This 10" RES is the biggerst I've caught so far.

Can't wait to get back off this deployment (Afgahnistan) thanks for the pictures and comments that give me somthing to look froward to. I share them with the fishermen over here and it puts a big smile on their faces and then the fishing lies start up. Thanks again for the pictures and comments. CSM Felton TF MED-A

So glad you enjoy the site...and thanks for serving our country!

Thank you Iteago. Hurry home, safe and ready to fish!!!

Caught some at least part shellcrackers over thanksgiving weekend on jigs in deep water and was really impressed with the big ones' fighting ability. They try to dig down deep and then they shoot straight up and then they dig again. Heck, the only fish that spit the hook on me the whole weekend was a Redear and one even broke my idiot friend off at the boat on 4 pound test. But then again, he's an idiot. Haha, anyhow I love redear!

I thought it would be appropriate to put this picture here. 

 A replica of Robert Lawlers New World Record Redear Sunfish.

16 3/4 inches at a little over 5 1/2 pounds.  It's amazing as to what the big ones are caught on at times.  This Redear was caught on a 7-inch plastic worm fishing for bass.

That is so cool.  What a treat for Mr. Lawlers. 

Thanks for sharing Tim!

Incredible fish and a fantastic mount.  16 3/4 inches -  WOW!

I bet he thought he had a nice sized bass on too!

That's a really nice replica!

Great looking piece Tim....really pays tribute to this fish!

Went to a community lake after work today....caught 19 shellcracker...

GOT A QUESTION FOR ALL THE MEMBERS OF THIS GROUP:
WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE COLOR LURE for the Redears?
  Mine is Yellow with some red in it somewere.

   OLE TOOTY

Glad to be here. I think the shellcracker it the most beautiful of all the pan fishes. I catch most of mine on black or brown small inline spinners.

GREAT answers Leo and Dick.  Leo are those soft plastic you are  useing with all those colors or creations of your own? Hey Dick are those inline spinners you are refering to like the old Mepps or something else?

 TOOTY

Tooty, half and half. The black and gold sprinkle is Jeff Soto's idea for the 1/32 and 1/16oz jigs. Hit them like a hammer. The color schemes for the tighter stripes is from the Skeeter daredevles I have. They latch onto them like kids to candies. I also tried tipping the spoons with small pieces of chewing gum, and add cake sprinkles to them. It's a dinner bell for all species due to the molasses content used to make the candies. I also use a mini marshmallow on either to make the "float" version of the spoon, crank, or jig. Big it in the a passing school. the purple and silver is from a Rapala Shad X (2.5") floater crank. Powerful magnet that will take down bass, trout, and panfish. I got two. The yellow-green attract the bass, but not the panfish. Purple-silver will get hammer very frequently. Same go with the Yo-Zuri snapbean shads with the green top silver bottom.

HEY LEO,

  I Like all the color combinations you are speaking of here and seems like the west coast has it's share of inovators out there!

  Thanks TOOTY

David I don't have very many Mepps inline spinners there selection is really lousy. I do have a few but mostly rooster tails, lazer eyes, a few panther martins and some other stuff. I inserted picture to show my inline spinner shellcracker arsenal. Yo will see I love dark collors my favorite being black body with black feather and a copper blade with I can't seem to find anymore. But here are a few that I use...

Nice combo of spinners Dick! Love the color coverage on the orange-yellow-green spinner. Looks like you have the XPS shad-gill from Bass Pro at the bottom right, and a worn out lady bug scheme on the left. Is that a rattler on 2nd from the bottom right?! The upper Colorado and modified oval leaves will have those fish chasing these spinners like a nice cold Coke in dead of summer. Very beautiful collection.

Leo got my Bullet Bobbers today. Looks like they will be fun I'm looking forward to using them.

I got the 3" and some 2 1/2  inch and 2 inch should have about everything covered.

That is my arsenal for shell crackers and of coarse they catch bluegills also.

Dick, I'm jealous. Mind hasn't come yet. Will check the mail once I get home, since you order the same time that I did.

I order the two sets of 2", 2.5", 3", and the 4". I also order 6 additional 2.5" for the ultralight rigs I have in mind between 1/32 and 1/8oz. So excite. A few other guys from the other forums are as well. We're going stir crazy waiting for them. Boys and toys?! LOL

I guess me living in Ohio has it's advantages.

Hey DIck, I saw all the pics of the spinners and look great!!! You have to reel these at a pretty good pace or they'll sink and I never knew gills would chase something that fast!
  I fish completely the opposite my friend. I go ultra slow and an especially slow sink on the lures I"ve developed over the years.
  I've learned something every single day on this site !!!!! Thanks for taking the time Dick to post that pic and can't wait to see your spring catches!

  TOOTY

David, the method of the float is to have it runs from side to size. I use fly lures that sits at the surface, and will use the floating lures as a trailing surface bait, going very slow..I mean very slow, while focusing one just below the water, about 3ft deep. I got extra bobbers because there may be snags playing near the weeds and tules, which I can't retrieve after attempting. Like I said, I rigged a 16hrs continuous recording camcorder to report back the finding. I just love collecting data..especially with panfish. Just incredible array of info over the bass in the local lakes.

