Does anyone fish a Carolina Rig under schooling shad/bass? Could this be effective, for instance on Pickwick, reaching bigger bass, or catching bass under the schools of shad when bass aren't actively busting the shad up top? If so, what is your bait of choice?

 

I'm very interested in this as well... would love to know more a/b bait selection here, especially in TN and KY.  Thanks!  

Spinnerbait just underneath the school.  It is the only time I can stand to throw it.

When the shad bunch up in the back of the coves and the bass are busting them like crazy, this can be the most frustrating fishing of your life.  It drives most of us crazy.  The thing about this time of the year is, there will be a lure that works.  It might work for the whole day, just an hour or come back next week and it work again then.  You just have to figure out what they want other than shad.  And it is not much.  Some of the lures I have had success with are:

 

Swarming hornet

Spinnerbait

Trick worm weighless jerked on top

Flutter Spoon

Little Cleo

 

 

These seem to catch the numbers and occasionally the bigger fish.  But what I have noticed is, if you can find the bait balls in the backs of coves/pockets that still have deep water look under those for the bigger fish.  And fish your normal confidence lures.

 

Jeff

If the fish are not on the bottom and are relating to baitfish schools,  IMHO a Carolina would be ineffective.

 

You would need to be fishing at the level the preditors are.

 

Add a Super Fuke (weighted hook and unweighted hook) and a umbrella rig to the list of possible presentations.

If the fish are not on the bottom and are relating to baitfish schools,  IMHO a Carolina would be ineffective.

 

You would need to be fishing at the level the preditors are.

 

Add a Super Fuke (weighted hook and unweighted hook) and a umbrella rig to the list of possible presentations.

 

I agree with Wayne here, especially on the Fluke recommendation.  For whatever reason they aren't actively busting them up, so you need to be different.  Throwing the fluke gives the look of a straggler or one that can't keep up with the pack, it just might be the ticket to triggering strikes that day.

It would work fine and it may even land you a bigger fish then whats schooling, at times Big bass wait under the schools to get the injured fish that are falling down. Remember bigger fish dont like expending energy and are opportunist .

 

In fact many specie's of fish including big Marlin and Wahoo are caught under schools of Dolphin

 

I caught a 7 3/4 and 6 to win a tournament by worming under active schools. The dinks were on top. You have to have serious patience and confidence but its worked for many a time with bass.

Shad are schooling like crazy on Center Hill now.  I had success with a super fluke with a weighted head and road runner.   Too bad I was trying to drop shot the big boys all day.