To catch bluegill, most anglers rely on live bait like nightcrawlers, leaf worms. Fishing for both bluegill and shellcracker has been especially good for polk county area anglers this past week. Strike king lures rage shellcracker soft lure 3 34 bodt. Luckestrike rick clunn trickster spinnerbait tackle. Black and white crappie are big and plentiful in south caroinas santee cooper lakes. Nichols lures is a bass fishing lure manufacturing company that produces only the finest handpainted, handassembled baits in the usa. Catching shellcracker bream is a lot of fun and they are good to eat, too. Redear sunfish to biologists, or chinquapin to louisiana anglers, these feisty fish typically favor deeper haunts, but when a. Though ive been tossing big baits for some time now, when i first held a bdb shellcracker in my hand more than a year and a half ago, i had a difficult time getting my mind around a fish actually being able to engulf this bait. The harper lurewinner of 2019 weekend legends instagram tournament names new lucky strike lure. They are also second to none in the frying pan, so i thought i would take a trip to tavares florida and try my hand at some of the largest bluegills in the states, the shellcracker.
Grant olguin, cofounder of black dog bait company, relayed to us a story of when they first fished the shellcracker on the waters of the california delta. Trust cabelas to prepare you for fishing with our assortment of fishing lures. Rage rig i toss it out and let it fall on slack line. Fishing lake talquin fishing florida usa southeast.
Highland park fish camp is an authentic haven of old florida for the family that loves camping and who are nature lovers. How fish the shell cracker g2 by black dog baits youtube. Anglers can cast a line from several free publicaccess fishing docks or launch a boat at one of the many ramps and marinas. Shellcracker anglers do best in these areas using red wigglers instead of crickets. Hook the worm a couple of times or three just enough to leave about 2 of worm hanging of the hook so it can squirm around and just drive a cracker to suckem up. For the last seven years, lake tarpon has consistently produced large shellcrackers year round. Panfish fishing florida helpful tips for fishing bream. Shop fishing lures from brands that mean business in the water such as cabelas, rapala, berkley, booyah, strike king, atlas mikes, luhrjensen and many others. Many swimbaits are built with typical fishy elements that can attract bass while bass fishing whereas other products are constructed and designed with patterns that appeal to trout. An overview of how to catch bluegill with baits and lures. If an area has had alot of fishing pressure, a cork hitting the water surface can turn active fish off. Fishing the florida bluegill shellcrackers shellcrackers are the best tasting freshwater fish in florida, which makes since theyre just a large bluegill and we know bluegills are the best tasting panfish in the midwest. How to catch bluegill and redear sunfish the fishing advice.
It is a great bait for texas or carolina rigs as well as flipping and pitching. Also this bait has really cool coloring and looks really realistic too which is also pretty sweet. Clunn is a firm believer that a spinnerbaits blades need to displace water that is equivalent to the bulk of the spinnerbait, and ricks long drop blades achieve this proper water displacement. Lake talquin is one of the best black bass lakes during the winter, but if you want to catch specs, bream, and redear sunfish lake talquin is the place to be. Panfish action for both bluegill and shellcracker has been especially good for polk county and central florida area anglers this past week. In the midwest, a 10inch bluegill was and still is a much coveted fish. Sometimes, depending on fishing pressure and weather patterns, a cork can spook fish that are spawning. Fourtime bassmaster classic champion, rick clunn, has teamed up with luckestrike to help develop the luck e strike tickster spinnerbait. See more ideas about saltwater lures, shell cracker and vinyl skirting. I hope you enjoyed the video, please leave a like if you did.
They can be distinguished from other panfish by their bright orangered margin on the tip of each gill cover, a more slender body than the bluegill, and a typical greenish color blending to pale yellow on the lower body and abdomen. Shellcracker fishing tips and information on shellcracker fishing in florida on some of the top lakes in the country. Just the other day i caught bream that couldnt have been 5 in length so it catches everything in the water. Fishing for shellcrackers in florida large bluegills. During spawning, the margin of the males gill cover flap turns bright red. Bream bait 101, bluegill bait101, shell cracker bait 101 youtube. Expert advice and quality equipment you need to enjoy your time on the water and catch the big one. Locating bluegill and shellcracker when they are not on.
The best baits to use when fishing for shellcracker. Lets reel in some shellcracker hope you enjoy, and god bless. The black dog bait company was formed in the fall of 2006 and the shellcracker is their first offering in the big bait market. Shellcracker redear sunfish spawn in april and may during the full moon phases. The luckestrike rick clunn trickster ii swim jig is legendary bass angler rick clunns hybrid creation that combines the smooth moves of a swimming jig with the frenzied vibration action of a bladed jig. How to catch bluegill and redear sunfish best techniques.
