Shell cracker biting on ky lake

May 22, 2018 just a quick video of me showing how to catch shell crackers and etc. If bluegill and shellcrackers collectively known as bream routinely grew to weights of 56. 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. Redear sunfish get their name from the red gill flap but most southern anglers refer to them as shellcracker as they feed on small, freshwater mussels that inhibit the lake. Fishing rigs are now frequently used by anglers because they can be used to catch more crappies at the same time. Whether you are heading out for a brisk february afternoon of fishing for crappie and black bass or enjoying a latesummer evening of bluegill fishing, our kentucky lake fishing reports give you what you need to know. Shellcracker are biting red worms on the shell bars, reports metheney. Hefty shellcracker, referred to biologically as redear sunfish, like this one are now spawning on kentucky lake.

Shellcracker bite is going on now in about 5 feet of water. It is difficult to pattern crappie once lake levels rise fast and muddy water enters the picture and thats a likely scenario for the week ahead. The water is high because of all the rain but the season is right for panfish. Jul 05, 2012 three lakes that seem to be super hot right now are western branch in virginia, and barkley lake kentucky lake down at lbl. How to catch crappie in all 4 crappie fishing phases. 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. Theres another two or three weeks of prime spawning time too so grab a friend and head on out. It is an unarguable fact when bream are bedding, the fish are biting. The bite on both kentucky and barkley lakes is considered good for a number of species. There was a guy at the cleaning station one night, that had hundreds of bluegill he was filleting. In the 2019 kentucky fishing forecast, it was reported that the lake was first stocked with redear sunfish in 2010, and that trophysized fish 10 to 12 inches long are now present. Steves reports cover kentucky lake from paris landing to new johnsonville.

Widely known as shellcracker because of its fondness for snails. For gills from kentucky lake, the very best is the backwaters located behind the levee at the pump house at the end of big sandy creek south of paris landing bridge. Weekend legends tournament serieswin the tournament and name a lure. Fishing for bluegill and redear sunfish with light tackle is one of lifes simple pleasures, although it isnt always quite so simple. This is a large twobedroom cottage that sleeps 6 people with a picture view of the lake. It is rare for white crappie and black crappie to interbreed, but it does occur. Jig sizes are important when fishing for shellcracker. Were catching some good fish and weve had some 2pounders, but its been somewhat of a tough bite, reported kentucky lake guide scott. 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.

They will spawn in eight to 15 feet of water depending on how clear the water is. The florida crappie, speckled perch or speck as they are called throughout the south is the most sought after panfish on lake okeechobee. Sep 24, 2010 there is no purer joy in angling than setting up shop on a spawning bed and catching bull bream until the cows come home. Crappie fishing, bluegill, shellcracker and crappie. Located on 15 acres with over 1,500 feet of shoreline, the atmosphere is quiet and secluded yet restaurants, golf courses, tennis, horseback riding and all the areas attractions are within a short drive. Redear bite continues as catfish stay on prowl explore kentucky. I went fishing for shellcracker at clarks hill the week after easter last year.

The black crappie prefers larger, more acidic lakes, and are more predominate in the northern states, and up into canada. White crappie are what most kentuckians catch unless they are fishing kentucky lake, which has experienced a shift in recent years toward black crappie as the dominant of the two fish. Fishing for redear sunfish fishing rambling angler. Ive fished with guide bob latendresse for many years and he has yet to fail to put me on big shellcrackers. Hector brito caught this worldrecord redear sunfish at lake havasu in 2014.

Bluegill, shellcrackers are plentiful the leaf chronicle. For the last seven years, lake tarpon has consistently produced large shellcrackers year round. Lake hollingsworth has a good bluegill bite on crickets in the reeds. On a good spawning ground, even a neophyte angler can catch fish like an old pro.

This is a perfect time to take a kid fishing and have a ball while youre doing it. Panfish are the focus on this weeks show as guesthost crispin powley probes spawning beds for kentucky lakes bluegill and shellcrackers. May 08, 2015 magicians are at work on kentucky lake. Fishing reports canal lakes fish camp on the santee cooper. Just throw to the bank and youll get a bite almost every time. Fishing kentucky lake with mark menendez the ultimate. Bluegill, shellcracker bite is best on kentucky, barkley. From video fishing tips to whats currently happening on kentucky lake and lake barkley, our fishing reports provide the most uptodate information from professional anglers across the lakes. 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. Whats the better choice for big shellcracker, barkley or ky lake. Lead head colors which i have found to be successful are flo red and chartreuse.

Check this 95 lb catfish caught on 8420 by kenney morris. Catching bluegill and shellcracker on kentuckhy lake. You can access steves previous fishing reports in our fishing report archives. I spoke with a couple of guys a few years back who raved about the shellcracker bite in the fall. Heres an archived kentucky lake fishing report from published on may 8.

