Bob-

1) A shad (or any other fish-kill situation) "die-off" is not a normal
occurrence, nor does it involve the entire population. It comes about as a
result of a drastic & sudden drop in temperature below the shad's acceptable
temperature range.

2) Just like there's big bass & small bass so it goes with other species',
shad included. There's always 6" shad & always 1" shad.

3) The term "baitfish" has nothing to do with how common or uncommon the
fish may be.

Warren
--
http://www.fishingworld.com/MesaTackleSupply/
http://www.outdoorfrontiers.com http://www.secretweaponlures.com
http://www.warrenwolk.com/ http://www.tri-statebassmasters.com/

"Bob La Londe" wrote in message
...
At what temperature do the shad start to die off? I am probably asking
water temperature more than anything else.

I have seen mild winters here in the desert when they didn't die. The
following season is when you see shad running six inches.

I am curious though. Most years there is a shad die of and in the spring
you find schools of shad that are les than inch long.

I can only assume those new schools of shad are from hardy shad that
didn't
die off. Or do they have eggs that lie dormant through the cold? Somehow
that doesn't sound right.

If we get a really harsh winter will it take more than a season for the
shad
to repopulate?

What about other bait fish?

Fathead minnows. I have only really found them in a few sheltered areas,
but
they are listed as a bait fish in the regs so again I have to guess they
are
pretty common.

And red shiners. Where do you find those? I have only seen large groups
of
them a few times in many years. The ones I usually see are an inch to
inch
and a half, but last year there were a bunch in one of the local canals
that
were 2 1/2 to 3 inches long. Do they always get that big and I have never
seen them, or was it a rare circumstance that they did? If so what likely
gave them the opportunity to grow larger?


--
Bob La Londe
Yuma, Az
http://www.YumaBassMan.com
Promote Your Fishing, Boating, or Guide Site for Free
Simply add it to our index page.
No reciprocal link required. (Requested, but not required)