like to hear other people's opinions on what they are.
Mine...very few are gizzard shad, perhaps blueback ? Quite a few are alewife and the rest are a type of cisco .

Brent

EagleEyesFlash · **Posted:** Tue Jan 10, 2017 6:53 pm

That baitfish rule says LIVE BAIT so could be argued if fined, so if catching "Shad" and then using dead( frozen ) shouldn't be a problem.
Would be happy to support you in Court if it went there, figure some fishing license revenue got
diverted anyway. Figure the Live Bait stipulation is to prevent the spread of Alewife ( a "herring" ),Gizzard shad
and gobies into interior lakes and to protect some threatened smaller fish. But then some types of cisco (" herring" )
are threatened or endangered, but can be used for bait ?. Some ciscos are coming back, a rare deep dwelling one re introduced. So it all a bit confusing or just to me ? Those shad sure ain't American nor Hickory, and gizzards get big like 3.5lbs, and don't see schools of those big ones ever.

Anyhow, to catch, I've tried your standard size minnow trap ( 20" x12" max. without bait-harvester license ) suspended under a float,
they avoid it. Figure chum with barley and use your legal 6'x 6' dip net ( or 6" dia ), good luck with that ! Fly fishing with ant patterns probably best in the fall.

Looking forward to responses, good thread Fish.

Comit · **Posted:** Tue Jan 10, 2017 8:47 pm

are throw net not illegal in Ontario? as for the shad you can buy bagged shad in some tackle stores (http://www.magicproducts.com/) so i don't think there is an issue if they are dead.

Trannyman1 · **Posted:** Wed Jan 11, 2017 6:29 am

No issue with using alewives if they are dead.
You can buy them in some tackle shops that cater to salmon anglers. Familiar bite is one product. They are brined and ready to use.

All lot of use use Sabiki rigs in the harbours when the alewives come into spawn in June.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAswsM2g5Zo

An alternative would be to go to Bulpit's Baits in Demorestville and get the magnum size golden shiners for pike bait. They work excellent and would be a live bait.

Al

horsehunter · **Joined:** Tue Apr 13, 2010 7:14 am **Posts:** 387

If you go the Sabiki route remember in Ontario you are restricted to 4 hooks per line.

Trannyman1 · **Posted:** Wed Jan 11, 2017 8:59 pm

horsehunter wrote:

If you go the Sabiki route remember in Ontario you are restricted to 4 hooks per line.

yes Frank, I forgot to mention to be legal you have to cut 2 hooks off.

Al

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How to trap shad?

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