Thanks: 
HaHa: 
Reply With QuoteI have found fish but no beds yet. At least north of Monroe. Have not seen the flotilla on the Monroe beds yet either.
Keeper
St Johns Shellcrackers and Bluegill Bedding?
Anyone know if the shellcrackers have begun their spawn on the St. Johns? I'm talking southern potrion from say Debarry to Geneva/Lake Harney area. Last year the second week of April at Lemon Bluff was excellent. This year nothing has come through. I'm not exactly the best at finding these fish bedding in the pads like some with the water stained. Not asking for any spots just curious if I missed out. Seems like if they were running a month late that this week with the coming full moon would be on fire.
It's weird to me in central Florida. I can find bedding fish, but it doesn't seem like they return to the same places year after year. Where I grew up in the upper midwest the same exact spots would have bedding gills year in and year out. Also the water was clear so they were pretty easy to find if you put the time in. And....far less lilly pad zones on those deeper, colder lakes to scour through. Here it's like a needle in a hay stack finding bedding gills. And the shellcrackers can be even more tough cause it seems they bed a little deeper. I know to look for sand or shell bottoms as compared to muck, but that doesn't narrow it down much. Oh well, all the more rewarding when I find some.
Crappielover LIKED above post
Crappie.com Legend
I have found fish but no beds yet. At least north of Monroe. Have not seen the flotilla on the Monroe beds yet either.
Crappie.com Legend
I've been looking since the 2nd week of April....nada! I've caught several big ones but haven't located any staging or on beds. Been tied up since last Wednesday and it doesn't look like I'll make it out the rest of the week.....but I'll just bet a fellow could find some now. The water's been muddy and some scum on the surface last week but that should have cleared by now and with these hot days...they just gotta be out there somewhere. I do my best around Lemon Bluff in April and May then I move in the river north of Monroe and around SR44 for the rest of the summer. As far as repeat beds...I've still found that to be the case unless the gar traffic runs them out etc. Now I have seen tons of gar everywhere I've been. As far as shellcrackers.....Monroe and the river both ways have an abundance of snails and them shellies love em'... and you can find them bedding near Stone Island or the west side of the lake. Good luck and gives us a good report!
aka: Baconator
PROUD MEMBER OF TEAM GEEZER and SBF
authorized by: billbob and "G"
Keeper
Thanks fellas! Gave lemon bluff a shot yesterday. Nothing but one large mouth. Only had a couple hours to fish. I'll start focusing on Monroe and north when I get a chance. Maybe saturday. Yeah tons of gar yesterday too.
Keeper
I caught 4 on Lake near my house 2 weeks ago and then it just died. Clear water lake totally different
Crappie.com 3K Star General
I am goin this weekend somewhere between Monroe & SR44, definately on Saturday & prolly Sunday too !! I haven't been in a while & I am tryin to get it in before the Memorial Day river rush !! I will let ya'll know either way if I find anything.
The finest gift you can give to any fisherman is to put a good fish back, and who knows if the fish that you caught isn't someone else's gift to you?"
Posting Permissions
