I know that the crappie fishing isn't even over, but I have a yearning for some crackers and gills. I haven't fished for them this early, so what should I do. Anyone want to give a guy some advice?
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I know that the crappie fishing isn't even over, but I have a yearning for some crackers and gills. I haven't fished for them this early, so what should I do. Anyone want to give a guy some advice?
Not real sure myself, but I am going to try and figure it out in the morning. I will let you know if I have any luck.
Great, I hope you do well. I know that you should use a hook and sinker, drag bottom with a redworm, but I'm just not sure what areas to locate them during this time of year.Quote:
Originally Posted by acgriggs
fished cane creek by the boat sheds last week...caught 6 real nice ones and a lot of small blue gills that were thrown back....had one large catfish when last seen was heading to paris landing with my outfit.....
... don'tcha hate it when that happens :(Quote:
Originally Posted by akmoose40
I've lost a couple of outfits to Hybrid Stripers, but none to Catfish ... yet. (of course, now ... they'd have to jerk the rod outta my hand :eek: 'cause I mostly use one rod at a time :p )
... cp :cool:
layed the rod down to have a cup of coffee and a sandwich....phttttt all was gone....works like that more often than not....
Well didn't have much luck with the gills and crackers this morning. I caught a few gills but none were big enough to keep. My guess is they aren't real shallow yet. I fished stake beds and gravel banks mostly. Also fished a few grassy areas that held a lot of nice crackers last year. Lost one nice fish. Not real sure what it was(didn't get a good look at), but I think it was a big cracker:D Gonna try and go again tomorrow so I will post a report if I get out.
Thanks for the report. I will try to get out there this weekend if the weather breaks long enough. I'm just glad I got the garden out last weekend. If I can get a turkey Saturday morning, I can concentrate of fishing again.Quote:
Originally Posted by acgriggs
Don't give up on them as the gills are shallow now. I mainly bass fished last weekend... by the way they are really biting in the shallows if you like to catch them, but dad and I checked 2 spots the gills were bedded up last year and had at least 100 nice ones (averaged around 10 or 11 oz. each w/ no monsters) and 1 redear in 1 1/2 hours and could have caught many more. I looked at the area we were catching them in w/ my side imaging unit when we were done fishing and there were NO beds there yet, but they must be getting ready to start bedding because they were biting nearly every cast. I'll be stocking my freezer w/ fillets this weekend and expect there will be several on the beds w/ the following weekend being the best around full moon. Keep after them and you'll get them. Almost forgot....I also checked an area out that I have wore the redear out for the past 5 years and there wasn't a single bed there yet as of Sunday, but I'll bet they are there by this weekend. Also, everything I read says to fish w/ red worms on bottom for the redear and this works well, but I've had much better luck w/ a little black jig w/ white legs tipped w/ a wax worm. If they are bedded and biting well I don't even tip the jig. Good luck.....Quote:
Originally Posted by acgriggs
I was using a black jig with pink legs today. i normally use black with chartruese, but the bait shop was all out. If past patterens hold true for me, Tuesday May 5th will be great. This is my birthday and the last three years I have caught at least 50 nice gills and crackers in just a few hours on my bday:D gonna keep tryin though. There were a few holes today that I could not fish, because some one else was on them. Next time out I am going to take a few tubes of crickets with me:)
Man just keep after them....you'll whack them any day on the same ole spots.
Are those Shelton or Phyllis jigs? I use the black jig and chart or orange legs.
Are these good cracker jigs? I know the family that makes them here in Greenville. They sell them at Uncle Lees but I have never tried them.Quote:
Originally Posted by mepperson
I like to use them.Quote:
Originally Posted by crappiecrazy
I am not sure what brand of jigs they are. I like them. Unlike crickets or worms, you can catch a lot fish on one jig.
When they are bedded up you will catch tons more on jigs. Not that they actually bite them any better than live bait, but you are catching fish instead of baiting a hook all of the time. I buy mine from a guy in Sikeston, MO that makes them, but several make very similar baits.
