Also lake beshear was good to me last time i fished it in the fall few years back we got drawed for the pennyrile quota hunt an decided to go down a day early an do some fishing. It is always interesting to experience a shell cracker bream fishing trip that keeps you on your toes with something new. When the lake level is stable fishing is good, water rising fishing is great. From largemouth bass to crappie, kentucky lake is a favorite fishing spot. Lick creek has a road bed running across the bay toward the back end that is excellent. Aj jolly lake 175 acres campbell county locationspecies. Dont forget, you can view 17 years worth of archived fishing reports as well. Speaking of shell crackers, this can be some of the greatest fishing there is.
The redear belong in the sunfish family, but feed along the bottom for snails and small clams, hence the name shell crackers. I fish lake barkley here in western kentucky, it produces some large redear every spring. These big mean pan fish do tend to spawn slightly deeper than the regular blue gills. Welcome to, featuring regularly updated kentucky lake fishing reports as well as lake barkley fishing reports. As the winter comes to a close and the days start getting longer, most anglers start getting the itch for the coming fishing season. Kentucky lake shell crackers last two years on the shell crackers i have done good with a 116 oz. Theres another two or three weeks of prime spawning time too.
Catching shellcrackers is hit or miss hartsville vidette. If you are seeing gills you are too late for the majority of the big crackers. I went fishing for shellcracker at clarks hill the week after easter last year. Chad joins jim doom of between the rivers guide service in search of redear. When the water temperature reaches about 70 degrees, the next full moon phase will be when the largest bluegill and redear sunfish commonly known in the south as shellcrackers will begin their spawn. Panfish are the focus on this weeks show as guesthost crispin powley probes spawning beds for kentucky lakes bluegill and shellcrackers. Not certain if i missed it or they have not spawned yet. Even when hooked theyre strong enough to ruin your day by popping the line or breaking the hook. Mark menendez rates kentucky lake as a fantastic yearround bass fishery. Tennessee, longtime waterfowl and fishing guide on kentucky lake. Crappie fishing, bluegill, shellcracker and crappie. Anytime the fishing gets tough, they no doubt have to listen to a thousand conspiracy theories of carp eating bass, the grass all being sprayed and. During this time, anglers should use natural baits, along with small spinners and flies. Find some of these and get into fish like never before.
Our report contributors and their latest reports are below. While these arent havasu fish, they are like pulling in a frisbee with fins at that size. Learn about redear and their habitats on kentucky lake and lake barkley. Dale hollow bluegillshell crackers discussion in fishing started by model12boy, apr 25, 2019. Fishing kentucky lake with mark menendez the ultimate. By writing fishing reports, he informs the public about the most up to date fishing information, tips, and events. Theres another two or three weeks of prime spawning time too so grab a friend and head on out. Here, the shell crackers are found close to the edges, in shallow water generaly less than 4, during the bedding time, which here, runs from the full moon in march, thru june. The best shell cracker fishing i can remember was along the rip rap at water front. Redears rarely approach the surface to take flies or other artificial top baits. A few years ago, fishing buddy bob sherborne and i found some shellcracker beds in leatherwood cove on kentucky lake.
The fish species identification must be verified in person by a kentucky department of fish and wildlife resources fishery biologist or the wolf. For the spawning beds here you will not be able to see them due to the darker water, but this is. Although we caught only a few fish on that trip since it was too early, it did bring back memories of how much fun bream fishing can be. Catching bluegill and shellcracker on kentuckhy lake. I spend a lot of my lunch breaks fishing a small storm drain adjacent to a wooden dock behind my house, but the usual bass and bluegill targets took a backseat to the unexpected appearance of bedding shellcracker. Fishing for bluegill and shellcracker in the peak of the spawn is one of them. They are typically found on sandy or shell covered areas of ponds and lakes, and are often located near grasses. Hector brito caught this worldrecord redear sunfish at lake havasu in 2014.
Whether you are heading out for a brisk february afternoon of fishing for crappie and black bass or enjoying a latesummer evening of bluegill fishing, our kentucky lake fishing reports give you what you need to know. Bass fishing is a winner from the first mild days of spring well into late autumn. There are many places along kentucky lakes backwater where you and your family can fish. The rich cumberland river impoundment has made this lake a destination for anglers near and far. Barkleykentucky lake shell crackers and bluegill discussion in fishing reports out of state started by smallieking, jan 29, 2017. With an average depth of only 9 feet, kentucky lake is a mecca for bass anglers who love to fish shallow.
We went back the next week to the same spot and they were gone. Those inclined might find great catches even in the winter. We usually start fishing for them the first week or two. Dale hollow bluegillshell crackers kentucky hunting. To book a day of bream fishing with bob latendresse, call 731 2200582.
Unlike many fish, the bluegill will take your offering while they are in their nesting cycle. In my pursuit of trying to target the elusive redear sunfish shellcracker, i have found the process a bit daunting. If you chose, you can hire one of the many guides to direct you to a hot spot or at least tell you what is working for them. We dipnet these fish because it breaks your heart when trying to flip one into the boat and it comes unbuttoned. Kenny is the bass fishing coach for bethel university and the executive vice president of the american collegiate anglers scholarship team trail college bass trail. Saturday i found where some shellcrackers are starting to bed in a lake close by the house. Florida shellcracker fishing spawning bluegills mwoutdoors. A few of the best lakes for catching trophy bass in spring are lake barkley, kentucky lake and lake. The fish where in 6 8 feet and several yards from the rock. You can follow any responses to this entry through the rss 2.
