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Alright all of you shellcracker gurus. Tell me what ya think of this rig. 1/64 oz head, crawfish creature body, tipped with a mealworm, under a thill mini-shy bite float. Also is it best to hook the meal worms in the tail end, head, or middle? Gonna try the crackers first and later on the gills. Attachment 337127
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Lose the float.Quote:
Originally Posted by feeshrman
You might try floating that in the sink or something. I tried the mini and it didn’t work well for me. Maybe I had a 1/32 and not a 1/64. Hope it works for you.
Ok, thanks. I can do that very easily. Do you think they are too spooky for a float? The beds I found last year are in 4 ft of water.Quote:
Originally Posted by deathb4disco
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I just don't think the float's necessary. I use the same bait in shallow water a lot -- but no float. The fish will still hammer it.Quote:
Originally Posted by feeshrman
i have tried mealworms several times without much success ! My best go to bait for crackers are squirrel tail jigs tipped with 1/2” or less red worm fished on the bottom ! Some folks catch a lot on bison colored trout magnet but it’s not my best bait! I have learned that shell cracker are very easily spooked!
Do you slow retrieve it ?Quote:
Originally Posted by Slabprowler
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Yes if not hit on the way down or after it touches bottom and sets 15-20 sec I’ll move it just a tad then stop and repeat !
How do you cast something that light?Quote:
Originally Posted by Slabprowler
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I personally think people overcomplicate shellcracker rigs. The best and simplest rig is to tie on a number 4 long shank cricket hook, thread a redworm on and attach a split shot about 12 inches above the hook. The other method is to attach a slip cork setup only do not use a bobber stopper. When redear fishing, you want the bait on bottom and this guarantees the bait finds the bottom EVERY time.
Light line helps a lot.Quote:
Originally Posted by tcounty
Best luck Ive had is bitsy minnows or gold blade beetle spins.
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Light line and....for me...a Trout Magnet. I do pretty well with it. Your rig will certainly work but Id do as Disco says....ditch the float.
Regards
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I use a 1/64 jig on a 12 inch leader on a Carolina rig. I put the weight on first , then a bead, followed by a rubber bead stop . This is for stationary casting/fishing . I worm the meal worm on till the bend of the hook so only a half or less of the worm is out of the hook . When the fish takes the bait he feels nothing . Everyone on this site knows my go to not using live bait is a 1/32 road runner head with a "slider " 1 inch solid black . Colorado blade is better than willow since you get more lift and can fish it slower . jmo . I have tipped the slider but if they do not want the slider non baited ,that is when I go to throw and wait (Carolina set up ) . Thirdly I will float a small jig with a meal worm " but" it will be on a clear bubble float .If they are bedding a 4 weight fly rod with a sinking black gnat is the weapon of choice . Will bring all these set ups when we hit kemper county lake . Waiting on the call . lol Have war eagle / will travel .To answer your question ? yes your set up will work . Just like the minnow rigs with crappie . The minnow is the ticket so will be the meal worm or wax worm .Never underestimate a quill on a long 12 ft pole to place a worm on a plain hook with no weight to those in your clear water lake on 4 lb. fluorocarbon line . When I was a kid we used a pine cone to tie on the line as a float(no weight required ) on a top of the line 202 Zebco using wasp lava for bait . Red neck from Monroe county can catch a bream !
You know the area I fish. This next weekend is the new moon. Do you think they will be bedding by then?Quote:
Originally Posted by eagle 1
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If you are waiting for bedding fish - you are missing out on some great fishing now. Go deeper and look for pre-spawn fish. Out here the RE prefer the baits bouncing off the bottom.... European & African crawlers make some good RE bait.
I know Im missing some good fishing but I cant quit catching crappie. My prime crappie waters and RE lake are different bodies of water. So Im gonna have to take a day and commitQuote:
Originally Posted by LedHed
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You used a pine cone? Now that's what i call creative..just reading that statement stopped me in my tracks. Neat!
I have tried various plastics and creature jigs with limited success. I always have my success using fat redworms with lots of wiggle. I have caught them on baby nightcrawlers but not consistently like redworms.
This ^^^^^^Quote:
Originally Posted by LedHed
Back about 100 years ago, I was a dedicated Bluegill fisherman. I'd occasionally find some Shell Crackers and target them. Two things worked well for me then. One was using a porcupine quill for a float. I'd always set it so that my weight was on the bottom. A tiny split shot. I'd set the rubber band keeper about 1/3 the way up the quill from the eye in the bottom of the quill. If the light end of that quill "ticked" I'd set the hook. My favorite was was fishing w/o a float. I'd use a 1/16 ounce bullet weight. I'd tie the smallest swivel a foot above my hook that I could find. Bullet weight on the line above the swivel. Basically a Carolina bass rig, downsized. I'd use a #8 hook with a night crawler or wiggler on it. The little swivel had little resistance. I'd let the fish take the bait then set the hook after I was sure I had them. That worked really well.
Sounds similar to the lift method:Quote:
Originally Posted by FurFlyin
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcvGTMzO0sc
The rigging is similar but my float would be laying down at an angle. The tip would be no more than maybe an inch off the water. Think of the quill, in my set up like a saw horse. The tip could come up, or down, depending on what the fish did. It didn't matter which way it moved. If it moved, I set the hook.
Yep, you can get about 20-30 before changing cones . We were not poor but financially challenged . :biggrin Would not change anything about my childhood . Got me where I am today .Quote:
Originally Posted by redearhoosier
We didn't have a Walmart or BPS we could run to either back then, so us po country folks did whatever it took to get the job done.:ThumbsUp:cool:Quote:
Originally Posted by eagle 1
welders mask?
i second the lose the float.Quote:
Originally Posted by deathb4disco
I fine tuned porcupine quill will be hard to beat.
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If you are trying to find Beds of Shellcrackers what do you look for to locate their Bedding Area ??? Some will be Mixed in with Bluegills but not all
I like to be able to see gravel on the bank with a fairly steep slope. I also fish the deeper part of coves where muscles are in the shallows. And if there is wood in 8-10 fow with gravel on the bank and muscles in the shallows with a fairly steep bank you better hang onQuote:
Originally Posted by Fish on Line
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Here in Eastern NC, look for them to bed in or around Cypress Knees. We generally just fish with red worms, and a cork is optional. If we're fishing a bonnet bed, we'll use a heavy cork and split shot to get past the bonnets.
You just described one of my favorite locations to catch them.Quote:
Originally Posted by catchNgrease
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Crazy thing. This year they were in 2 fow wrapped in grass. Monsters this year.
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Not sure where yall are from but redear arent that smart. You can buy a bag of black beetles that go on a beetle spin. The ones without the split tail. Run a small hook through it put a spilt shot about 8 in above it NO bobber cast it let it sink and they will slam it like a freight train. Thats here in Arkansas. Yall might have smarter fish where your from but anywhere around here it works 100% of the time. I put fish buddies that bring worms or crickets with a little piece of black plastic. I dont know why but they cannot stand it.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Luckyloser
With my little ul setup, I could make a fair cast with that plastic body. Great idea.