I bought me some of those shelton jigs at uncle lees the other day and Im looking forward to doing some redear fishing this year on ky and barkley.Ive never went down there for gills but cant wait!!;)
Does he have a web site?Quote:
Originally Posted by caseydrew
I don't think he has a website but the email address from a pack I have is [email protected] . I have some of the jigs they're talking about but haven't tried yet, a friend of mine told me they were the best he's tried for redears. Shelton also pours some very nice leadheads too. I bought mine at Fast Eddie's on 68.
Quote:
Originally Posted by pab1981
I know where that is....I bought mine at Benson's here in Murray.
I been catchin several big bull gills while spider riggin for crappie in 10 ft of water using minnows.
It takes a BIG gill to swallow a minnow on a #1 size hook.
I think I'm gonna drag some bettle spins around while I'm spider riggin.....the more poles I'm watchin...the better I like it.....some accuse me of seining....
Any of you guys got a pic of this jig? I am always looking for a good jig to add to my red ear box. I think I have a idea of what you are talking about but just want to make sure. I tired the address for Shelton lures but it keeps coming back undelivered. Any help about either jig would be greatly appreciated...Good Fishin' GF
Picture a tiny jig head with a plain grub body and 2-3 straight rubber legs sticking out of each side.Quote:
Originally Posted by GrouseFly
Quote:
Originally Posted by mepperson
I figured that was what they was referring too. Do you guys tip them with anything or fish them plain? Thanks for the info. Good Fishin'...GF
Actually we started out catching gills and crackers on them tipped with wax worms, then ended up not using anything because they bit just as well. We tried several things last year but ended up fishing that way until the white bass started biting and we left the gills and crackers for them.Quote:
Originally Posted by GrouseFly
Thanks for the info. and that is usually what we do too. I would rather catch red ears than eat when I am hungry when I am able to chase them. My dad was always a BIG RED EAR FAN and could catch them when no one else could. He was a TIGHT LINER and was GREAT at it...
GF,Quote:
Originally Posted by GrouseFly
Do you want me to send you a pack of the them? I think they come 5 to a pack for about 3.79. I will be glad to send you some.
CC
Hey CC,Quote:
Originally Posted by crappiecrazy
That sounds like a plan. PM me the info. and I will take care of the cost. Thanks and Good Fishin'....GF
Will do.Quote:
Originally Posted by GrouseFly
Couldn't really find the shellcracker this weekend, but we probably caught 800 - 900 bluegill, a few shellcracker, 3 cats, and 3 keeper crappie. Kept about 400 or so of the better gills....will post a pic if I get a chance before heading back to the lake to do some bass fishing. Don't think the gills were on the bed yet as they weren't in the usual bedding spots and I have no idea what this high water is going to do to my usual spots. Almost all the gills we caught were in 3.5' to 5' of water and were males.
Quote:
Originally Posted by caseydrew
That is a lot of gills! Hope you had some help at the cleanin station. Did you measure any of the gills? Just wondering what size they are running this year.
Thanks!
Does anyone have suggestions for bays with good redear habitat north of Eggner Ferry?
Thanks,
Craig
We had 3 electric knives going and it still took forever! Didn't measure any of the gills, but they are running pretty nice size this year. We only had 1 over a pound, but many 9 to 10 ounces. Not monsters, but still plenty big to eat:D!Quote:
Originally Posted by crappiecrazy
9 to 10 ounces is a "lotta gill" to me! Thanks for the report!Quote:
Originally Posted by caseydrew
If a gill is big enough to filet...it's a big ole goodun'...or a good ole bigun' ...
We always make a run to Reelfoot this time of the year but, 300-400 in a weekend is better than Reelfoot ever was to us. I have heard big stories in the last couple of years about the size and number of gills coming out of the lake. I have never fished Ky Lake for bluegill before but was planning on a trip in the next week or so. Any suggestions on areas of the lake to fish?
Quote:
Originally Posted by mallard309
Any of the large bays have plenty of places to fish, but my experience has been the farther south I go the more I catch. However, I catch larger fish the farther North I go. If you get on a couple good size beds it is not uncommon to catch those #'s if you have 3 people fishing fairly quick.
I've been to Reelfoot as well and while I didn't catch the #'s there the size was great! Reelfoot is a heck of a spot for big fills, but they still don't stack up to the KY Lake redear if you can get on them.