Big Cracker Yesterday

**redear** · 06-28-2008, 04:16 AM

Jimmy, Shellcrackers are the heavyweights of the bream family, and you wont find them just anywhere. They grow twice as fast as a regular bluegill. They are eating machines, that will poop all over you while your taking him off your line. They love clams about the size of your fingernails, mussels too Ive heard. They tend to stay on the bottom most of the time. The shape is different too, their face is more pointed than a bluegills, and I think their tail section seems a little longer too. They have crushing plates in their throats, to crush the clam shells, and when you put them in a cooler with water, the bottom of the cooler will get broken shell fragments on the bottom, they spit'em up I reckon. Lots of people hollar crappie when they see one for the first time, at a glance, but these things are brutes, that are thick and strong, and If you horse one to the boat, they can break 8lb. test. That's only a 1 1/2 pounder. If you ever catch some nice ones, you'll be hopelessly hooked. Didn't mean to ramble on, but I think you can see, I have a soft spot for them. Oh yeah, and I use red wigglers, on the bottom.

**chaunc** · 06-28-2008, 06:21 AM

You tell em redear. They'll have you hooked after you have a day like this.

**redear** · 06-28-2008, 10:55 PM

Chaunc, That is a fine mess of crackers. Between shellquackers photos and your photos, I'm pacing the floor, and layin in bed at nite with my eyes wide open. Can't sleep with my heart rate up like that. lol I almost feel ashamed of myself for expressing this on a crappie site. I need therapy. lol

**Alibama** · 06-30-2008, 08:06 AM

Wow what a great catch!

**jimmydee1** · 07-02-2008, 04:45 PM

Thanks guys. Wondering if Crackers would do good in a 1 acre pond about 15 feet deep?? Any thoughts? Thx JD

**ShellQuacker** · 07-02-2008, 04:55 PM

Originally Posted by jimmydee1

Thanks guys. Wondering if Crackers would do good in a 1 acre pond about 15 feet deep?? Any thoughts? Thx JD

They're excellent pond fish Jimmy. They don't lay as many eggs as other panfish, and can feed on things that the bluegills don't utilize. Snails, crawdads, large aquatic insects etc. If I had a pond that size, they'd definately be in there.
Nice catch by the way Chaunc! Those fish have some really red "ears".

**OKSTATEjiggy** · 07-02-2008, 10:30 PM

Originally Posted by redear

Chaunc, That is a fine mess of crackers. Between shellquackers photos and your photos, I'm pacing the floor, and layin in bed at nite with my eyes wide open. Can't sleep with my heart rate up like that. lol I almost feel ashamed of myself for expressing this on a crappie site. I need therapy. lol

redear, lol, you made my day. I haven't felt the fish passion like that in a while. I know exactly what you mean though, sometimes you just have to get that out! Isn't it amazing that a FISH can make us feel that way? It's good to be alive.

**redear** · 07-03-2008, 12:28 AM

Okstatejiggy, yes they got me all messed up, for about six years now. And the good thing about them is, they don't have to take up any of your prime crappie fishing time. Reason being, seems like the hotter the weather, the better they bite, in other words 100 degree days can really produce alot of action, if you can stand it. Personally, I try to go on a day when its in the low 90's, and I wear the lightweight nylon clothing that you see some of the hot weather fishermen wear, along with a floppy hat to keep the sun off you as much as possible. I'm seriously thinking about keeping an umbrella in the boat for those 95 degree days when your just sitting there watching rod tips. And a couple bottles of gatorade to go along with the bottled water, is smart to take along too. I have seen people come back from cracker fishin with a bunch of good ones, and they would be looking like a beet where the sun burned them up, and they couldn't stand to leave them biting. But they was smilin though! Thats what I call hopeless! in a good way.

**chaunc** · 07-03-2008, 07:15 AM

Redear, here's what i got to help with those hot days.
Pro-Techt Mantis Top, Pro-Tech Mantis Umbrella, Protecht Mantis Cover, Protech Canopy
Also helps keep the rain off you too.:D Just a little tough in the wind tho.

**STUMP HUNTER** · 07-03-2008, 04:07 PM

OMG-- that is one nice fish, I agree-mount him. Congrats on the catch.

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