A Bass Angler’s Dream
If you’ve never fished the shad spawn, you’re missing out on one of the wildest feeding frenzies in bass fishing. Imagine thousands of shad flickering on the surface at dawn, desperately trying to spawn while hungry largemouth bass explode through them like missiles. It’s chaotic, it’s fast-paced, and if you time it right, it can lead to some of the best fishing days of your life.
When Does the Shad Spawn Happen in Alabama?
The shad spawn isn’t an all-day event—it’s a short-lived, early-morning phenomenon that happens when water temperatures hit 68–72°F, usually from late March through early May in Alabama. Once the sun gets too high, the shad vanish, and the bite slows down. Several factors influence the timing, including water clarity, moon phases, and available structure. Shad prefer clean, stable water and tend to spawn in huge numbers around the full and new moons. They also love to lay their eggs on hard surfaces like riprap, seawalls, docks, and grass edges, which means knowing where to look can make all the difference.
Some of the best lakes in Alabama for fishing the shad spawn include Lake Guntersville, where miles of grass and riprap hold massive schools of baitfish, and Lay Lake, where docks and seawalls provide perfect ambush points. Pickwick Lake on the Tennessee River chain is another excellent spot, as is Weiss Lake, where a mix of grass and rock structure makes it easy to find bass keying in on spawning shad.
Best Lures for Catching Bass Feeding on Shad
During the shad spawn, bass aren’t just hungry—they’re in full-on attack mode, crushing anything that moves like a wounded baitfish. To take advantage of this, you’ll want to throw moving baits that mimic the frantic action of shad.
One of the top choices is a spinnerbait, which shines (literally) in this situation. The flashing blades resemble a group of shad, and when burned past a seawall or grass edge at first light, it’s almost guaranteed to get hammered. White, chartreuse, or shad-colored spinnerbaits work best, especially when fishing near riprap, docks, or grass edges. A perfect choice would be a Brazalo Custom Lures double willow blade spinner baits in white or bone colors under most conditions.
If you prefer a more subtle presentation, a True South Custom’s Swim Jig with a white or silver trailer is another killer option. Swim it steadily around docks and grass lines, and be ready for a bone-jarring strike. Speaking of violent strikes, topwater baits, walking baits, and buzz baits are an absolute blast during the shad spawn. There’s nothing like watching a bass blow up on a walking bait like a Southerland Outdoors Popper or crush a Bryant’s Customs TWT Buzz Bait at the edge of a grass bed.
For a more finesse approach, a soft jerkbait (Fluke) twitched just under the surface can be deadly, especially when bass are keyed in on injured shad. If the water is slightly stained, a bladed jig with a white or chartreuse Tactical Fishing M.R.E. trailer can trigger reaction bites when nothing else seems to work. And if you’re targeting bigger bass, consider throwing a Jake’s Lure Joint Line Thru Swim Bait or even a glide bait for a more realistic, lifelike presentation.
Where to Find Bass During the Shad Spawn
Finding the shad spawn isn’t difficult if you know what to look for. At dawn, scan the shallows for flickering baitfish, surface activity, or bass busting the surface—that’s your cue. Riprap banks along dams and bridges are prime locations, as they provide the hard structure shad prefer. Docks and seawalls also attract massive schools of bait, making them a hotspot for feeding bass. If you’re on a grass-heavy lake like Guntersville or Lay Lake, target the edges of hydrilla, milfoil, and eelgrass where shad congregate. In reservoirs with plenty of wood cover, laydowns and submerged timber can be excellent ambush points for hungry bass waiting to pick off shad.
Final Tips for Success
To maximize your chances of success, get on the water early. The shad spawn is at its peak right at first light, and by mid-morning, the action slows down dramatically. Stay mobile—if one area goes cold, move to another stretch of riprap, a different dock line, or a fresh grass edge. The shad spawn is a moving target, and being willing to relocate will keep you on fish.
If you’re not getting bit, experiment with your retrieve speed. Sometimes, burning a spinnerbait or bladed jig will trigger a reaction strike, while other times, a slower, more methodical retrieve with a swim jig or fluke works best. Also, pay attention to moon phases—full and new moons often trigger the most intense spawning activity.
Get Ready for an Explosive Bite!
The shad spawn is a short but action-packed window that can produce some of the biggest bass of the year. When the conditions line up, it’s an all-out feeding frenzy, and the right lure in the right place at the right time can lead to a day you’ll never forget. So grab your topwaters, spinnerbaits, and swimbaits, hit the water early, and get ready—because when the bass start busting on shad, things get crazy fast!