They work for me especially well in June, July, August all them warm  months. I don't know how you can not catch bulegill and cracker I do really well on them. 

This is hands down my favorite inline spinner pattern. This is a size "0", or 1/12oz. It also comes in a "00", 1/18oz. I have had tremendous luck with both.

Tony I know they work for you because you say they do. I have had my best luck with dark colors. If mepps made a black body with black feathers with copper blades in a willow or colorado I would buy up more than my share. Thats just my comfort zone that's what has worked for me in the past and I know will continue doing so in the future. Nice Picture

Absolutely Dick. if it allows an angler to catch more fish, that's all that matters. I seriously wonder if the reason this pattern works so good for me is simply because I believe it does. Perhaps I'm subconsciously favoring this spinner in some fashion, compared to the others I try. I believe that an angler who has faith in a particular lure will have more success with it than someone who favors another brand, or pattern. The power of positive thinking.

And Tony you are positively correct. Confidence is a biggest factor and why I catch fish. It's like when you were growing up having you favorite blanket or stuffed toy. You feel confident and trust it, then mom takes it and tries to replace it with something new well that just ain't gonna happen. If it does there is something lost.

HEY TONY AND DICK, got to agree with you both whole heartedly on the confidence factor in useing lures. I believe that's why it's hard trying something new, we don't have confidence in what ever it is and so we don't give it a fair chance. My son and OLD AL THE WOODMAN, convinced me a couple years ago to try soft plastics , when I did I never caught so many crappies in my life. OLD AL is a great guy to fish with and vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvery patient type of dude. Sometimes I even forget to take my meds in the morning for blood pressure because he so laid back and calm.

David E Its kinda like that then there is that old adage if it's not broke don't fix it. You are right sometimes it's hard to let go. I'm sure like I told Tony that they all work It's just hard to change. We are all creatures of habit thus we tend to stay with the thing that have worked for us our confident lures. Except for LEO he'll try anything and you got to love him he share all his info and I don't think he holds anything back. LOL

OK OK,,,, I want to fish..It's time . got new rooster tails a bed full of red worms, one full of crawlers and new 6 lb line ..I'm ready now for the fish busting, bream jerking, shellcracker eating springtime. I've been cooped up like a crackhead who got busted for dealing... Let's get on with the spring....LOLRITF

Vic you really have a way with words but your right LETS GETER DONE.

HEY DICK, you are completely right about Leo not holding anything back!!!!!!!! That young man is right on top his game and apparently there are lots of folks on this site that will tell us everything we need to know, no secrets here, and I believe this giving of knowledge is why this site is so successful.

  ALL THE GUYS ARE GENEROUS BEYOND BELIEF!

   TOOTY

David, my martial arts master and deceased father, God bless his precious soul, have taught me that wisdom and knowledge are meant to be shared. No matter what burden or challenge being tossed at my way while sharing, be consistent in revealing the what's hidden behind the shadow with the light of knowledge, reinforced with wisdom. It is the key to break through limitations and gain new ground. Thanks to Bruce for creating this website, I not only obtain knowledge from new masters, but also share what knowledge and wisdom I have inherited. I have no reason to hide wonderful knowledge, nor retain wisdom for myself. As I have taught to my kids, knowledge and wisdom that would not be shared are merely worth as much as the decaying manure sitting in a barren desert. Even manure is worth a great deal, when applied properly.

My knowledge is fairly limited, and so is my wisdom. There is still so much to learn and obtained. A site that dedicated to share and learn from each other, especially mistakes that had been improved upon through the decades, that is precious knowledge and wisdom to relish upon. I may sound like a 100 year old person at time, and act like a child in a candy store most of the time, but I rather be up front with all info than to be secretive. Those who benefit, I will smile gladness. Those who don't, I'll continue to share until my brain shrivels up into a prune.

Tooty Leo/ the fish professor is a walking book full of knowledge and will share in order to make some of us better fishermen. I think it was a blessing when he came aboard although he has cost me lots of money. He's got me raising worms, he got me to buy a fishing tube he got me into the fly rod maybe it's not such a good thing after all Zoom Zoom Zoom

Thank you Leo for sharing. I can tell just by the way you talk about things that you are a knowledgeable person in not just fishing but many other things. You alway give 100% and you believe in what your doing and what you say. You are truly a worthy individual and I applaud you for it.

Dick you are right. This month alone I have tripled my spoon collection (which is now my favorite Gill bait), I am learning to fly fish, I have scheduled fishing trips miles away from home, I have gained so much information from this site, and met a great group of people here. I don't think the fun stops there though. I'm looking to master the craft of BG fishing.

Carlton I wish you all the luck in the world. What ever happen please have fun be safe and keep the fishin going. Let us know how you do. I will drill you later with questions. GOOD FISHIN..