How big are your BIG redears?

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10-17-2009, 07:04 AM
mrbasser

How big are your BIG redears?

We have caught several (20-25) this year between 11" and 14". 14" is HUGE here in Missouri. I'm curious just how big is BIG in you neck of the woods. Our state record 2lbs. 7oz. and I'm fairly sure several of our biggest this year have been over 2#.

I am ignorant on redear as we catch 30-50 'gills and maybe 3 redear on an average day. I really need to shift to targeting redear as a local city lake is where ALL the redears have come from and there is NOBODY fishing this lake anymore. It's just so easy to smack the 'gills we never try to learn redear fishing. I know they feed on bottom mostly but this lake is extremely mossy and makes fishing a worm on bottom frustrating as hell let alone non-productive!

Any tips for targeting the redears would be appreciated.
10-17-2009, 07:45 AM
CrappiePappy

Here in KY ...

... our state record Redear is 3lb 1oz ... caught from a private pond in 1982. I've never seen one (in the flesh) that was over 3/4 pound :p ... but, our newest lake (about 7yrs old) gave up one around two pounds, a few years ago. I only got to see a pic of it, though. It's given up some 1lb+ Redear, since ... but, being as it's billed as a Trophy Bass Lake, not many pics of it's other species are posted.

I've caught them by using the traditional slip float/hook/sinker/worm setup ... fishing just off the bottom. I've also used a slip sinker/hook/worm setup, with a decent degree of productivity. And just to clarify ... what I mean by "worm", is actually a pinched off piece of nightcrawler ;) & not a red wiggler. I have noticed that the Redear seem to prefer the red (head) end of the nightcrawler .. rather than the white (tail) end pieces. The Bluegill, on the other hand, don't care what part of the crawler you use :D

... cp :cool:
10-17-2009, 09:13 AM
exfactor

This is my big red ear 4 Ca. It was 4#1 oz, and 16 inches.
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...P4180002_1.jpg
10-17-2009, 10:11 AM
redearhoosier

WOW, WOW is all I can say about that cracker, you're one lucky angler. As you can tell by my handle, I'm a redear nut. That's literally all I fish for, I fish three straight lines on bottom.

The Indiana record is 3lb 10oz I believe, which is just a BRUTE, but it's been the record since the 70's I believe. I do know people catch a few two pounders around my neck of the woods every year. A big redear for me, is anything over 101/2 inches long. There's a farm pond we fished as kids and it would produce lots of of 12inch+ crackers, many of them about a pound and a half in size. Redear are a very elusive fish and a true trophy fish IMO.
10-17-2009, 01:08 PM
redear

they get big where I fish, but 1 lb. 12 oz. is about my biggest. as far as fishing your lake, with gunk on the bottom. you could use bobbers up shallow, and slip corks in deeper water, just remember, you want to be fairly close to the bottom. If you have caught some in the 2 pound range, I would say keep doing what you are doing, but if the weeds are getting to you, try a dropshot type rig, or use a floating jighead by northern bait co. I would say try the floating jighead, as someone I know has a cousin in florida, that uses them for redears. I saw one and it had at least a size 4 hook, maybe a size 2, and the head was painted yellow, orange, white, I think. put red wigglers on that thing or small crawlers.
10-17-2009, 10:12 PM
jvg

Man i can only dream of catching some as big as the one's y'all are talking about and exfactor..... man that's a nice redear, very nice
10-17-2009, 10:30 PM
foul hook

exfactor, that looks like a GA> Hybrid . Nice fish.
10-18-2009, 12:53 AM
Jr Branham

Sav. River

Gang,
I think on average, the Savannah River has some of the biggest shellcrackers in the south, next to Santee Cooper. Look at the link (I guess it is ok to post). I fish the lake above this area, the fish are slightly smaller (still good tho) but there are more numbers.

More Shell's Down!! - Georgia Outdoor News Forum

http://forum.gon.com/showthread.php?...t=shellcracker
10-18-2009, 12:59 AM
Jr Branham

2 Attachment(s)

more

Here are some I caught in the lake above where Kelly caught his. Smaller fish, but higher numbers.
10-18-2009, 07:52 AM
chaunc

Here's some we got this spring.
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...IMG_0008-3.jpg

Didn't weigh this one but man was she heavy.
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...n/kylake09.jpg

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...MG_0003-18.jpg
10-18-2009, 09:00 AM
shipahoy41

Quote:

Originally Posted by exfactor

This is my big red ear 4 Ca. It was 4#1 oz, and 16 inches.
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...P4180002_1.jpg

Sweet! Nice catch!
10-18-2009, 09:04 AM
"G"

WOW! nice fish. The state record red ear for Mississippi is 3.33 lbs.
10-18-2009, 07:10 PM
redearhoosier

I've seen those redears of Kelly Nobles posted on another site that I'm a member of, and to be honest, they don't really look like shellcracker to me. Now Exfactor's redear is a true, hawg shellcracker. That's the best mount of a panfish I've ever seen too. The Nobles redear just seem VERY dark and they don't have the looks of the one in this thread. Actually there is one good looking ear he's got and I think it's the one that's 2.7lbs.
10-18-2009, 11:27 PM
Jr Branham

redearhoosier,
I have fished that area that Kelly catches those fish.He is fishing in the river, I mainly fish the lake above his spots. I have caught shellcrackers that looked almost black with only a small patch of red on their lobe. I have also caught fish real deep that were pale white hardly no coloration at all. I don't think they are hybrids, what do you think they are if not shellcracker?
Jr. B
10-19-2009, 09:26 AM
JSC