This 4,500acre lake is home to plenty of shell beds, jeff willitzer, biologist for the southwest region of the fl orida fish and wildlife conservation commission in wakeland, florida, explains. Usa fishingvintage fishing lurescrappie fishingfishing girlsgone fishingfishing tacklelake havasu. Cant say exactly how far, but it disappears into the distance. Here is a closeup of the operculum or ear as us country boys call it. From the gaudy pumpkinseed to the toughsounding shellcracker, they are the first fish many of us caught in our youth. Panfish limits at tenoroc fish management area are specifically regulated for each individual body of water located on site. A light subtle presentation and a slow fall can actually trigger strikes from fish that are spooky from heavy fishing pressure. We waded out in waistdeep murky water and rescued it. Casey ashley, twotime bassmaster elite series tournament champ, swears by shooter jigs. Home customer service international orders track your order account login join free.
Bluegill spawn throughout the summer, congregating. Ive never found a better, more consistently effective trout lure than the mepps 00 ultra lite dressed single. Fish brush piles or downed trees in the winter, early spring or late fall months. Shellcracker bait to avoid cats can anyone recommend a bait for shellcracker they catfish dont like as much as wigglers. Anglers often anchor in open water adjacent to main lake shoreline vegetation or edges of the four islands within the lake and use weighted crickets to lure bluegill off their spawning beds. May 24, 2018 redear sunfish, also known as shellcracker, is one of the hardest fighting fish in fresh water. Shellcrackers look much like a bluegill on steroids, and of course, they have an opercular flap with an orangered edge ahead of a dark splotch. Heres a quick guide to the best bait to use while fishing for the shellcracker. Usa fishing, bass fishing shirts, fishing girls, kayak fishing, saltwater fishing, fishing boats, fishing stuff, crappie fishing tips, trout fishing check out this 2lb bluegill sport fishing going fishing best fishing fishing guide fishing 101 fishing places vintage fishing lures salt water fish fishing pictures. The rage shellcracker is designed to be used with 40 to 60 hooks.
One of the most versatile soft plastic baits in the strike king arsenal fish it stand alone as a topwater buzzbait or as a trailer for a tour rage blade chatterbait or fish it weightless for. I like to fish those deep water shellcrackers in juliette, but its hard to keep the catfish off the hook. A full instructional video on demonstrating the versatility and effectiveness of the g2 shell cracker made by black dog baits. The redear spawn season starts about when bluegills also move onto beds. In spring, look for crackers in shallow water close to, but not in, the canal on either end.
Heres a quick guide to the best bait to use while fishing for the. Mister twister product testimonials for sunfish shellcracker. They will spawn in eight to 15 feet of water depending on how clear the water is. Florida shellcracker fishing spawning bluegills mwoutdoors. Once is probably good enough, but i usually put the hook through one end of the worm twice. Redear sunfish, also known as shellcracker, is one of the hardest fighting fish in fresh water. Bluegill, shellcrackers and crappie fishing, not only fun to catch but these little guys are second to none in the frying pan. Anglers fishing at lake a, lake b, lake f, lake g, lake 5, fish hook lake, legs lake, coronet lake, shop lake, and lost lake west have the best opportunity to be successful catching bream on the property. Wormstyle soft lures with ridges offer a lifelike appearance to convince fish theres a tasty treat awaiting them, while soft baits with realistically moving tails and extremities provoke strikes. Shellcracker fishing tips sheelcracker fishing florida. Mar 31, 2017 i went fishing for shellcracker at clarks hill the week after easter last year. Strike king rage tail baits are designed with a unique and exclusive tail design that you wont find in any other soft plastic bait.
If you are a tactical fisherman, you could use a bait option that can drive all freshwater fish to your fishing line or a product that is made for saltwater species. While the birds are foraging in your pond, the worms are released into the water. Instead this is a fish that likes to be in deeper water. Overall i really like this product and think that it. It was just a drawing on a piece of paper, but 2 months later, it was a bassmaster elite winning lure. Mepps product testimonials for sunfish shellcracker. Walleye during river runs, troll or jig with minnowtipped doll flies, sparkle tails, ac shiners, rapalas, or shad raps. The shellcracker g2 is designed to create a wake on the surface of the water during. Yellowgreen or olive, with faint vertical bars and random dark spots. Luckestrike rick clunn trickster spinnerbait tackle warehouse. Weekend legends tournament serieswin the tournament and name a lure.
In central florida, they could first go onto spawning beds during late march. Sep 24, 2010 get into a bunch of these fish, where you are getting virtually a fish per cast, and even the most accomplished angler can get caught up in the fever. Maroon, black, and white have all worked exceptionally for me. Limits are high and they can be found from the smallest stream to the largest lake.
Luckestrike rick clunn trickster ii swim jig bass pro shops. I always catch bass, bream, crappie, pumpkin seeds, warmouth, and shell cracker of all sizes. It was in the latter part of the day, maybe an hour or two from dusk. The best and simplest rig is to tie on a number 4 long shank cricket hook, thread a redworm on and attach a split shot about 12 inches above the hook. I have literally used this lure in every puddle of water that had fish in it and have always caught fish.
Small minnows, plastic grubs, flies tipped with minnows, and small crankbaits work best. Artificial lures such as beetle spins, road runners, rooster tails and jigs also. Theres another two or three weeks of prime spawning time too so grab a friend and head on out. I like to catch plenty of fish that fight hard, test my. The florida fish and wildlife commission maintains the population of stripers by stocking. Now is the time to strike a trot to the lake and wet a hook for these babies. Thats saying a lot here in florida, where gators are as common as houseflies. Rage tail soft plastic shellcracker shad warmouth sunfish imitating lure 6 baits per bag. With the addition of a diving lip, the black dog baits shell cracker g2 affords anglers great versatility.
