... 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 :p ... 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 :D
... cp