The two most popular species are gizzard shad and threadfin shad. In case anybody was wondering about this, I spoke with a TPWD biologist about mixing Gizzard shad in with our Threadfin. Threadfin and gizzard shad both have a thread-like filament at the end of the dorsal (top) fin, so this thread-like fin does not distinguish the threadfin. He advised me to not do that, saying that the Gizzard shad would in a few years be too big to help as forage, while eating up a lot of the food from the Threadfin. Gizzard shad are under-appreciated fish in most places where they are found. In some areas gizzard and threadfin shad are the predominant baitfish, and should be used. I can remember fishing with my grandfather and uncles and all we used was shad guts for bait. Threadfin shad may be the best forage fish ever invented. The two most popular species are gizzard shad and threadfin shad. In other areas the skipjack herrings would be best. Then shad and young bass may actually compete for the same limited … That covers a lot of territory — virtually all lakes and rivers in the eastern United States. Podcast: Live from the Houston Fishing Show with a Texas Fish & Game Special Offer March 2, 2018. Shad are maybe the best known bass forage, with myriad lures imitating them. Another benefit of having threadfin in your lake is the exciting fishing it creates. Gizzard shad grow quickly and attain a much larger size than threadfin which, to this point, were the only shad in Lake Powell. distinguish threadfin shad from gizzard shad. Gizzard shad Atlantic menhaden Alewife Gizzard shad and menhaden are similar in body shape, however, there are distinct differences among these species: Gizzard shad have a depression at the nape and the last ray of the dorsal fin is filamentous (thread like) – it is long and extends out. Gizzard shad, like threadfin, are swimming in open water areas, feeding on plankton. Small gizzards are often mistaken for threadfin because of their similar shape and silver sides. So that leaves American Shad (Alosa sapidissima) The rapid growth means that largemouth and smallmouth bass are able to eat shad for only a short time each spring. Shad are maybe the best known bass forage, with myriad lures imitating them. Not frozen, or left out in the open air. As you travel to more northern latitudes, gizzard shad, due to temperature range and colder lake temperatures, will frequently occupy more shallow depths than they would in the South. Fresh Threadfin and Gizzard Shad. While they are very similar, there are a few key differences worth noting to successfully use shad baits. The two most popular species are gizzard shad and threadfin shad. It occurs when water temperatures reach about 60 F, usually during a full moon. Finding them requires a similar game plan. First, lets consider the two most commn shad in our lakes...the Threadfin (TF) and the Gizzard (Giz).