The drought monitor focuses on broadscale conditions. Fishing for bream in the mobile tensaw delta great days. Shellcracker fishing tips sheelcracker fishing florida. Visiting and local anglers will have no trouble finding a place to fish near shell lake. Bass are also biting in 814 plastic worms and crankbaits. Florida shellcracker fishing spawning bluegills mwoutdoors. 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. Last year about this time kentucky lake s elevation swelled above normal but the bass bite and spawning phases of bluegill and shellcracker held up quite well. It was news to me then and ive been wanting to try it ever since. Instead this is a fish that likes to be in deeper water. Bluegill, shellcrackers and crappie fishing, not only fun to catch but these little guys are second to none in the frying pan. Fishing floridas largest bluegill, the shellcracker. Shellcracker fishing tips and information on shellcracker fishing in florida on some of the top lakes in the country. The harper lurewinner of 2019 weekend legends instagram tournament names new lucky strike lure.

Lake kissimmee west lake tohopekaliga lake panasoffkee lake talquin harris chain of lakes lake bryant lake marian lake marion lake istokpoga. The redear sunfish is deep and slabsided, with a small mouth, with the upper jaw not reaching past the front of the eye. Lake parker still good for bluegill and shellcracker, reports fwc biologist keaton fish. It is always interesting to experience a shell cracker bream fishing trip that keeps you on your toes with something new.

It is made up of the main line, a weight or base sinker, swivels, bobbers and multiple fishing hooks attached to the rig. The catfish are still biting, even better with this cool weather. Apr, 2016 fishing floridas largest bluegill, the shellcracker. Ebscohost serves thousands of libraries with premium essays, articles and other content including the souths 5 best shellcracker holes. Be sure and check the current regulations, as i think this year ky has a 20 fish daily limit on redear.

But, i do believe that we as fisherman can decrease the qauntity and quality of the population. Slabsauce crappie attractant come join the best family orientated fishing website on the internet. Redear shellcracker at dunns fish farm we know that your satisfaction is essential to our success. Important food items include snails and clams which are crushed by grinding teeth in the throat.

Not many bass have been biting, but they can be found on lake bryant, as well as a few other lakes and rivers. A member of the national fresh water fishing hall of fame and legends of the outdoors, steve mccadams is a professional guide and outdoor writer from paris, tenn. Its been a great week on lake kissimmee for big bass, limits of shellcracker and speckled perch up to 2 pounds. As their name tells, they eat snails and muscles, crushing the shell with a tough muscle in their gullet. Aj jolly lake 175 acres campbell county locationspecies. A few crappie will remain on main lake structure where the tops of dropoffs and ledges will hold on to a few that will ride out the changes there on the main lake. Redear sunfish get their name from the red gill flap but most southern anglers refer to them as shellcracker as they feed on small, freshwater mussels that inhibit the lake bottom. Since it is a popular sport fish, it has been introduced to bodies of water all over north america. In natural waters, it is confined to the southern half of missouri, but it is widely stocked in small reservoirs and ponds. If you can get there in the next 4 days or so you will experience. Cozy cove is a private, away from the crowds, family owned and operated resort with only 16 cottages. How to catch shell cracker at lake hickory youtube. I am a transplanted hoosier myself, lived 25 years on the south side of indianapolis before i came to my senses and relocated to alvaton bowling green. I hope it helps you catch fish on lake hickory enjoy the video and dont forget to subscribe thanks for watchingzz.

State record fishes and awards kentucky department of. Now is the time to strike a trot to the lake and wet a hook for these babies. Ill be running the fishers of men tourny on dale saturday so i only get about 4 or 5 hours to fish. They also eat other food like insects, worms, and crawfish, but feed on the bottom. Bedding time at hand for bluegillshellcracker outdoors. What is the best bluegillredear lake outside of ky barkley lakes is there another good bluegillredear lake closer to the middle of the state other than ky barkley lake. Veteran shellcracker fishermen are known to use a small bobber in.

Anglers are hoping these species continue to cooperate. For the last week bobbers have been disappearing before the very eyes of anglers everywhere. A fishing rig is a set up designed for use in catching crappies. Kentucky lake shell crackers last two years on the shell crackers i have done good with a 116 oz. Freshwater haul of shell cracker s lake murray, sc i. What is the best bluegillredear lake outside of ky. You may be supervised to learn that the full moon plays a major role. The distinct red gill flap separates them from bluegill and usually theyre larger and somewhat longer. See what triggers this bully bluegill to bite and what bait to use.

Heres the fishing report that will be in thursdays ledger from the lake, in case youre ready to go. Thats the average size shellcracker fellow outdoor writer will brantley and i were catching last spring on kentucky lake in the state of the same name. Shellcracker, or redear sunfish, are the biggest of the beam, with the world record a 4 pound ounce monster caught in florida in 1986. 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. I just got back from guntersville and we knocked it out of the park on shell cracker. Within 50 km there are 9 lakes including memorial lake, lobo lake, lobo lakes, little shell lake, alloa lake, alton lake, leslie lake, fur lake, fur lakes and hines lake. Three lakes that seem to be super hot right now are western branch in virginia, and barkley lake kentucky lake down at lbl. Its no secret that lake barkley is a great redear lake, but in my first spring to ever target this bottomdwelling beast, i never imagined the day i would have on lake barkley on may 18, 2019. The shellcracker is not a fish that likes to be right against the bank. Our report contributors and their latest reports are below. Fish lake barkley is a fishing guide service run by hopkinsville native dan cayce.

