Bluegill report 5-3-15

[The Bassman]

Went to one of the smaller lakes today and killed them. If you like perch jerking you should get out now. Found several clusters of beds today. Great opportunity to take a kid in the next week or two it should be lots of action. Bobber and a cricket 2-5 ft deep. Back to bass fishing tomorrow.

[The Bassman]

Thought I would try to put a couple of pictures in.

[Quillback]

The lakes do provide some great pan fishing. Nice bluegill and redear!

[Ham]

Now you're starting something posting pictures of Redear.

[The Bassman]

Love the Redear. Unfortunately that was the only one we caught. It was a nice one though. Does anyone have any tips to better target the elusive shell cracker?

[Quillback]

I can only catch them early in the spring, my best tactic for redear, and it should be noted that it does not work all the time for me, is to fish in the coves, 6-10 feet of water, seems they like muddy bottoms, and fish a redworm behind a split shot. No bobber, fish it on the bottom, and move it around slowly.

Hook the redworm one time through the middle - don't wad it up on the hook.

I don't claim to be a redear expert, but every once in a while I can stumble across them.

[Ham]

The redear "specialist" I knew always looked for areas they spawn in. Once those areas are found (by chance usually), they will be Redear spots forever. It is a bottom composition thing. I agree that spring is normally the deal and that bottom fishing verses bobber fishing is a better tactic, but I've had good luck in the Fall as well.

[Quillback]

Here's a redear article:

http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2013/jun/09/feisty-sunfish-found-many-arkansas-waters-tl/?f=trilakes