What to throw, when the shad/bait are small?

[FishInTheDesert]

Went fishing on monday. I know I was around them cuz I was marking them....and I was around the bait! I was not only seeing shad balls....but I was seeing them busting, and schooling right on the rock banks!

Im a reaction bait guy....and I threw everything at them. different types of cranks, chatterbait, spinnerbait, swim jig....and nothing.

The bait fish I was able to visually see was small, not sure if minnows or if they were small threadfin (backs had a blueish back to them, and we only have threadfin and gizzard as forage fish)...but they were small. I was able to get into the white bass, and they were inhaling the small crankbaits (squarebill and 3xd)...but I couldnt get the largies to bite. I also tried a weighted t-rigged craw and swimbait in green pumpkin....and nothing.

Im thinking I shouldve tried a dropshot swimbait, or something on a dropshot. Im barely forcing myself to finesse and fish soft plastics...so I dont think I have that instinct of when to throw them like I do with some of the reaction baits I like to throw.

[DougH]

Throw a Mann’s Little George, always works on schooling fish and I pretty much keep one tied on through first of year.

[rb]

Spy bait. It catches them

[Bassman Ia.]

H&H spinnerbait

[GZ ONE]

10Xd on 30lb mono

[Skeeterbait]

Damiki Vault 1/2 oz. The most versatile bait for the conditions you describe. First it is compact, small and very closely matches small shad. You can cast it long range to reach breaking fish. Super high vibration action. And you can cast and retrieve it like any lipless crank then drop it down vertically and jig it when you mark bait under the boat.

[22RangerZ520R]

10Xd on 30lb mono

Or this...

[ncbass]

2.8" Keitech Swing Impact Fat on a 3/16 oz head, I've had much better luck with this set up on schooling fish than any other bait....and I'm a diehard Damiki Vault fan

[21XDC]

Damiki Vault 1/2 oz. The most versatile bait for the conditions you describe. First it is compact, small and very closely matches small shad. You can cast it long range to reach breaking fish. Super high vibration action. And you can cast and retrieve it like any lipless crank then drop it down vertically and jig it when you mark bait under the boat.

Yes... Blade baits are under rated and under used.

[ECobb91]

Keitech 2.8 in sight flash or sexy shad if they don’t eat it on a straight retrieve jig it like a grub

[n2ratfishin]

https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/word...ter-tail-lures

[Melton Jason]

A small roostertail also works great

[Mark Perry]

3" Megabass Hazedong Shad on a small jig head.

[JHelms]

Silver Buddy.

[ClarkBird]

my secret weapon when they're being stingy like that.

[delaney]

I take a 4" Zoom Dead Ringer, cut off 1-1.5", and put it on a 1/8 oz. jig head, when I see small bait fish. I have caught many over 5# doing this.

[1Holeshot]

Rapala Shadrap SR5 in shad color.

[haftafish22]

3" Megabass Hazedong Shad on a small jig head.

I was gonna say the spark shad. I use that little dude a lot lately around balls of bait and when they are busting shad. It catches them good

[Holden]

If you want to cast and grind I would throw something on a jighead. The Impact/Fat Impact are good but I prefer to throw a curly tail grub because they just catch more fish for me. I throw them on a spinning rod with a slower gear ratio reel so I am able to keep the bait in the strike zone longer. The Bandit 100-300 series of crankbaits are good as well, especially in any wind/current. Roostertails or micro-spinners are a last ditch effort.

If you want to slow down, hard to beat a drop shot most days. Dont complicate things either, Zoom Tiny Fluke, or a any other small profile plasfic. Weightless plastics are good too in shallow water. Nose hook a Zoom Tiny Fluke and dont over work it. Sometimes dead sticking is key.

[its_a_muu]

Call me crazy but in mid-late fall on highland KY reservoirs I am armed always with a 1/8 ounce white rooster tail. It works wonders. Sounds crazy I know but I’ve had some awesome days catching big spots around points and docks when they wouldn’t hit anything else!