Ive been wanting to put together a bluegillshellcracker trip to lbl for the past. The following article is a must read, and will give you the insight you need for your next pond management decision. Thats why we work hard to bring you the information you need to know to manage your pond or lake. He suggests visiting anglers should load their tackle boxes with crawfishcolor or red crankbaits that dive 5 to 8 feet deep and suspending. Shellcracker lakes that seem to be hot right now bluegill.

Kentucky and barkley lake asian carp fish kill main content the kentucky department of fish and wildlife resources is continuing to investigate a massive dieoff of asian carp discovered wednesday, april 23, in the cumberland river below lake barkley and a second smaller dieoff in the tennessee river below kentucky lake. Shell lake is a small town in saskatchewan, canada. Jan 24, 2010 the population of fish at this lake is incredible. Anglers have been catching nice stringers of both bluegill and shellcracker. Reddit gives you the best of the internet in one place. Apr 26, 2012 yatesville lake will get a stocking of shellcrackers this year, making an already good bluegill lake even better as the years go by. Three other small, stateowned lakes in the region offer good to excellent fishing for redear sunfish.

Some extralarge shell cracker bream can be found in the deeper pockets of water downstream of the byrnes lake boat ramp drift a red worm along the bottom, and hold on tight. Largemouth bass are in coves in 15 plastic creatures, topwater and bladed spinnerbaits are producing quality fish. Shellcrackers look much like a bluegill on steroids, and of course. Bream is a local term throughout the southeast that includes a variety of deepbodied panfish belonging to the sunfish family. Reelfoot lake bluegill fishing my biggest bluegill ever. A new species emerged as a top runner when i decided to fishing for redear sunfish on what is now my home waters.

Lake wheeler has largemouth bass, bream, shad, crappie, shell cracker, carp, catfish, and other small species of fish. Catfishing is fantastic and wide open, best its been this year. Shell cracker bream fishing trip florida fishing north. The shellcracker bite is best at lake agnes on red worms, reports evan wieber at phillips bait and tackle 8636662248.

There is another big tourny going on the same day so instead of waiting in line for a bass spot or getting in the way of some of the fom guys i thought about going after some big ole shell crackersblue gills so i can stock the freezer. Western branch has recently produced two crackers that im aware of that were 14inches apiece and 2. Welcome to, featuring regularly updated kentucky lake fishing reports as well as lake barkley fishing reports. If any questions or problems arise, call the kentucky department of fish and wildlife at 18008581549. Ct july, 2016 the crappie bite has been off on kentucky lake since 2011, but appears to.

Steve mccadams is an experienced fishing guide on kentucky lake. Mccadams said recent surface temperatures on kentucky lake climbed into the 7375 range and continues to rise, triggering the early phases of shellcracker and bluegill spawning. You might try the 1st bay on the left in malcolm creek for crappie. By writing fishing reports, he informs the public about the most up to date fishing information, tips, and events. Dominating the fishing scene this week has been fast rising water. Better for shell cracker, kentucky or barkley lakes. Kentucky lake water level including historical chart. They fight better than most other freshwater species. He ties a dropshot rig and drags it along bottom to coax bites from spawning fish. A few shellcrackers were caught from shallow shorelines and buck brushes where submerged grass was. May is when male bluegill and their big, bad cousins, shellcrackers, can usually be found. The redear is similar in shape to the bluegill, but lacks the dark spot at the base of the posterior portion of the dorsal fin and has a red or orange border around the ear flap. The shellcracker is also known as the redear sunfish and will average between one and two pounds during spawning. However, they do cohabitate with white crappie often, because they prefer similar areas, as youd expect.

Dan is an expert fisherman and has been fishing lake barkley for over 40 years. Detailed requirements are listed on the third page of the application. Sometimes we put a float on and other times we let our. Catching bluegill and shellcracker on kentuckhy lake paris landing. We both wanted to go after them with our fly rods aka buggy whoppers as acey wall, deceased use to call my fly rod. North florida offers a variety of opportunity to catch different species of freshwater fish. Kentucky lake s bluegill and shellcracker, known biologically as redear sunfish, are spawning and nice ones, like this dandy taken by guy harris of mount juliet, are showing up in good numbers. Florida has more than 7,700 named lakes and ponds and over 10,000 miles of streams and rivers, all brimming with bream. Perkins landing and cliffs landing upstream on the river are excellent places to start a delta bream fishing trip. The touring pros favorite time to fish kentucky lake is the late winterearly spring period when bass are biting on suspending jerkbaits and crankbaits. Crappie fishing, bluegill, shellcracker and crappie fishing. 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. First day was so so, but after the lake temp climbed 46 degrees they went crazy.