Catching bluegill and shellcracker on kentuckhy lake paris landing. Redear spend a great deal of time offshore in open water, particularly in the winter. I do most of my fishing on lake okeechobee in south florida. Better for shell cracker, kentucky or barkley lakes. Naff fishing articles page naff home page naff message board shellcracker, the bully of the shallows by. Larry bell spends a few days each spring devoted to catching redears. Always abundant, bluegill and the related redear sunfish or shellcrackers in. Being a biologist on or around kentucky lake is undoubtedly a thankless job. The redear sunfish lepomis microlophus, also known as the shellcracker, georgia bream, cherry gill, chinquapin, improved bream, rouge ear sunfish and sun perch is a freshwater fish in the family centrarchidae and is native to the southeastern united states. Home forums nonhunting forums fishing kentucky lake shellcrackers discussion in fishing started by buckfever99, mar 19, 20. Fishing kentucky lake with mark menendez a seasonal approach to fishing kentucky year round for trophy bass. North florida offers a variety of opportunity to catch different species of freshwater fish. We both wanted to go after them with our fly rods aka buggy whoppers as acey wall, deceased use to call my fly rod. You can access steves previous fishing reports in our fishing report archives.
Bluegill, shellcracker bite is best on kentucky, barkley. Steve mccadams is an experienced fishing guide on kentucky lake. You can view these fish over on under the virginia state board. Shellcracker and bream fishing robert webster of hamlet, nc who has a camper at the lake tillery family campground, adjacent highway 2427, has been keeping a watch on the fishing conditions for shellcrackers and bream. Wondering what you all think is the better lake for catching those big plate size crackers, kentucky or barkley. Had a great time with guide jim doom from between the rivers guide service. They fight better than most other freshwater species.
They are captured with natural bait, such as earthworms and grubs. Now is the time to strike a trot to the lake and wet a hook for these babies. The kdfwr lakes are open from dawn until dusk, are fully stocked, and you may fish free of charge with a valid kentucky fishing license. The owner of this website is a participant in the amazon services llc associates program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon properties including, but not limited to,,, or. Licenses may be purchased at the salato center during normal center hours. Bream is a local term throughout the southeast that includes a variety of deepbodied panfish belonging to the sunfish family. The redear is similar in shape to the bluegill, but lacks the dark spot at the base of. The placement of secret brush piles by private parties is a kentucky lake tradition. Largemouth in the 8pound range help make kentucky lake one of the nations top bass waters. Thinking about taking a long weekend to go after gills and redears at one of the two. Fishing crickets about a foot below a bobber, we caught over 100 one morning.
Shell cracker bream fishing trip florida fishing north. Whats going on with the fishing on kentucky lake updated. If you have brushpiles or trees marked anywhere on the main lake you shouldnt have any problems catching the crappie. Ultralight shellcrackers rick bramwell rambling angler outdoors. Steves reports cover kentucky lake from paris landing to new johnsonville. The 160,309acre lake is one of the largest impoundments. Since it is a popular sport fish, it has been introduced to bodies of water all over north america. Three lakes that seem to be super hot right now are western branch in virginia, and barkley lakekentucky lake down at lbl. They find them, and catch over 100 bluegill in the process. Im fixing on driving down the road to barkley lakekentucky lake for some serious cracker action. Winter mid anglers can fish, with either a kentucky or tennessee fishing license, from eggners ferry bridge u. For the most part, the largemouth spawn is over and these fish are transitioning into a post spawn pattern. Here youll discover hardfighting smallmouth bass kentucky is home to the world record smallmouth, striped bass, blue catfish, shellcrackers, muskellunge, crappie and more. The florida crappie, speckled perch or speck as they are called throughout the south is the most sought after panfish on.
Lick creek and hopson creek for bluegill and shell crackers. Reports from kentucky and barkley lakes this week indicate that bluegill and shellcrackers are on the beds, and the fishing action is hot. Bob of anglers resort in dunnellon reports bass fishing on lake rousseau has been fair for those using wild shiners. Start exploring all that kentucky has to offer on this page, with links to lake, river and stream information that you need to have a great day on the water. Florida has more than 7,700 named lakes and ponds and over 10,000 miles of streams and rivers, all brimming with bream. Shellcracker fishing tips sheelcracker fishing florida. They are caught most easily in early spring when they are concentrated on spawning beds. From video fishing tips to whats currently happening on kentucky lake and lake barkley, our fishing reports provide the most uptodate information from professional anglers across the lakes. A member of the national fresh water fishing hall of fame and legends of the outdoors, steve mccadams is a professional guide and outdoor writer from paris, tenn.
I fished the creeksbays around canton, east side of barkley, lick creek and hopson creek for bluegill and shell crackers. For the last seven years, lake tarpon has consistently produced large shellcrackers year round. We caught t crappie in a couple of days bass fishing on rattlebaits. Bluegill, shellcrackers and crappie fishing, not only fun to catch but these little guys are second to none in the frying pan. The article focuses on several fishing locations for shellcracker or redear sunfish in the u. He has lived, fished, and hunted on and around kentucky lake for more than 40 years. According to nick nicholas, assistant chief of fisheries for alabama, shellcrackers thrive in lake guntersville due to its large amount of aquatic vegetation.
My 5 yr old son and i went back yesterday to try thembut we only caught one. Bluegill, shellcrackers are plentiful the leaf chronicle. In kentucky, its possible to catch three species of trout then trailer your boat a short distance to tie into some largemouth bass, walleye and spotted bass. After more than three decades of guiding clients from all over the u. Western branch has recently produced two crackers that im aware of that were 14inches apiece and 2. Barkleykentucky lake shell crackers and bluegill ohio. This 4,500acre lake is home to plenty of shell beds, jeff willitzer, biologist for the southwest region of the fl orida fish and wildlife conservation commission in wakeland, florida, explains. Kenny is now a premier guide for bass, crappie, bluegill, shell crackers, and catfish.
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