New to flyfishing, want to catch 'gills

**drew03cmc** · 07-11-2006, 08:42 PM

Been away awhile, I got a Cabelas Three Forks 7.5' 3wt rod with a SA 2M35 reel loaded with WF3F line. LOVE IT! Thanks everyone! I appreciate it!

**dixieangler** · 07-11-2006, 10:41 PM

Great to hear it, Andy.

Originally Posted by chaunc

I'd like to find some shellcrackers to really have a blast.

I would get some #10 size (or smaller) scud flies for those Shellcrackers if I were you, chaunc. That's what they go for

. Along with some pencil poppers or crease flies for surface minnow imitations. I sometimes use a popper/dropper rig. The scud fly tied to about two feet of 6lb. test mono with the other end tied to the bend of the surface fly or I just fish the scud fly by itself. Small #10 or smaller nymphs like a Gold Ribbed Hare's Ear Nymph or a Pheasant Tail Nymph might also work if you can't get any scud flies.

**chaunc** · 07-12-2006, 08:07 AM

but i didn't have my fly rod in the boat.

I'm takin it with me next time i go there tho.

Bet that would have been awesome on the flyrod, but had a blast on my ultralight jigpole.:D

**dixieangler** · 07-12-2006, 01:32 PM

Wow!, chaunc. Real nice mess of Shellcrackers. You using live worms on that jigpole?

**chaunc** · 07-12-2006, 09:27 PM

Originally Posted by dixieangler

Wow!, chaunc. Real nice mess of Shellcrackers. You using live worms on that jigpole?

No live bait. Got em all on a jig and crappie nibble. Most under a float, drifting over shell beds.

**ribit** · 07-12-2006, 09:54 PM

That is a find mess of red ears. Fly rod would be fun.

**drew03cmc** · 07-12-2006, 11:11 PM

What size Royal Coachman? I have #14 Renegades, #14 fur ants, #14 sponge spiders, etc.

**chaunc** · 07-14-2006, 06:35 PM

Found my scuds. I'll be sure to give them a try next time out. Thanks for the info DA.

**dixieangler** · 07-14-2006, 07:07 PM

Andy,

Royal Coachmans work fine. If dry I use a size 12, if wet I use a size 10. I usually don't use any fly below a size 12 unless the bream are picky about larger flies or if they are hook educated. You could probably get away with larger flies than size 14. I mostly use size 8-10 flies, occasionally size 12, rarely smaller. Have fun

.

**dixieangler** · 07-14-2006, 07:30 PM

chaunc,

This link really helps me out by telling me what critters Shellcrackers eat so I can use flies that imitate them. Scuds are freshwater shrimp, a crustacean :D. Nymphs (larval insects) work good as do small minnow or streamer flies. I've caught Shellcrackers on #4 Crease Flies before which are a foam type surface minnow type of fly that's sort of like a pencil popper. The link below does mention small fish

.

Feeding Habits for Shellcrackers:

Feeding Habits - Redears are opportunistic bottom feeders, foraging mainly during daylight hours on a variety of invertebrates. Important food items include snails and clams which are crushed by grinding teeth in the throat; larval insects, fish eggs, small fish, and crustaceans. In some areas snails may be secondary to insects as a food preference.

Link:
Redear

Crease Fly

Best of luck chasing those Shellcrackers.

Thread: New to flyfishing, want to catch 'gills

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