I'm a dentist, and an aquaculturist, but yet I still have time to create a group called "The Shellcrackers". Group activities include fishing, drinking Diet Dew, drinking Jack Daniels and figuring out ways to make a cricket stay on a hook. Please join this group, because if you don't, I'll feel like I don't have any friends.

...on second thought, you can join this group if you know how to spell the word "shellcracker".

I "think" I have caught a shell or two...

Kelly, make room for me at the river!!

Just wondering...would you call the fish on my profile picture a "shellcracker"?
I catch quite a few of these around here!

I think I've caught redear, but I don't have any photographic evidence to prove it. Certainly I haven't caught one in the last 7 years.
There is a lake within an hour or so drive of here that the DNR and other anglers I've talked to swear that it has bluegills and/or redears in the 12" range. I haven't gone down to give it a try yet. I may have to put it on my "must do" list for next year. Can anybody tell me if redears are often caught while ice-fishing? Or what water temps they spawn? Do they spawn in shallow areas like bluegills do, or something different? What baits work best?

Eggman, the fish in your picture is what I would call a shellcracker.

How about some fall techniques and ideas for these monsters.....I know the big females are starting to school up here and hold in some holes in the river....gotta love the Aqua-Vu!!

I'm a big fan of RES!!!! They are a very special treat in Nebraska. To my knowledge (Bruce, please correct me if I'm wrong, it's been known to happen). RES do not occur on there own in MOST of the bodies of water in Nebraska. If a Red Ear is caught around here they are stocked fish by the Nebraska Game and Parks.... As I understand it the water just gets too cold.

There was a lake within 30 minutes of my house that had a decent population of RES, and decent size for around here too. But it suffered a major fish kill last year after going through a big oxegen sag after a storm.
I've only caught two this year.

Here is one My brother-in-law caught last year prior to the kill, and one I caught last year prior to the kill.

You're right, Alex. Nebraska is in the northernmost range for redear sunfish. The reason they do better in some Nebraska waters is that water is heaviest at 39 degrees, and the redear can settle into this warmer water given that it has ample oxygen. Redears seem to be right on the edge in 40 degree water. If they have to go into 33 or 34 degree water to chase the last remnants of oxygen they're in big trouble.

I almost caught a really nice one today. I had it all the way to the dock and it was a solid 3/4 pound fish. I wanted a picture SOOOO bad!

Hello to the Shellcraker clan......I love fishing for Redears close to home in northern Illinois.....I have a 3 lake chain in my area that produces very nice fish, some over 10"

Holy Red Ear!!!!! Musky Mod, that is a beauty!!!

Bruce, I know what I know only because of groups like this, and asking the experts such as yourself and Daryl!!!!!

I'm joining now........................someday I'll catch one.

Nice one, Musky Mod!

Nice fish Mod, I plan on going soon to the river near my home, the shellcracker gather in groups in deep holes, hope to be able to post some southern cracker pics next month.

oh yes i call um chinks ,short for chinquapin,we fish them on fly rods,in the timber,
artificial (flies)i tie my own,although my wife fishes with live bait most of the time.i am slooowly converting he to flies.
i have been looking for this site for yrs now thanks for the opportunnity to join.shooter


gators stink

There are certain lakes in the southern 2/3 of Iowa that have redear sunfish. Apparently they aren't native to Iowa, but were all stocked from a Missouri strain.

how many here fly fish for shellcrackers(chinks)using flies,and what fly is your top producer for these fish,here is mine.
this fly is tied on a #4 mustad hook #3260:

I've definitely tried to catch chinks/shellcrackers/redears on a fly! ;-)

They're very, very challenging, but I've caught a few. My biggest concern is having the patience to keep it low 'n' slow. I've just used a little micro beadhead pattern with lots of olive color in it to try to mimic a damselfly nymph. I don't know nearly as much about fly fishing as you guys do, but I'm learning! Maybe by next spring my proficiency will improve a little bit.

the lake i fish has a lot of cover with cypress , tupelo gum and button wood bushes.
the chinks feed at the submerged roots of all three for snails shrimp and various nymps.
i fish these trees and bushes close ,and yes low and slow.
most of the beds in this lake have these trees and bushes in and around them,making fly fishing them a challenge.
after forty+ yrs of trial and error i have finally got to the point where i have some success catching these fish on flies.
the only advise that i can give to anyone that wants to catch these fish on flies is "endeavor to persevere" and low and slow is the right approach.
i can tell you this trout do not have anything on chinks when it comes to flies,chinks can be just as selective ,and if i had kept score through the years it would be chinks 100 me 10.