COLUMN : BASS SCIENCE
ILLUSTRATION BY BRANDON ROWAN
THE science of “ shads ”
Better baitfish knowledge will help find more bass
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
TJ Maglio is a tournament angler and outdoor writer based in Minnesota . He has a degree in wildlife ecology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and has also worked professionally as a wildlife biologist and environmental consultant .
W ant to know a quick way to find out if someone is a bass addict ? Show them a picture of a school of tiny fish and ask them what they see . If it ’ s “ minnows ” or “ a school of fish ,” they ’ re probably not a basser . If they use the words “ shad ” or “ bait ,” you know you ’ re in the right crowd .
The shad ’ s impact on bass-fishing culture is such that we ’ ve developed our own little codeswitch where pretty much any silvery little minnow rolls up under the moniker “ shad .”
But how much does the average angler know about the “ shad ” that they see , and that their bass are chasing around ? Not only is better shad knowledge excellent fodder for summer barbecue discussions , it can also help you catch more and bigger bass .
By learning as much as you can about shad , you can better predict where they are and when , which is pretty much the same as finding the bass — because we all know where there ’ s a group of “ shad ,” there are likely a few bass as well .
The following is a roundup of the four predominant “ shads ” we see across the country , their habits , descriptions , and life histories — along with some tips on how to use that knowledge to get a few more bites next time you ’ re out on the water .
Threadfin Shad
( Dorosoma petenense )
Description : Threadfin shad are bright silver on both sides and have a characteristic cheek spot as well as a thread trailing off their dorsal fin . Some anglers call them “ yellow tails ,” because the main distinguishing characteristic is their yellow fins . Unlike the larger gizzard shad , the threadfin shad also has speckles on its mouth and chin .
Size : Threadfin shad become sexually mature around 3 inches in length ; mature adults are seldom longer than 5 inches .
Range : Historically only native to the rivers , lakes , and estuaries of the Gulf of Mexico ,
28 MAJORLEAGUEFISHING . COM | JUNE-JULY 2021