How to Keep Shad Fresh All Day and Rig It for Catfish

By Jeff · Oct. 1, 2026 · 5 min read

Fresh dead shad is the best all-around catfish bait on our rivers, and it only stays that way if you take care of it. Growing up on the water in South Florida, I learned fast that bait cooking in the sun is bait that doesn't catch fish. Same deal up here. Shad that sit in a hot truck bed or soak in cooler water turn to mush by lunch. Shad that stay cold and dry keep their firm texture and their oil, and that oil is what brings the catfish to your hook.

Here's how I handle bait from the moment it leaves my cooler until the last cast of the day.

Keep it cold and keep it dry

Pack your cooler before pickup. Fill it with ice ahead of time so it's already cold when your bait shows up.
Bag the bait. Put shad in sealed zipper bags or a lidded container before they go on ice. Meltwater is the enemy here. Shad floating in it get waterlogged and wash out their scent before they ever touch the river.
Drain the cooler. Pour off meltwater every few hours and top off the ice.
Park it in the shade. A cooler in full sun on a Missouri summer afternoon goes through ice fast. Throw a towel over it if there's no shade on the bank.
Take out only what you need. Pull one or two shad at a time, cut them and put the rest right back on ice.

How to cut shad for catfish

A sharp fillet knife and a small cutting board make this quick work. One fresh shad gives you several baits:

The head. Cut just behind the gills. The head is tough, stays on the hook and holds a ton of scent. It's a favorite for big blues.
Steaks. Slice the body into chunks about an inch or two thick. Go bigger for blue catfish and smaller for channels.
Belly strips or fillets. Thin, fluttering strips work great in current and on smaller fish.
The guts. Leave them in the chunk. I know, gross, but that mess is packed with scent.

How to rig cut shad

Most bank anglers around St. Louis fish cut shad on the bottom with a slip sinker rig. Slide an egg or no-roll sinker onto your main line, add a bead and a swivel, then tie on a leader and hook. MDC recommends a slip sinker rig for bait fishing because the fish can take the bait without feeling the weight.

Use enough weight to hold bottom in the current. On the big rivers, that can mean several ounces.
Circle hooks work great with cut bait. Let the rod load up, and the hook sets itself in the corner of the mouth. No need to swing for the fences.
Run the hook through the skin once and leave the point exposed. A bait buried over the point misses fish.
Hook heads through the lips or the eye sockets, and hook steaks through the tough skin along the back.

Rebait often

Cut bait gives off the most scent in the first stretch after it hits the water. Once a chunk turns pale and washed out, reel in and put on a fresh one. On a slow day, fresh bait every 15 to 20 minutes can be the difference between a quiet bank and a bent rod.

Jeff's Quick Tip: Keep a cutting board and your knife right next to the rods. If rebaiting is a hassle, you'll put it off, and old bait is lazy bait.

What to do with leftover bait

If you're fishing again in the next day or so, keep leftover shad bagged and cold in the fridge or on fresh ice.
If your next trip is further out, freeze it flat in a sealed bag. Frozen shad will still catch fish, even though fresh bait works better.
Never dump leftover bait into a lake or pond. Moving fish between waters can spread disease and invasive species. Toss scraps in the trash or take them home.

Plan your order around your trip

The freshest bait is bait you pick up close to fishing time. Call 319 Bait at 314-600-8061 24 to 36 hours before your trip, and I'll set a meeting point at a public boat ramp, marina or pick-up spot in St. Charles or St. Louis County. Orders have a $50 minimum, and orders of $100 or more get 10% off plus free delivery. Cancel at least 24 hours ahead and there's no fee.

Headed out soon? Here are public bank fishing spots around St. Louis and St. Charles worth a try, plus a guide to choosing between skipjack, mooneye and shad. And if your tackle looks like a tornado hit it, check out my review of the Flambeau T4 Pro tackle box.

Watch the action

Reading about cutting shad only goes so far. Here's me showing exactly how I cut fresh shad so it swims naturally in the current.

Tight lines!