We have caught several (20-25) this year between 11" and 14". 14" is HUGE here in Missouri. I'm curious just how big is BIG in you neck of the woods. Our state record 2lbs. 7oz. and I'm fairly sure several of our biggest this year have been over 2#.
I am ignorant on redear as we catch 30-50 'gills and maybe 3 redear on an average day. I really need to shift to targeting redear as a local city lake is where ALL the redears have come from and there is NOBODY fishing this lake anymore. It's just so easy to smack the 'gills we never try to learn redear fishing. I know they feed on bottom mostly but this lake is extremely mossy and makes fishing a worm on bottom frustrating as hell let alone non-productive!
Any tips for targeting the redears would be appreciated.
... our state record Redear is 3lb 1oz ... caught from a private pond in 1982. I've never seen one (in the flesh) that was over 3/4 pound ... but, our newest lake (about 7yrs old) gave up one around two pounds, a few years ago. I only got to see a pic of it, though. It's given up some 1lb+ Redear, since ... but, being as it's billed as a Trophy Bass Lake, not many pics of it's other species are posted.
I've caught them by using the traditional slip float/hook/sinker/worm setup ... fishing just off the bottom. I've also used a slip sinker/hook/worm setup, with a decent degree of productivity. And just to clarify ... what I mean by "worm", is actually a pinched off piece of nightcrawler & not a red wiggler. I have noticed that the Redear seem to prefer the red (head) end of the nightcrawler .. rather than the white (tail) end pieces. The Bluegill, on the other hand, don't care what part of the crawler you use
WOW, WOW is all I can say about that cracker, you're one lucky angler. As you can tell by my handle, I'm a redear nut. That's literally all I fish for, I fish three straight lines on bottom.
The Indiana record is 3lb 10oz I believe, which is just a BRUTE, but it's been the record since the 70's I believe. I do know people catch a few two pounders around my neck of the woods every year. A big redear for me, is anything over 101/2 inches long. There's a farm pond we fished as kids and it would produce lots of of 12inch+ crackers, many of them about a pound and a half in size. Redear are a very elusive fish and a true trophy fish IMO.
they get big where I fish, but 1 lb. 12 oz. is about my biggest. as far as fishing your lake, with gunk on the bottom. you could use bobbers up shallow, and slip corks in deeper water, just remember, you want to be fairly close to the bottom. If you have caught some in the 2 pound range, I would say keep doing what you are doing, but if the weeds are getting to you, try a dropshot type rig, or use a floating jighead by northern bait co. I would say try the floating jighead, as someone I know has a cousin in florida, that uses them for redears. I saw one and it had at least a size 4 hook, maybe a size 2, and the head was painted yellow, orange, white, I think. put red wigglers on that thing or small crawlers.
Gang,
I think on average, the Savannah River has some of the biggest shellcrackers in the south, next to Santee Cooper. Look at the link (I guess it is ok to post). I fish the lake above this area, the fish are slightly smaller (still good tho) but there are more numbers.
How big are your BIG redears?
Here in KY ...
... but, our newest lake (about 7yrs old) gave up one around two pounds, a few years ago. I only got to see a pic of it, though. It's given up some 1lb+ Redear, since ... but, being as it's billed as a Trophy Bass Lake, not many pics of it's other species are posted.
& not a red wiggler. I have noticed that the Redear seem to prefer the red (head) end of the nightcrawler .. rather than the white (tail) end pieces. The Bluegill, on the other hand, don't care what part of the crawler you use 
RESPECT THE LAND AS WELL AS THE GAME YOU HUNT!
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