I live for the challenge of finding and catching, but more than that to understand why are they there. February 12, 2018 august 23, 2019 2 years ago stingram 754 views redear sunfish, redear sunfish fishing, redear sunfish fishing tips, redear sunfish shellcracker, redear sunfish spawning, shellcracker, shellcracker beds, shellcracker fishing, shellcracker fishing 2017, shellcracker fishing in alabama, shellcracker fishing techniques. I offer the most comprehensive information for lake guntersville, fishing tips, reports, and featured articles. In the fall, when the green outer hull enclosing each nut opens, the pecans are ready for harvest. The term bream refers to any narrow, deepbodied freshwater panfish, and includes several different species.
Redear sunfish, its habitats, characteristics, fishing methods. Catching bluegill and shellcracker on kentuckhy lake. Catch more fish with proven tips and techniques from fishing guides, pros and successful anglers for each fishing season of the year. Bank fishing is not allowed unless one is fishing in simpkins pond, but fishing is allowed from the wooden piers and boats can go anywhere on designated waters. Another technique ive used successfully in alabama s small public lakes at this time of year to locate bluegill beds is to fish a renosky jig this lure resembles a small minnow, and can be fished on 2 to 4poundtest line with spinning tackle. We use pieces of nightcrawler and a small hook to catch a. They both get excited when asked about the best bream fishing spots in alabama.
All fishing buy, all about redear sunfish, habitats, fishing. Redear are seldom caught except in the early spring when they congregate to spawn. Big shellcracker redear sunfish fishing with 1 lb line and. Current fishing reports for lake georgelake eufaula located between georgia and alabama on the state line. Point a lake is a 700acre lake which provides swimming, fishing bass, bluegill, shell cracker, crappie, and catfish, etc, boating and other water sports activities. Spring fishing tips are available for crappie, largemouth bass and bluegill. Byrnes lake landing gives anglers access to some firstrate backwater bream fishing.
The average pond owner usually misses this spawn and may miss some of the best bream fishing the pond has to offer. Click on any of the pins on the highlands county map or narrow your search by selecting a place type e. Shellcracker fishing tips and information on shellcracker fishing in florida on some of the top lakes in the country. Shell cracker fishing fish lake guntersville guide service. Gantt lake fishing reports recently shared catches and fishing spots.
Locating bluegill and shellcracker when they are not on. Aug 23, 2019 february 12, 2018 august 23, 2019 2 years ago stingram 961 views redear sunfish, redear sunfish fishing, redear sunfish fishing tips, redear sunfish shellcracker, redear sunfish spawning, shellcracker, shellcracker beds, shellcracker fishing, shellcracker fishing 2017, shellcracker fishing in alabama, shellcracker fishing techniques. They have a distinct red coloring around its ear flap. How to catch crappie in all 4 crappie fishing phases. We have all the ultra light equipment and artificial baits for you that it takes to catch your limit of shell cracker, you just need a. Pound for pound, there is not another fish that out pulls these little bullies. Guntersville lake fishing report near guntersville, alabama. The best shell cracker fishing i can remember was along the rip rap at water front. Chasing the elusive shellcracker john in the wildjohn in the. Tips for catching bigger bream this spring and summer. 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. Tony sent me pictures of giant shellcrackers redear sunfish, crappie that were longer than a. Rage shell cracker fishing tackle bass fishing forums. Hector brito caught this worldrecord redear sunfish at lake havasu in 2014.
How to catch bluegill and redear sunfish the fishing advice. While its a great way to introduce a youngster to the great sport of fishing, it tends to bring out the kid in all of us once the bobber disappears time after time. Fishery largemouth bass, redear sunfish, bluegill and crappie are the most common sportfish species. Bass fishing on lake guntersville alabama one the worlds best fresh water lakes. Florida lake tarpon and lake guntersville shellcrackers.
