Thread: Shellcrackers today!

Decided, given the water situation on Ky Lake...and the wind...to try a few bluegill late this afternoon on Barkley. Fished in the Kuttawa area from the shore, 2 ft deep in three ft of water. From about 4:00pm to 6:30pm caught 76 bluegill. Of course, many of them were small but ended up catching around 20 nice ones. But....I also caught 4 really nice shellcrackers (redears). Caught them all on a black w/white head grizzly jig tipped with a Berkley Power Wiggler fished under a small float. I've never found anything that catches bluegill or shellcrackers better than grizzly jigs..but they've got to be tipped with a Power Wiggler.

We are truly blessed here in W KY to have the bluegill/shellcracker fisheries that we have in Ky and Barkley Lakes. For years I fished Reelfoot Lake and have caught my share of giant bluegill there, but the bluegill fishing on our lakes here has really come on in the last few years and runs Reelfoot a close rival. And the redear fishing? Wow!! It's fantastic, especially on Barkley. So....if you are coming to these lakes to crappie fish and get messed up with water levels and wind, don't forget the bluegill and redear. They are already biting, and will only get better. I've caught a lot of shellcrackers the last few years on these lakes....even in late March and early April.

Thanks for the report. Good suggestion!

Thanks, that's good to know. We will be heading down three weeks from today!

Very nice. I would love to get on some red ear. Never really fished for them. Caught a few on accident bluegill fishing, but the lakes i fish mostly talylorsville and rough, primarily rough now, but i don't think i've even seen one in Taylorsville. Might have to give it a try this year at rough.

I've been fishing at rough a long time and not caught any redear. And not too many big bluegill, Maybe you are catchin all of them. We made the trip to ky lake last may and got on some real nice redear though. It's worth the drive.

Just started fishing rough alot last year and was wondering if you get many good bluegills there and what area i should try? thanks in advance for any info.

Coming down may 13th through the 18th hope it's as good as it's been the last five years I have been down can't wait!!