Since we're bragging...

[MickThompson]

2 TARP shellcracker yesterday evening. Sorta frustrating- fish all evening then finally find a bed and catch a 20 minute flurry. Had this 12", an 11.25", 3 that went 10.5", and a 9" in about a 10 minute span. Broke one off and lost another. Still haven't found a bluegill bed with much size. Fishing 1/32 oz jigs I tie tipped with worm or powerbait.

 

[TNTreeman]

Good one.

 

[m_allison71]

Sounds like a good time.

 

[tellico4x4]

My shellcracker fishing has been hit or miss so far. However, the few I've caught has been really good ones. Have found lots of brim beds the past couple weeks. Starting to think the crackers bedded last month as water temps have been 72+ for 4-5 weeks on Pickwick. Gonna try something different tomorrow & concentrate on the islands in middle of TN River.

 

[Crappieaddict]

Very nice!

 

[thirdwilliam]

awesome

 

[redblood]

Awesome fish

 

[CATCHDAWG]

Nice!

 

[MickThompson]

My shellcracker fishing has been hit or miss so far. However, the few I've caught has been really good ones. Have found lots of brim beds the past couple weeks. Starting to think the crackers bedded last month as water temps have been 72+ for 4-5 weeks on Pickwick. Gonna try something different tomorrow & concentrate on the islands in middle of TN River.

Are you finding fish to be feeding on beds all day or really hit or miss? I fished through some areas that looked textbook for bedding and got nothing

 

[7mm08]

Excellent

 

[redblood]

Do they taste the same as a regular bluegill?

 

[TITANSFAN2104]

2 TARP shellcracker yesterday evening. Sorta frustrating- fish all evening then finally find a bed and catch a 20 minute flurry. Had this 12", an 11.25", 3 that went 10.5", and a 9" in about a 10 minute span. Broke one off and lost another. Still haven't found a bluegill bed with much size. Fishing 1/32 oz jigs I tie tipped with worm or powerbait.
View attachment 228629

Center Hill??

 

[tellico4x4]

Are you finding fish to be feeding on beds all day or really hit or miss? I fished through some areas that looked textbook for bedding and got nothing

Really hit or miss it seems. I didn't fish for them in April and have found lots of beds with side scan this month 5-6' deep, but few crackers. Maybe catch 2-3 or maybe nothing...lots of bluegills on bed though. Have 40-50 to clean this morning.
Did have a guy tell me that he caught 28 crackers Monday in 4' of water. He was fishing some islands that are next to the river channel, so deep water very nearby. Was gonna give them a try today, but forecast was 70% storms mid day. I decided to finish my garden instead, now storms pushed back to late afternoon

 

[MickThompson]

Really hit or miss it seems. I didn't fish for them in April and have found lots of beds with side scan this month 5-6' deep, but few crackers. Maybe catch 2-3 or maybe nothing...lots of bluegills on bed though. Have 40-50 to clean this morning.
Did have a guy tell me that he caught 28 crackers Monday in 4' of water. He was fishing some islands that are next to the river channel, so deep water very nearby. Was gonna give them a try today, but forecast was 70% storms mid day. I decided to finish my garden instead, now storms pushed back to late afternoon

I've got to learn how to use my side scan more efficiently specifically for finding beds

 

[MickThompson]

My shellcracker fishing has been hit or miss so far. However, the few I've caught has been really good ones. Have found lots of brim beds the past couple weeks. Starting to think the crackers bedded last month as water temps have been 72+ for 4-5 weeks on Pickwick. Gonna try something different tomorrow & concentrate on the islands in middle of TN River.

Only one of mine was female and the eggs weren't very mature. Hopefully they are just starting to move up

 

[tellico4x4]

I've got to learn how to use my side scan more efficiently specifically for finding beds

Makes a world of difference. Once you figure it out, they can't hide beds. I don't even fish a creek off river anymore if I don't see beds with it. Usually scan at 5 mph, so it doesn't take long

 

[tellico4x4]

Only one of mine was female and the eggs weren't very mature. Hopefully they are just starting to move up

Hope you are right

 

[TN Larry]

Makes a world of difference. Once you figure it out, they can't hide beds. I don't even fish a creek off river anymore if I don't see beds with it. Usually scan at 5 mph, so it doesn't take long

What side scan set up are you using to see the beds?

 

[tellico4x4]

Do they taste the same as a regular bluegill?

Yes, just lot bigger

 

[tellico4x4]

What side scan set up are you using to see the beds?

Garmin 93SV