A new twist for my guide service with the pure fact that this is a special time on guntersville i thought it was time to offer fishing for shell cracker for a 2 month period only. Theres another two or three weeks of prime spawning time too so grab a friend and head on out. I had been fishing the area for several days with not much to show for it i kept seeing this man unloading cooler after cooler of huge crackers n gills. The fish where in 6 8 feet and several yards from the rock. Lets reel in some shellcracker hope you enjoy, and god bless. 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. The state record for catching shell cracker was set at chattahoochee. At commercial pecan orchards, machines are used to shake them out. I went fishing for shellcracker at clarks hill the week after easter last year. North florida offers a variety of opportunity to catch different species of freshwater fish. Fishing habitat and techniques for bluegill and redear sunfish are much alike. Fish lake guntersville guide service welcomes you to the best bass fishing service on lake guntersville in alabama. Fishing for shellcrackers in florida large bluegills. I like to catch plenty of fish that fight hard, test my.
A pecan expert explains when and how to shell a pecan. Lets face it, theres a lot we can learn and share from one another like what bait or lure is generating the best results. Shell cracker bream fishing trip florida fishing north. Shell is a global group of energy and petrochemical companies. We may have highlighted some of the best fishing spots in highlands county based on feedback from our visitors. They are bigger than other sunfish, 7 to 10 inches in length, 1 to 2 pound weight. 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. Highlands county, florida is home to 107 lakes, rivers, and other fishing spots.
Lake george lake eufaula current fishing report from ken sturdivant keeps you informed on the latest fishing conditions and patterns. But with the alabama rig, he had a solid limit in 16 minutes. Springtime bass fishing alabamas lay lake during the spawning months of march, april and may march 8, 2020. How to catch bluegill and redear sunfish best techniques. Crappies are members of the sunfish and the black bass family. Whether its a bluegill or a big old redear, i love to catch bream. Rage rig i toss it out and let it fall on slack line. Largely known for its superb crappie, largemouth and striper fishing, the coosa has six impoundments forming several lakes, including weiss lake and jordan lake. From the big northern lakes of alabama, guntersville and wheeler, down to the massive mobile delta and everywhere in between, some worldclass bream can be found. We have all the ultra light equipment and artificial baits for you that it takes to catch your limit of shell cracker, you just need a fishing license and a few snacks.
The lake is noted primarily for its redear sunfish shellcracker fishery. If you show up with the bait and tackle, these fish. Black crappies can be found in large ponds and shallow areas of lakes. Kentucky lake shell crackers fishing reports, articles. Twotime alabama bass trail angler of the year chris rutland of wetumpka on lake jordan with a spotted bass. As the winter comes to a close and the days start getting longer, most anglers start getting the itch for the coming fishing season. 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.
Both bluegills and shellcrackers make alabama home, and anglers are never far from a. Shell cracker bream fishing trip florida fishing north florida. Big shellcrackers are the true trophies for bream anglers. I just ran the causeways, elias explained, looking for suspended fish on my depthfinder and casting to. Naff fishing articles page naff home page naff message board shellcracker, the bully of the shallows by. Best spots for bama bream fishing great days outdoors. Had one problem though, couldnt get them to take a fly. I went freshwater fishing for the first time in over two years. Pickwick is full of big bluegill and shellcrackers.
Mar 31, 2017 i went fishing for shellcracker at clarks hill the week after easter last year. Around the country, the prevalent breams may be known as brim, sunfish, panfish, or bream, but no matter what you call them, it is the first fish most of us caught and one of the bestflavored fish around they are round in many lakes and ponds, are easy to catch and provide hours. Today we head to guntersville dam to do some bluegill and shellcracker fishing. Its time to book your shell cracker fishing trips, its one of the best eating fish in the lake, call me i have a guide dedicated to shell cracker fishing. You may find additional fishing tips at fishing satisfies some of the needs that kids have. Our basic fishing book is available as a pdf download. See 8 photos and 1 tip from 177 visitors to cedar bluff, alabama. David little, president of tucker pecan company, is sharing a few gathering and shelling tips. Tips for a safe fishing trip, safety and ethics, and tips for taking kids fishing.