Merritt's Mill Pond Shellcrackers

This maybe more than you wanted to know but a young man who was working after school with one of my coustomers in Marianna, FL caught this monster .. There was one larger later but was an ilegal catch .. guy from Pensacola snatched hooked it .... I think they prosocuted him when everything was finalized. For some interesting reading "Google" Merritt's Mill Pond.
=========================================
Merritt's Mill Pond
This is a unique 202-acre spring-fed impoundment with crystal clear waters near the city limits of Marianna. The lake is accessible off US 90 in Marianna by taking SR 71 north 1.1 miles to SR 164 for 1.8 miles and then south on Hunter Fish Camp Rd. to the ramp. Merritt's Mill Pond is renowned for its trophy redear (shellcracker) fishing. The pond currently holds the State record for redear at 4.86 pounds and until recently held the world record fish. Fishing far from your boat, on cloudy or rainy days or when there is a ripple on the water may produce the best results when fishing in this clear water pond. Due to an extended drawdown in 1994-1996 for dam repairs, bluegill and redear populations suffered, however, largemouth bass populations capitalized on the abundance of food in the pond.
Special Regulation: Redear sunfish (shellcracker) daily bag limit: 10.
Redear sunfish less than 10 inches in total length must be released immediately.

*Bluegill, redear (shellcracker) and spotted sunfish (stumpknocker) fishing should be good. Recent FWC surveys suggest an excellent population of stumpknockers throughout the mill pond. Take a stealthy approach in the clear water. Fish crickets or worms around the eel grass beds for the best success. As for shellcracker, remember the minimum length limit is 10 inches with the bag limit of 10 shellcracker per person in the mill pond.
=================================
The 202-acre millpond has produced seven state record and two world record redear sunfish. Merritt’s Millpond is unique, having incredibly clear and hard water, which supports a large population of snails, a favorite treat for redear sunfish, among numerous other fish. Sport fishing is a lucrative business in Jackson County.
In the late 1800s, the Blue Springs were impounded in order to build and operate a grist mill. The mill created a reservoir—the seven-kilometer-long Merrit’s Millpond. At one time, Florida Public Utilities powered a small electric generated plant by harvested the energy of the water in the area, where the millpond dam is now located.

(the Above was from FL State Web Site and the city of Marianna Web site)

JSC
:)
10-19-2009, 01:25 PM
redearhoosier

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jr Branham

redearhoosier,
I have fished that area that Kelly catches those fish.He is fishing in the river, I mainly fish the lake above his spots. I have caught shellcrackers that looked almost black with only a small patch of red on their lobe. I have also caught fish real deep that were pale white hardly no coloration at all. I don't think they are hybrids, what do you think they are if not shellcracker?
Jr. B

I would think they're a hybrid, they look nothing like the redear in this thread. Exfactor's redear is a traditional looking cracker, with the cream colored belly, greenish/bronze body and traditional red ear flap. Now a couple of Noble's pictures clearly show big traditional looking, huge redear. But the real dark colord fish could be hybrid or maybe I'm wrong?
10-19-2009, 04:47 PM
mactheaxe

i never knew shellcrackers got that big. i might have to do a little fishin in my lake for em. i know where to catch em, now im gonna try to target em. interesting thread. and NICE fish mount by the way.
10-20-2009, 09:24 AM
JSC

Black Blotched

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jr Branham

redearhoosier,
I have fished that area that Kelly catches those fish.He is fishing in the river, I mainly fish the lake above his spots. I have caught shellcrackers that looked almost black with only a small patch of red on their lobe. I have also caught fish real deep that were pale white hardly no coloration at all. I don't think they are hybrids, what do you think they are if not shellcracker?
Jr. B

I really do not think they ar Hybrids .. Have seen a lot of what I call the "Black Blotched" are mostly on big fish and are pond fish ..

My 2 cents

JSC
:)
10-20-2009, 02:06 PM
SweetHomeAlabama

1 Attachment(s)

Here are 27 from 2007. Weighed 27 pounds. The 2 or 3 biggest weighed in at 1.5 lbs. Most of the rest are 1 - 1.25 lbs.
10-21-2009, 03:40 AM
redear

the colors on a redear can vary alot, I have seen real dark ones too, and every shade in between. sometimes the throat area is a mustard yellow, sometimes it'slighter in color.
10-21-2009, 03:05 PM
Festus_Haggen

The TN state record is 3 pounds and six ounces caught from a private pond in 1979. I've caught my best shellcrackers out of ponds, two in particular. However one pond was drained to build an industrial park, and the other was later posted because of idiots leaving the gate open and trashing it up. I caught many of mine on popping bugs and trout flies. Also have had good luck fishing redworms or nightcrawlers on the bottom. I've noticed shellcrackers don't seem to want live minnows very often. I guess the biggest I ever caught was around 11" but it wasn't weighed.
10-22-2009, 08:05 PM
Psmith

"How big are your BIG redears? "

It depends on how much I had to drink the night before
10-24-2009, 07:58 AM
blufloyd

My crocs are right at 13 inches. I catch redear in Chicago area pits that are longer.
Beadhead woolies in black and purple. You can watch the fish angle down and slurp it up. Biggest this year was popping dragon flies off a flower in middle of nowhere on popper. They are real aggravating watching them in gin clear water out of the yak.
They all get released.
10-24-2009, 10:51 AM
redearhoosier

blufloyd,
I'd have to see a picture to believe you're catching redear that big that far North. I'd don't doubt you're catching them around 10 inches, but a 13 inch redear is 1.5lbs and up, depending on his girth.