The shellcracker is not a fish that likes to be right against the bank. Fishing the bottom of the canal with worms catches most big fall fish. Strike king rage shellcracker soft plastic any color rgsc. Even the most jaded angler still finds a spark of excitement when a fat bluegill, shellcracker, redbreast, green sunfish or any other pintsized member of the clan latches onto a bait or lure presented on a willowy cane pole or ultralight spinning rig. Redear bream lepomis microlophus, are one of the most effective tools for preventing or eradicating worms grubs in your sport fish. Bream fwc florida fish and wildlife conservation commission. A floating wake bait version, and a sinking version. Its superior design and proven performance on the water sets this bait apart from other wake baits. Bass, largemouth bass, smallmouth bluegill bream, brim crappie sunfish shellcracker walleye. I spend a lot of my lunch breaks fishing a small storm drain adjacent to a wooden dock behind my house, but the usual bass and bluegill targets took a backseat to the unexpected appearance of bedding shellcracker. Crank it down or fish it like a wakebait on top, either way bass cant resist.
Shellcracker and bream fishing robert webster of hamlet, nc who has a camper at the lake tillery family campground, adjacent highway 2427, has been keeping a watch on the fishing conditions for shellcrackers and bream. Monster redear aka shellcracker if youre down south. Put them on the bottom with a bb shot if in still pond water. It wiggles like a real fish would swim, which really attracts the big predators. This fishing bait is really unique because all the parts of the fish in the water move to make it look like a real fish which is really cool. Historically, midfebruary to late april is prime time for shellcracker fishing on lake. Salmon is also the owner of and chief lure designer for slab jiggies. Carolina fishing tackle provides the best lures and tackle for serious bass fishing. Florida lake tarpon and lake guntersville shellcrackers. Since it is a popular sport fish, it has been introduced to bodies of water all over north america.
In the mid west the bluegill offers a lot of attitude for their size, fighting better than any other freshwater species of panfish. The souths best shellcracker holes hunting and fishing. Highland park fish camp in deland, florida has some of the best large mouth bass, crappie and bluegill fishing in central florida. Folks today, i explain ways you can locate bluegill and shellcracker when they are not bedding. Bass, largemouth bluegill bream, brim crappie black sunfish shellcracker. Apr 26, 2012 instead this is a fish that likes to be in deeper water. The shellcracker has a cherryred edge to the operculum which is a series of bones found in bony fish that serves as a facial support structure and a protective covering for the gills. Believe it or not, shellcracker will associate a cork with danger. Small shell cracker g2 ghost bluegill carolinafishingtackle shell. The shellcracker is also known as the redear sunfish and will average between one and two pounds during spawning.
When redear fishing, you want the bait on bottom and this guarantees the bait finds the bottom every time. Fishing for bluegill and shellcracker in the peak of the spawn is one of them. Panfish fishing florida helpful tips for fishing bream in florida. Hector brito caught this worldrecord redear sunfish at lake havasu in 2014.
Potential alltackle world record redear sunfish caught. The florida crappie, speckled perch or speck as they are called throughout the south is the most sought after panfish on lake okeechobee. And they are some of the best eating freshwater fish that swim. Body is rounded like other sunfish and has a relatively small mouth. May 01, 2015 it was a rare opportunity that i couldnt waste. The shellcracker g2 is designed to create a wake on the surface of the water during the retrieve. Catching bluegill and shellcracker on kentuckhy lake.
These fish are bottomfeeders, meandering along the lake bed seeking and cracking open snails and other shelled creatures. Parasitic worms most commonly found in sport fish, begin their lifecycle as eggs in the throat of fish eating birds. The other method is to attach a slip cork setup only do not use a bobber stopper. Although we caught only a few fish on that trip since it was too early, it did bring back memories of how much fun bream fishing can be. In south florida, shellcracker may spawn as early as the last week of february but more likely around the fourth week of march. Ive caught countless brookies and rainbows on wisconsin and upper michigan streams.
In florida lakes, where shellcracker reach the peak of angler popularity in public waters, anglers typically target spawning fish. Highland park fish camp where fishing is a tradition. Its a handtied jig that an older gentleman back home makes, and it hardly ever gets hungup or. Most spawn in the backs of coves in 1 to 5 feet of water, usually under floating vegetation, tight to cut banks or around cypress knees. A bonus of the action is that all of these panfish species are delectable on the table, making more than a few anglers relish the thought of heading out to their favorite panfishcatching spot. The redear sunfish lepomis microlophus, also known as the shellcracker, georgia bream, cherry gill, chinquapin, improved bream, rouge ear sunfish and sun perch is a freshwater fish in the family centrarchidae and is native to the southeastern united states. The reason for my quandary is the relative round profile of this bait. Crappie fishing, bluegill, shellcracker and crappie.
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