Now is the time to strike a trot to the lake and wet a hook for these babies. Tenoroc accommodates all users with boat ramps, bank fishing, and ada accessible piersfacilities. In fact, the lake is known as one of the states best winter bass fisheries. Apr 26, 2012 in an afternoon of fishing, we caught a good limit of bluegills using the tactics. By the end of march, depending on water temperatures and water levels, redears shellcracker start migrating to the shallows in preparation for the spawn. A detailed fishing report for the guntersville lake will make the difference between a good fishing here and a bad one. If your catching giant bluegill, theyre probably redear. It is always interesting to experience a shell cracker bream fishing trip that keeps you on your toes with something new. Speaking of shell crackers, this can be some of the greatest fishing there is. Big shellcracker redear sunfish fishing with 1 lb line. Kentucky lake shell crackers last two years on the shell crackers i have done good with a 116 oz. At commercial pecan orchards, machines are used to shake them.
Shellcracker and bluegill tips as taught to me 40 yrs. Alabamas state public fishing lake system provides some of the best bream angling anywhere. I absolutely love rage tail products, and am excited to try them out. These characteristics describe the shellcracker redear sunfish with its nicknames of.
Featured in the october 08 issue of alabama out door news. Mar 21, 2011 i went freshwater fishing for the first time in over two years. But, you also dont want to overlook smaller ponds in state parks. Jan 21, 2019 winter bluegill and shellcracker fishing 2019.
Guntersville bass fishin is a world renown lake with big bass, lots of of bass. These parks are known as excellent fishing destinations. I like to catch plenty of fish that fight hard, test my tackle and my angling skills an d taste delicious when i eat them. Many pond owners have no idea whether they have a good population of redear or shellcracker because they do not fish specifically for them. In alabama, rainbow trout are stocked in springfed mud creek in tannehill state park, and rainbows from the dale hollow national fish hatchery in tennessee are. The article focuses on several fishing locations for shellcracker or redear sunfish in the u. Highlands county fishing spots in florida fishing works. Point a park is on point a lake and has picnic area, swimming area, boat ramps and restrooms. Find a bridge, try the usual baits to no avail and then whack em on the alabama rig.
Crappie and bass anglers often consider fishing to be at its best in early morning, but spring fishing can be more successful in the late afternoon and early evening. After 3 days of this i could not stand it any longer and introduced myself. Folks today, i explain ways you can locate bluegill and shellcracker when they are not bedding. In order to be able to post messages on the east tennessee fishing forums, you must first register. Monster redear aka shellcracker if youre down south. When asked to name his favorite bream fishing waters, captain brad says, i like to fish pickwick lake. We both wanted to go after them with our fly rods aka buggy whoppers as acey wall, deceased use to call my fly rod. Sep 05, 2018 byrnes lake landing gives anglers access to some firstrate backwater bream fishing. Its full of pea gravel bottom, which is great for bream bedding areas.
Alabama has a rich history and diversity of freshwater and saltwater sport fishing opportunities within its extensive rivers systems, farm ponds and the inshore and offshore saltwater of the gulf of mexico. Includes articles, videos, news, and forums for beginning to advanced anglers. So in the remainder of this post, the word bluegill will be used to refer to both bluegill and redear, except where a distinction is made for. Fishing for bluegill and shellcracker in the peak of the spawn is one of them. Secrets to bluegills and shellcrackers night hawk publications. The coosa is one of the longest rivers in the state, forming in georgia and ultimately flowing 255 miles through alabama before joining the alabama river. They have a special set teeth in their throat that allows them to grind up snail shells. Baiting for bluegills is different than baiting to catch shellcrackers. Best locations, lures and presentations for bass fishing. In the mid west the bluegill offers a lot of attitude for their size, fighting better than any other freshwater species of panfish. I went into town today to pick up some stuff, and my girlfriend bought me a pack of shell crackers. In the south, shellcracker fishing is common among pan fisherman.
I have had success with the cotton candy shell cracker in clear water, rigged flat with a 18 oz keel weighted hook. According to nick nicholas, assistant chief of fisheries for alabama, shellcrackers thrive in lake guntersville due to its large amount of aquatic vegetation. These big mean pan fish do tend to spawn slightly deeper than the regular blue gills. Springtime bass fishing alabama s lay lake during the spawning months of march, april and may march 8, 2020.
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