Thread: Is anyone catching any red ear on Kentucky or Barkley Lake?

Originally Posted by kyfishman

I use a Grizzly Jig (from Grizzly Jig Co.) tipped with a Berkley Power Wiggler (usually white or chartreuse) to catch shellcrackers (and bluegills) and have for years on both Kentucky and Barkley Lakes. It is the only bait I ever use. In fact, I caught a mess of crackers and bluegills yesterday on Dale Hollow Lake using this bait. I've found that the black Grizzly Jig with red collar and white head, or the same combo with a green head, to be the very best color in most situations and totally loved by big shellcrackers and bluegill. Many years ago now, while bluegill fishing on Reelfoot Lake in Tennessee, I ran into a guy who was pulling one big 'gil after another, along with a sizeable share of crappie, from a patch of lily pads. I was using crickets at that time and fishing the same pads, and this guy was putting me to shame. I finally got close enough to ask about his bait and he pulled alongside my boat and laid a handfull of the jigs on my boatseat. At that time, he was putting a look cotton ball wet with Fish Formula attractant, on his hook. The guy was Louie Mansfield, creator of Grizzly Jigs and owner of Grizzly Jig Company. From that day forward, I was hooked on the little bait. Sometime down thru the years, (I'm not sure when), I came across Berkley Power Wigglers and started using them instead of the little cotton balls soaked in Fish Formula. These little jigs are amazing....and no, I'm not getting any kickback from Louie for saying so. I just think I owe it to him after all these years of enjoying fishing with Grizzlies!

Thanks for the info! Do you have any pics of this bait?


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Originally Posted by mgrimm

Thanks for the info! Do you have any pics of this bait?


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Not kyfishman but this is probably what he is referring to for the jig, they work killer if you have the patience to find them. I also second the the wigglers since I don't like fooling with live bait. Wax worms aren't much trouble though and tip well also.

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That pic is a larger version of the standard Grizzly jig but the same pattern. It is G22 Cunningham on their website. I would link it but can't remember rules on that. Private message me if you need help finding it.

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Cabin Creek makes what they call a "pop-eye" jig ... which looks like this :

Basically a feather jig with a large eye painted on the head. Some of them have larger eyes painted on them than what is shown in this picture.
Here's their website : Pop-Eyes & Jigs - cabincreekretail

pab1981 is right. It is the G22 or Cunningham jig. You will find all of the Grizzly Jigs on Grizzly Jig Company. I have most of the colors the jig comes in, but as I mentioned...most of the time I use the Cunningham or the same jig with a green instead of white head (can't think of the actual name right now). These two jigs, for some reason, really appeal to shellcrackers. And Pappy, the main difference from the "popeye" jig and the "Grizzly" is the shape of the head. The popeye ties just like most crappie jigs but Louie Mansfield uses a fly hook in a very small size for the Grizzly. This hook has a horizontal eye instead of a verticle eye (best way I know to explain it) and allows him to tie the jigs in 1/64th and even smaller sizes. This I know for sure.....they are murder on bluegill and redear. I've not used a piece of "live" bait in years and years.

Just looked on the Grizzly Jig site and the green-headed jig I'm referring to is called the Otis. Also saw that these Grizzly Jigs are 1/80th oz jigs.

If you download the grizzly catalog you can see all the options and the ones they have in 1/32 size. The big difference in grizzly jigs and others is the off set eye you tie to. Don't no how much better for the gills but hook sets on the crappie are usually always in roof of mouth with grizzly jigs.

You guys had me all wound up with stories of catching redear, so today I got a chance to sneak out. First, my normal boat ramp had too much water to launch at so I had to run back up the road a ways and launch at a different spot. I then backtracked in the boat to get to the beds I found last year. They were under 5-6 feet of water....and bare. I trolled all over the area and couldn't buy a fish. The floating debris up by the back is like a carpet, so if they were on beds up there I couldn't have seen them. I hit every bay I passed on my way back to the boat ramp. Trolled them looking for something to bite. Caught three small channel cats and one decent bluegill....and that was it. Fished from around 11 til around 5. I don't mind some extra water, but this is ridiculous.