02-14-2011, 09:15 PM
[quote Telbone] The guy claimed that it dehydrated the shad fast and helped preserve the smell and such that attract fish.[/quote]
I'd say he is correct about the first part, but I personally doubt the second part. While salting them dries them out and can allow them to keep indefinitely, I don't think it would make them more attractive to our local striper.
They eat shad all day, but I don't think they're down their with salt shakers [
] lol
It doesn't mean that they wouldn't catch a fish, but a fisherman's best bet is to match the hatch. So I'd say a frozen, unsalted shad would be the next best thing to a live shad.
Whatever you have left over after a days fishing can be taken home a saved for those days when you can't net any. I'd recommend icing them down for transport home, then lay them out on a cookie sheet (that will fit in your freezer) lined w/ wax paper. Spread them out so the freeze individually.
Have you ever seen the bagged shad they sell at the bait store? Absolute crap... almost guaranteed not to catch fish lol. This is part of the reason I don't think salting them is a great idea.
http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gfo...ad;#589053
[quote Telbone] I don't like killing anything uselessly so maybe i'll experiment w/ salting a small amount and freezing the rest next time I get lucky with 'em. I can then test them out on separate poles. [/quote]
As long as you use the bait, it wouldn't be a wanton waste or senseless killing. You've got the right idea testing them out and seeing your results. Maybe try 3 different methods out and see what works.
1. bury them in kosher salt, fully dried
2. lightly salted and frozen
3. straight frozen
My money is on the straight frozen ones =) but that's just my guess...
If you ever have to much shad, I'll take some off your hands, haha.
Be sure to post your results.
[signature]
I'd say he is correct about the first part, but I personally doubt the second part. While salting them dries them out and can allow them to keep indefinitely, I don't think it would make them more attractive to our local striper.
They eat shad all day, but I don't think they're down their with salt shakers [
] lolIt doesn't mean that they wouldn't catch a fish, but a fisherman's best bet is to match the hatch. So I'd say a frozen, unsalted shad would be the next best thing to a live shad.
Whatever you have left over after a days fishing can be taken home a saved for those days when you can't net any. I'd recommend icing them down for transport home, then lay them out on a cookie sheet (that will fit in your freezer) lined w/ wax paper. Spread them out so the freeze individually.
Have you ever seen the bagged shad they sell at the bait store? Absolute crap... almost guaranteed not to catch fish lol. This is part of the reason I don't think salting them is a great idea.
http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gfo...ad;#589053
[quote Telbone] I don't like killing anything uselessly so maybe i'll experiment w/ salting a small amount and freezing the rest next time I get lucky with 'em. I can then test them out on separate poles. [/quote]
As long as you use the bait, it wouldn't be a wanton waste or senseless killing. You've got the right idea testing them out and seeing your results. Maybe try 3 different methods out and see what works.
1. bury them in kosher salt, fully dried
2. lightly salted and frozen
3. straight frozen
My money is on the straight frozen ones =) but that's just my guess...
If you ever have to much shad, I'll take some off your hands, haha.
Be sure to post your results.
[signature]