1. When handling Shad, make sure your hands are wet. Handling Shad with dry hands will damage their scales. This will cause them to die prematurely.

2. Try to keep water temperature in bait tank or bucket within 10 degrees of original water temperature. This helps reduce the shock to the Shad's system.

3. Filtration and oxygenation are two keys in keeping Shad alive in a bait tank environment. Micro bubbles in the water help oxygenate the water more efficiently. You can use a venturi or a fine air stone to accomplish this.

4. Try to avoid tank overcrowding. For example: You don't want to put 10 dozen Shad in a 20-gallon tank. 

5. When catching bait with cast net, it's best to place your bait in a holding pen until they have purged and settled down. Once settled, you can hand select which bait to transfer to your bait tank. This helps with initial shock and helps keep debris out of your tank.

When your bait are sitting in a tank, there are many harmful chemicals they are subjected to, such as ammonia, chlorine, nitrites and nitrates. Shad Magic is a blend of FDA approved products that have been formulated to support the bait by offering them electrolytes, balancing the pH and creating a barrier from these harmful chemicals.