I've been killing bass on swimbaits for the past month. the shad have all been schooling up (thick) about a week ago the shad are "gone". i know they are there but i can't find them. i live by 4 lakes that are stocked .water temp is about 70 give or take 5 . any suggestions on lure/ lures i should be using ? swimsuits are not cutting it. i live just northeast of birmingham al.

Try throwing a buzz frog (toad), I really like the Gambler Cane Toads.  They have been tearing them up here.

Try a Rage Cut R..

Sometimes when a shad imitater bite dies down, a plastic with the kind of action a Cut R gives will fire them up again. I like Honey Candy.

Mike

I'd try a blade bait. I know most guys don't throw them until water falls close to 50 but I've caught fish in 75 degree water with them. In the fall, the shad die off (I believe) and a blade bouncing along the bottom is a good dying shad imitator.

It is location, right now the shad should be going to the creeks but if you still can't find them then look for isolated cover like dead falls or weed patches and try a buzzbait or look for small flats adjacent to deep water and burn a square bill over it, that is a good tactic right now.