“This is for sure one of the top five lakes I’ve seen in terms of the number of shad,” said Mike Iaconelli, who was 10th after Day 1 with 15-15. “The shad spawn is amazing here. That first hour or two, you will have shad follow your bait on every freaking cast, I don’t care where you go. I’m not talking about one or two. I’m talking about oodles and boodles of shad following your bait.”
Iaconelli is using a bait to mimic a school of shad. Like an umbrella rig?
“Yeah, I’m using a doubleheader A-rig,” Iaconelli laughed. “There are actually 37 baits on this A-rig.”
Umbrella rigs, of course, have been prohibited from use in B.A.S.S. tournaments for a while now.
“I’m throwing a bait with blades that looks like a school of shad,” he said. “For me, it’s a great way to start the day here. The bite seems so random otherwise. That’s the only bite that’s consistent. Getting two or three in the box during the first hour or two of the day is a huge help.”