What Tactics/Methods to Catch Walleye in a Lake Full of Shad???

[defiant1]

How does one make their lure or live bait stand out in a lake full of natural bait?  Do you increase your presentation aggressiveness?  Hole hopping?  Gill Net? Pray?

Thoughts?

d1

[esox_xtm]

I'd say you're on the right track. Find the forage first, that's where most of the predators are hanging out.

After that I'd un-match the hatch. Something to separate your presentation from the masses. I would also tend to fish more aggressively looking for those fish on the feed instead of trying to coax a neutral/negative fish into biting.

I chase open water muskies that associate to huge schools of shad/shiners and it often works for me.

[IFF]

a good choice would be a blade bait. Bounce it off the bottom, and give it a snap upwards, causing it to vibrate, they think its a dying shad and will pounce on it. I keep a tight line as it drops, it will also flutter in a free fall.

[Sprocket]

I like pizza after a week of eating cheeseburgers...

[appleye]

I like large white lures for shad lakes. Spoons. #9 shad raps. 4" tubes all work.

[esox_xtm]

What's your target species?

[FishGut]

My local 'eye (pike, bass, catfish) lakes are chock full of dead and dying shad. It's an all you can eat holiday buffet under the ice. You'll have to find that "wafer thin mint" to get fish to bite

[esox_xtm]

What's your target species?

Brain dead moment..... read the thread title. 

[IFF]

Thats ok Mike happens to the best of us

[esox_xtm]

Thats ok Mike happens to the best of us

Thanks Bud. I'd say, "You're the best!" but I don't want you to get the wrong idea...

Despite my momentary lapse, location/presentation comments stand.

[bb400guy]

Really I can only think of two options:

1.) "Match the hatch" exactly - Shad Raps/Live Targets/etc. that are exactly like the forage in the lake.

2.) Do exactly opposite - presentations/jigs that are way smaller/larger, different colored, anything that is complete different to the shad that are in the lake.