Threadfin Shad (Dorosoma petenense)



Threadfin shad rival gizzard shad in population. In warmer southern impoundments, they most likely outnumber them. Rarely reaching a maximum length of over 7 inches, the common range is 3-6. This is a bait which schools so tightly sometimes that your cast net will come to a complete stop on a school of them. Quite often the school will blank out your depthfinder making it impossible to read the bottom. A semi-tropical species, they cannot survive water temperatures below 45 degrees. Thus, during harsh winters, massive die-offs occur in their northern ranges.


As widespread as the gizzard shad, but perhaps more concentrated in certain areas at times. They will relate to deep water much more readily than the gizzard. Usually very available year-round.


Much of the time, threadfins will school with gizzard shad. They will seek warmer water as a general rule. Coves and inlets are good areas to look. Threadfin, like gizzards, perform the shad *flip* on the surface, making them easy to spot on calm days. From late spring to early fall, below the dams during times of generation is also an excellent place.  They can also be seduced by putting out lights at night.  It usually takes a couple of hours, but they will show up in large numbers if the moon isn't too bright.


Somewhat delicate, if taken proper care of, threadfins do very well in a tank. They can be kept at numbers of 2-4 per gallon of water. Use salt for this shad.


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