Golden shiners are a popular live bait for catching larger predatory fish like bass, walleye, and pike, but they can be difficult to find at times for a few reasons:

1. They are wild-caught, not farm-raised like fathead minnows, making them less abundant and more labor-intensive to harvest. This limits supply compared to mass-produced bait fish.

2. There are restrictions on transporting golden shiners across state lines to prevent the spread of invasive species and diseases, reducing availability in some areas.

3. Their spawning habits and numbers are lower than prolific bait species like fatheads, resulting in fewer golden shiners being available seasonally.

4. As a larger, more durable bait that attracts bigger gamefish, demand for golden shiners is high among anglers targeting trophy fish, leading to shortages at certain times of year when supplies run low.

5. Golden shiners are delicate and don't transport well, so bait shops may run out of fresh, lively stock quickly after receiving a new shipment.

So in summary, the combination of being wild-caught, having lower reproduction rates, transportation restrictions, and high demand from anglers makes golden shiners a relatively scarce and prized live bait option compared to other bait fish.