Do you love big bluegill?

Shellcracker

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Comment by Tony Alexander on October 22, 2014 at 7:27pm: I would love to know where they go?? All i catch in winter in deeper water are those pesky white perch! I will figure them out at some point..Last winter was cold, water temps in the upper 40's..they say this winter is suppose to be worse???

Comment by jim cosgrove on October 22, 2014 at 7:25pm: makes sense tony.what about gillcracker hybrids?regular bluegills have been showing up in the lake mich harbors along with big bullheads;been all over the local fishing forums.

Comment by David, aka, "McScruff" on October 22, 2014 at 7:02pm: Biggun for sure!
I'm not seeing them like that, but I dont have your knowledge.
As far as I know, white perch are actually cool water fish. Thus, they will still bite in the winter in open waters. I'm wondering if the shellcrackers are there, but just in suspended animation.

Comment by Tony Livingston on October 22, 2014 at 6:32pm: Redear can be quite intolerant of colder water. At water temps below 36 degrees they often succumb. Pummkinseeds, which also have the pharyngeal crusher plates, do much better in cooler water....they are often referred to as the "redear of the north" for that very reason.

Comment by jim cosgrove on October 22, 2014 at 6:15pm: they stock them up here tony but are hard to find them suckers but a few at a time.wish they would put em in lake michigan they would get huge on zebra mussels

Comment by Tony Alexander on October 22, 2014 at 5:25pm: Yes this was my personal best for now! My goal is a state record, because i know there in here! Lake Murray is a 55,000 acre reservoir. the state record is a 5lber..I am a die hard shellcracker man!! But i don't know where they go once the water temp dips below 60 degrees??? this lake is infested with white perch. fishing deeper in the winter only catches perch??? i use redworms on a mini carolina rig! I fish points, rip rap, humps and secondary points that have shellbeds on them!! shellbeds are key, hince the name SHELLCRACKERS!! Love them!!

Comment by DAVID L EITUTIS on October 22, 2014 at 5:07pm: OUTSTANDING FISH AND CONGRATS !!!

Comment by Jim Gronaw on October 22, 2014 at 4:49pm: Jeffrey...the Suffolk Lakes area is one of the premier shellcracker holds as I am sure you know. Check the Virginia fish citation listings and you will be amazed at the incredible numbers of trophy red ears from Burnt Mills, Prince, Western Branch, Cahoon and other area lakes.

Good Luck on that!

Comment by Jeffrey D. Abney on October 22, 2014 at 4:39pm: This is awesome......got an invite to fish the Suffolk Lakes in southeast Virginia next Spring with a Shellcracker guru......I'm counting down for that! I caught them like this on Santee Cooper but that's been awhile ago!