Kissimmee "Shellcrackers"

This happened last Saturday March 5th,

Lake Kissimmee 34,880 acres of water....................

We traveled 9 mi into the lake to a "secret honeyhole i knew of" so as
Roger552002 could get the feel of "Shellcrackers" not a boat was seen
on the lake, 8:15am, wind about 11 mph out of East, pretty good size
swells on water.
This is what came into view at the "honeyhole"

Ten boats so close together that they were almost fishing in each others live wells.

We check 9 other places in the lake i have marked over the years
for "Shellcrackers" and not a one was take, not even a boat was seen
temp was 68 degrees. Word had been put out on Monday before Sat
that someone had taken 137 in the lake. - "Game on"....

that sucks

They are taking all the honey out of your hole. That bites big time.

I wonder what time you'd have to be there to be the first on the hole. I've seen it almost that bad on the Stickmarsh - something about those shellcrackers!

Around Kissimmee when "shellcrackers" are on..........the amount of boats looking and
fishing for them is completely "unreal" Last year in late March, they were hitting on
Gobler's Ridge and i swear we were there at 6:15am, had to use a light & gps to find way
due to fog...When we arrived at supposedly spot there must have been close to 30 boats
some were actually tied up to others so they didn't drift out of their spot...............It
was almost insane.............

What size hooks do you "shellcracker" fishmen use?

EJL

I always tell everybody where my secret spots are, just to be friendly and all that ........

must generally i use # 4 size hook, trust me they can get the mouths open large
enough to engulf the bait...............I have gone down to a #6 light wire hook.

tie directly to 6 - 8 lb line, again i use flouracarbon "Vanish" but mono works just
as good.............

use a slip bobber and about # 4 - or # 5 split slot about 4" above hook, make sue the
line will slip easly and quickly through the slip bobber.

when in the pads, drop line all way to bottom, so as bobber will lay over, not stand
and you can see about 2" of line past end of bobber to your bobber stop...
watch that 2" of dead line, when it moves, set the hook and "game on"

Quote:

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Originally Posted by fishin813

must generally i use # 4 size hook, trust me they can get the mouths open large
enough to engulf the bait...............I have gone down to a #6 light wire hook.

tie directly to 6 - 8 lb line, again i use flouracarbon "Vanish" but mono works just
as good.............

use a slip bobber and about # 4 - or # 5 split slot about 4" above hook, make sue the
line will slip easly and quickly through the slip bobber.

when in the pads, drop line all way to bottom, so as bobber will lay over, not stand
and you can see about 2" of line past end of bobber to your bobber stop...
watch that 2" of dead line, when it moves, set the hook and "game on"

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That puts the bait right on the bottom, what are you using for bait?

Red worms...don't thread them on..........hook them through their ring and back
through second time.........

Let worm hang out............you got to find them before you can catch them........
this is good r & d method...............

water has to be in the 70's, 3 -4 days before the full moon and sometimes 3 -4 days
after the full moon........... 3 1/2 - 5ft water with good green pads...............

watch for the shellcrackers "bumbing the pads" - they are out to knock bugs into
water off pads...