Bluegill - Big Bluegill

Do you love big bluegill?

Where do Shell-cracker like to hang out. I have 4 acre pond with varied structure and bottoms but don't catch many Redears, albeit I fish mainly for bluegills with crickets. Do shell-crackers school? Deep or shallow?

John

Views: 430

Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Shellcrackers eat mainly mollusks, such as snails and freshwater mussels.  From what I understand, they also tend to hang around the bottom, but I'm not totally sure.  Try fishing around weeds, as that's where snails will be.  Also, if you know of any mussel beds, fish on or near bottom in the mussel beds.  You can even try chumming; place some freshwater mussels into a cheesecloth bag, along with a few rocks, lightly crush the shells a bit, tie a line to the bag, and drop it to bottom.  Fish near this bag.

Around here the crackers are usually deeper than the bluegills. They hang around woody structure hence the nickname stump knocker. Try fishing deeper water near where you catch bluegill. If I'm going to target redears I fish on the bottom. I drag a worm or a cricket slowly across the bottom near cover. I use a #10 light wire cricket hook with 10lb. test and enough split shot (about six inches above hook)to cast. You'll hang up a lot but you can usually straighten these hooks. Keep your pliers handy to reshape your hook. I hope this helps.

Definitely deep. They love snails, red worms, and night crawlers. They also hang out underneath brush like most other sunfish (but deeper).

+1

My best RES (9", which is not all that big but was big for me) was caught on a whole nightcrawler on a size 4 hook that I'd put out in hopes of catching a catfish while I was fishing the weeds for BG. I had a heavy weight and 14 pound mono on a heavy spincast reel, cast as far as I could and put in in a sand spike with a bell on the rod tip. After an hour or two the bell started ringing like crazy and I thought, "Cool, a catfish!" I was surprised to see when I got it to shore that it was actually a 9" RES with a size 4 hook all the way down its throat, along with the entire nightcrawler. Not sure how deep the water was out there, but judging by how long it took the line to reach bottom, I'm guesstimating 15-20 feet.

RSS

Latest Activity

John Sheehan added a discussion to the group Lure History
Thumbnail

Discontinued Lures

Some of my favorites I can't find anymore: Acme Fash King Flutter Spoon, Eppinger Flutter Chuck,…See More
16 hours ago
John Sheehan posted photos
19 hours ago
John Sheehan commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

25"+Spoon Pick

"25+inch Pickerel was best of the 13 Fish caught today a day after the Worm Moon. Two Bass and the…"
yesterday
John Sheehan commented on dick tabbert's photo
Thumbnail

IMG_0186

"1/16th oz., good!"
yesterday
dick tabbert commented on dick tabbert's photo
Thumbnail

IMG_0186

"These are my last build. I added more colors."
yesterday
dick tabbert commented on dick tabbert's photo
Thumbnail

IMG_0186

"No Jon I went with the 1/16 oz jig heads so I could have a larger hook for crappies. It's a #4…"
yesterday
John Sheehan commented on dick tabbert's photo
Thumbnail

IMG_0186

"Colors are great !"
Monday
John Sheehan commented on dick tabbert's photo
Thumbnail

IMG_0186

"Thats a good Crappie size! Are they 32nd Oz Jigs?"
Monday
dick tabbert commented on dick tabbert's photo
Thumbnail

IMG_0186

"They are right at 2" long."
Monday
John Sheehan commented on dick tabbert's photo
Thumbnail

IMG_0186

"I Can see Crappie and Bass chomping on them, Dick!"
Sunday
dick tabbert commented on dick tabbert's photo
Thumbnail

IMG_0186

"I made these up for crappie in mind. They might be a little big for gills unless it a bigger gill."
Sunday
John Sheehan commented on dick tabbert's photo
Thumbnail

IMG_0186

"What Species you got in mind for these great Minnow ties , Dick?"
Sunday
dick tabbert posted photos
Sunday
John Sheehan commented on Sam k.'s group Trout Bums
""Trout Season opens April 6th 2024 in New Jersey. Waters are runnin' high for…"
Sunday
John Sheehan commented on John Sheehan's status
"An Instrumental Guitar recording of mine to commemorate. …"
Sunday
John Sheehan posted a status
"Trout Season opens April 6th in New Jersey. Waters are runnin' high for stocking."
Sunday
John Sheehan replied to John Sheehan's discussion Plastic Worm varieties in the group Lure History
"My favorites through the Years: Manns Jelly Worm, Manns Auger tail, Charlie Brewers 4" on a…"
Sunday
John Sheehan replied to John Sheehan's discussion Plastic Worm varieties in the group Lure History
Sunday
John Sheehan replied to John Sheehan's discussion Plastic Worm varieties in the group Lure History
Sunday
Troy Dorman commented on Troy Dorman's photo
Thumbnail

1000003444

"Thank you, Jeffrey!"
Sunday

© 2024   Created by Bluegill.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service