VOL . 36 • ISS . 23
Oct . 27 - Nov . 10 , 2017
15
Baiting Mr . Linesides Delta Style
^Here we see a couple shad baits rigged by Joe Semas . The baits have been filleted to release scent into the water , yet Semas advises adding additional scent in the form of Pro-Cure bait oil . The more scent you put into the water , the more bites you ’ ll get . This is particularly true later in the season when the water gets really chilly .
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Rods resting in
Fish Hookers Balancers with the reels out of gear , that ’ s the most effective way to fish shad and other baits for Delta bass . When a striper picks up the bait , it can move away feeling little resistance and that results in more hook ups .
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Here we see
Delta striper expert Joe Semas holding up a husky West Delta striper that he tempted while fishing filleted shad . While pluggers and trollers certainly score their share of Delta bass , nothing can rival bait when it comes to consistent success day after day , all season long .
^These shad were frozen when purchased from the bait shop and author Cal Kellogg thawed them in brine . Note that some of the baits have blown out stomachs . This is the problem with buying frozen rather than fresh shad . If you are forced to buy frozen bait always thaw them in brine and purchase more bait than you think you ’ ll need as only a portion of the bait will be of good quality .
Slinging Shad During The Delta ’ s Fall Striper Season
Alot of striper anglers that troll lures and cast plugs exclusively look on
bait fishing as the down and dirty tactic of the rank beginner that takes little in terms of finesse or technique .
Truth be told , the consistently successful bait angler utilizes a well executed strategy that includes selecting preparing and storing the proper baits .
Throughout the year and over the course of their travels stripers routinely eat a broad range of prey including baitfish , crustaceans and more . In terms of delta baits , threadfin shad , bullheads , mud suckers , bluegill , splittails , jumbo minnows , anchovies , sardines , grass shrimp , ghost shrimp , mud shrimp , pile worms and bloodworms represent a partial list of the baits that anglers ’ use for catching stripers .
Threadfin shad are the preferred forage of Delta roaming stripers and as a result shad produce the most consistent results for the bait angler that understands how to prepare and rig them .
There are two types of shad offered at Delta bait shops , namely fresh and frozen . Fresh shad are always the best choice when you can get them . Most top rate shops have fresh shad most of the time , but inevitably there will be days when you ’ ll have to settle for frozen shad .
Certainly you can pick up some fresh shad at the bait shop , put one on a hook and catch a striper , but if you take a few minutes to brine your shad you can greatly enhance their quality .
For this work you ’ ll need a small ice chest capable of holding a couple gallons of liquid . When you get to the bait shop purchase your shad and place them in the cooler . Next fill the cooler half full with
presents
FISH SNIFFER HOW – TO by Cal Kellogg
ice cubes , adding just enough water to make the ice float . Finally , place about a teaspoon of bluing , an ounce of Pro-Cure pure anise and one heaping cup of rock salt into the cooler . Using your hand , so you don ’ t damage the shad , stir the mixture around . If you have the right ratio of water and ice , the shad will be suspended in the slushy brine .
Each one of the ingredients I ’ ve listed has an important function . The bluing enhances the appearance of the shad making them chrome bright . The anise adds scent to the bait , which is very important since it is the scent trail the bait sends off that ultimately leads the fish back to the bait and your waiting hook . Stripers respond to a number of different scents , but for unknown reasons , anise seems to be one of their favorites .
Finally the salt has a double function . First it toughens the shad , but it also reacts with the ice and causes the cooler ’ s contents to drop below freezing . Not only does this ensure that your shad will stay fresh throughout the day or even over an entire weekend , but it also means that when you remove your bait from the slush they will be partly frozen , making them firm and easy to work with .
The measurements I gave for creating the brine represent the approximate amounts I would use when preparing about 3 pounds of shad . You ’ ll want to vary the recipe accordingly for different amounts of bait . As a general rule when I head out for a day long session of bait fishing I like to have at least 1.5 pounds of shad for each angler on the boat . If the water is cold and the fish are fairly lethargic you can cut the amount of bait roughly in half . However ,
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