Thread: Shellcrackers and Coppernose in New Bern

The vast majority of crappie Charles and I catch during tournament season are returned safely to the water, so both of us need fish for the freezer. Charles likes crappie, but loves bluegill, so the first step was a trip to New Bern yesterday. It was full moon in mid-May, so that means massive bluegill bedding. Problem was, the bluegill did not cooperate. I'll make a second post with some screenshots asking for some help.

After going to two different locations up the Trent River with only five coppernose bluegill in the live well, we decided to head for the Neuse River. It was now about 1:00 and not even enough for a meal, let alone the freezer. We made one stop and not even a bite. We went to a second place that Charles had caught a few bluegill to give it a try. Put on a few crickets and no bites.

As we were using ultralights to cast crickets along the shoreline while anchored up, I saw activity a few feet down the bank from me. As many of you know, shorelines along waterways down east can have lots of vegetation. Bushes and limbs, along with bramble briers and grapevines hang out over the water. Fortunately, I had brought along a 14' extra heavy Southern Crappie rod. I took off the cricket and put on a worm about a foot under a small cork. I used my crappie rod very much like a fly rod in that I kept the line in my left hand. I could either flip in an open spot or push the cork up under the vegetation.

The picture below shows what we found--shellcrackers on the bed!! It was game on the next couple of hours and some of the best fishing fun I have had in a long time. Charles switched to a 12' Southern Crappie rod and he caught the biggest one of the day. The heavy duty rod allowed me to lift some of the shellcrackers over a log and other brush in the water. I need to call Ed and tell him to rename them Southern Cracker Rods! Ended up the day with 5 keeper coppernose bluegill from the morning and 25 shellcrackers in the mid-afternoon. Just wished we had found this place earlier in the day.

Going to be on Jordan later this week looking for some crappie for my freezer. Glad the lake is finally down to normal.

Way to hang with it until you found some results. Thanks for sharing.