Shell Crackers

I am not looking for anyone honey hole. I would just like some info on how to go about catching them. If any could provide some, I would appreciate it. Thanks

Your best best is during or prior to a full moon. They spawn usually during the full moon in April, May, June, and July. Usually May and June are the best months. Best areas are in 5-10' foot of water near points or stump fields. Red wigglers under a slip bobber, close to the bottom or on a drop shot type set-up on the bottom are what we catch most of them on. Any of the Suffolk lakes are a good choice.
One more thing. There is a bream/brim/bluegill forum on here. That is where you would to search past threads or post shell cracker questions. Good luck getting on them.

Little creek reservoir in toano. Andy will be glad to point you in the right direction.

Northwest River, North landing River.

first off don't worry about if they are spawning or not, because it takes alot of luck to find them and to get the timing right to find them spawning. they are prolific feeders and catching them on the feed is your best chance, spawning is a bonus. they can be around the banks in shallow water or they can be in 13 feet of water, you won't know till you try them. my best days have been catching them in 12-13 foot of water around flats, dropoffs, underwater humps etc. I usually fish on the bottom with a size 4 aberdeen lite wire hook and 2 or 3 large split shots about 3 foot above the hook, if I am fishing shallow then I'll use a slip cork without a stop so when I get a bite I'll see the bobber moving around a little. fishing deeper I will use at least 2 rods but without the bobber, so I'll watch the rod tips for bites. location is everything, if you find them you could fill the cooler in one spot.

oh yeah, my favorite bait is redworms, use plenty on the hook depending on how big the worms are, I will use 2 most the time but I have a friend that uses a size 2 hook and puts a gob of them on there, which would be 3 average sized redworms, these worms have an odor that nitecrawlers don't have and I think this helps the fish zero in on them although night crawlers will work, if they are big you may have to cut them in half or thirds.

Thanks Everyone

I fish western branch resivoir for shell crackers mostly.

i like to fish points, that drop off to 12-15fow, that have some (a lot) of stumps near by. Sandy bottom is needed, for me anyways, crackers eat the clams that live in the sand. Too shallow and no bites, too deep no bites, no structure, no bites.

Rigging is is pretty simple, about 10 pound mono, a #4 or #6 GOLD HOOK, and 2-3-4 split shot about a foot up the line. No leader is needed. The 10 pound mono is strong enough to straighten out the GOLD hook when it snags, and it will. If your not getting snagged, you probably won't find many big shell crackers. PUT YOUR ROD IN A ROD HOLDER. Ive seen about a 1/2 dozen rods snatched off the deck of my boat over the last 20 years, guests that didn't think a "brim" was capable of pulling a pole in the water.. Well that day they learned a new trick.

Bait is simple too, whole night crawlers. Hook them twice in the light colored band and toss them out. Leave your bait open. They will knock the dickens out of it and take off running. I've caught them on red worms, yard worms, crickets, and even small shiners, but the night crawlers are our bread and butter. We usually grab 4-5 boxes a person, and plan on being done by noon time or sooner. Then we go play with the gars or catfish. Don't forget a cooler and ice for your worms.

Ive vet tried small circle hooks and closed bail, but the snags made it cost prohibitive. The brown hooks don't straighten out, and you usually loose everything.

Hey guys, great topic and some very informative responses. I fish Lake Barkley in Ky and it seems like the shellcrackers are very hard to locate after they spawn. My question is do you have good luck catching them in the summer and fall? I used to catch them in 10-13ft of water in small lakes around Southern Indiana in August-Nov. but have struggled with the fall bite down at Barkley. Do you have a strong fall bite? Thanks!

Honestly, I only mess with them in the heat of the summer. Any fall catches are not intentional. The lake I mentioned above produces 2 pound fish every month, every year.