Need Shellcracker Info

**crappiefarmer** · 09-18-2007, 08:26 AM

Hey Guys,

Just wondering what is your favorite ways to catch shellcrackers? What kind of areas do you target to find them? What is the best baits to use? Any special rigs for these fish? I live in N.E. North Carolina and fish coastal rivers mostly. The rivers have no current unless there is a huge rain and then is just very slight. Average depths are 10 to 15 feet with shallower stretches of 5 to 8 and most of the time stained water although the drought this year has cleared the water to a slight green. This is just to give you an idea of the type of water I fish in. oh yeah, mainly sandy and mud bottoms. I have never caught many shellcrackers while crappie or brim fishing but the ones I have caught were nice ones and pulled like a run away freight train. Would like to learn how to target these fish so I can go after them when the crappie fishing is slow. I have heard that the easiest time to catch them is around spawn then they become difficult to find. Anybody have decent luck with them in the summer/fall/winter periods? Thanks for the info. CF

**deathb4disco** · 09-18-2007, 08:58 AM

They tend to be deeper and more bottom-oriented than bluegills. I tend to catch most of mine on maggots while fishing for gills. I keep meaning to spend a month or so targeting them. I think worms or shrimp fished on the bottom would work well. Unfortunately, the best shellcracker lake I know of is also stuffed with turtles. They are also attracted to bait fished on the bottom.

**Barnacle Bill** · 09-18-2007, 10:22 AM

Red wigglers on the bottom around stumps. Hence their nickname of stump knockers.

**minnowsoaker** · 09-18-2007, 10:56 AM

they like the sandy bottom rather than muddy. Look for mussel beds (shell) too. The best time for em in my area is the April full moon when they spawn. They sometimes spawn on the full moons after April too. When the spawnin is done with I usually find them in deeper water (20' to 25') with sandy or shell bottom adjacent to the beds. Also find them in creek mouths. I like a carolina rigged redworm. I can feel the type of bottom better with that type of rig.

**FishnLine** · 09-18-2007, 11:25 AM

Those are some nice ones minnowsoaker!

**skiptomylu** · 09-18-2007, 12:39 PM

I have trouble anytime after the spawn with all bream as here on Toledo Bend is so big and the big boys go very deep as far as I know.

I wish I knew how to find them after the spawn as this lake has some huge bream.

This lake is just old flooded national Forrest so trees every where and plenty of structure for them to go.

**minnowsoaker** · 09-18-2007, 04:46 PM

Those are some nice ones minnowsoaker!

Thanks FishnLine. I love catchin them shellcracker!

**WRHaynes** · 09-24-2007, 10:43 PM

Awesome, nice looking shellcrackers, I haven't had too much luck finding any since moving to Louisville, I may just have to try harder, :D.

**DENNIS BOWERS** · 09-25-2007, 07:28 AM

We catch them off the bottom .Right now Red Worms are the trick,nightcrawlers work also. We have been catchin them on a flat thats 2-4 ft. deep off the main channel. They move into this same area every Fall and have stayed for up to 2 Months. Looking for Shell beds as mentioned is also a good indicator!! Good Luck!!

**WRHaynes** · 09-25-2007, 09:46 AM

Awesome, I'll keep that in mind, I'm usually fishing for most panfish with redworms, and often without a bobber or any weight, just letting the hook freefall VERY slowly, eventually landing on the bottom. I have caught many redear in the past, just kinda seems the area I'm at don't house'em. Thanks

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