Where I Catch Shad Cut Bait At Millers Ferry, Alabama River
These are my favorite locations to catch shad and cut bait with my cast net at Millers Ferry on the Alabama River for catfishing. When the shad are being chased by Spotted and Largemouth Bass they are easily found in these areas. If you are a Bass fisherman you know if you can find the shad you will find the Bass in these locations and the more current the better.
Shell Creek
First things first, I always throw my cast net out at the boat dock at Shell Creek. I have filled up many a bucket with cut bait doing this and catfished all day and took some home and put in freezer. When you leave the dock you can either go around the little island and throw your cat net there or go up the bank. Do not be scared to throw up in the grass in both areas. The larger shad will be being chased in and out here. Early morning the shad will be jumping everywhere in this slough. Next make sure you go and throw your cast net around each of the new Alabama Highway 28 bridge pilings on both sides of the river. I have caught small bass, catfish, bream, and crappie around these. But always throw these back as per Alabama regulations https://www.outdooralabama.com/regulations-and-enforcement/cast-net-regulations
Training Dike Park
Next go across the river throwing your cast net out at each bridge piling on the Alabama Highway 28 bridge. When you get to the shallow water near the Training Dike Park. Notice the horseshoe shaped blue mark. The shad will be in the shallow water here being chased by Bass. There is also a big round patch of grass in this area. make sure you throw around it. The water level here gets shallow quick, ranging from 3 feet to 1 feet deep.
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Down The Bank At The Training Dike Park
If you follow the bank on down from the Training Dike Park towards the Powerhouse you will find plenty of shad in these areas as long as the water is above or near full pool. This area at full pool is about 3 to 1 foot deep.
Above The Millers Ferry Powerhouse
Follow the Alabama River bank on down toward the powerhouse you will find shad schooling down the bank and next to the Corp of Engineers Boat House. You will also catch baby bream and crappie in your cast net in all of these areas and are not allowed by Alabama state law to keep these. Here is a link for the Alabama Cast Net Use Regulations https://www.outdooralabama.com/regulations-and-enforcement/cast-net-regulations If you plan on launching your boat in the Millers Ferry, Alabama area check out this post for information https://comefishalabama.com/shell-creek-landing-on-the-alabama-river/
\There are thousands of different places to throw your cast net on the Alabama River at Millers Ferry. These are my go to locations when I need shad for catching blue catfish. When you find the shad schooling it usually only takes one throw of the cast net to get more than you need. If you do not know how to throw a cast net and would like to learn, shoot me an email comefishalabama@gmail.com I prefer a 5 to 6 foot net for beginners. Its not perfect every time but I always catch bait when it is available.
Credit: Google Maps for pictures used in this post.
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