The Shellcrackers

Comment

Comment by John Burns on October 21, 2017 at 10:28pm

A couple from just before sundown from my 1/10th acre sediment pond where I am trying to get some recruitment. These are likely some adult size breeders I put in last year about this time. Good to know they are still there.

Comment by John Burns on September 24, 2017 at 10:42am

Not a lot of activity in this group. That is a whopper of a Redear, or at least it would be to me. I have them in my pond but the largest I have caught has been a little over 10". Would like to catch one out of my ponds that size some day.

Comment by Tommy Mikic on September 21, 2017 at 3:23pm

New to the group this past week after the hurricane came through I have been catching some big shellcrackers on big dragonfly nymphs. Not a lot of them but the one we catch are 12-14" and real nice color. Usually during the full and new moon here in Florida we catch bream and some big shellcrackers on the beds every moth from the main spawn in March thru September. After that they go on a minnow bite that's when minnow immatation come into play.

Comment by John Burns on May 19, 2017 at 7:15am

Here is a good discussion on catching redear on another site.

low and slow - catching redear

Comment by DAVID L EITUTIS on May 19, 2017 at 5:37am

ANYONE PREFER YELLOW AS A COLOR FOR FLYS OR BUGS ? I'VE HAD GOOD LUCK ON THIS COLOR ESPECIALLY WITH A SPLASH OF RED ADDED TO THE YELLOW BASE.......

Comment by John Burns on May 18, 2017 at 5:41pm

Crickets are reportedly good for catching redear. Gulp Alive makes fake crickets.  When I need to catch some out of my forage pond I use Gulp chartruse waxies or a tiny pinch off a Gulp worm. 1/64 oz jig. Small bait and small hook does it for me.

But I know of no specific snail bait.

If you watch redear feed in an aquarium, they do not like to eat something that is not moving. I had 3" ones I was trying to feed train to eat commercial fish food. As the food dropped to the bottom they were very interested in it and sometimes would bite. But as soon as it hit the bottom they lost interest. I put some very small snails in and the redear would see movement andmgo right to the smail. They would stare at while remaining  motionless above it and strike only if the snail was moving. Some fish finally took to feed, some didn't.

slooooooow and on the bottom is how I fish for them. Often times only a foot or two from the bank if it is close to sunset. I think they come in shallow to feed where the snails are.

Comment by dick tabbert on May 18, 2017 at 4:46pm

Don't know of any but if you want for bait they love insects and dragonfly nymphs small crayfish.

Comment by Rob Hilton on May 18, 2017 at 1:13pm

Anyone got recommendations on a good freshwater snail/clam imitation? Suggestions appreciated.

Comment by John Burns on April 2, 2017 at 8:13pm

Here are some pictures of hybrid redear. They are a cross between green sunfish and redear sunfish. Somehow a couple green sunfish got in my redear only pond. :-(

Comment by John Burns on April 2, 2017 at 8:10pm

Some from this year out of my 1/20th acre forage pond.

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