Thread: Is this a hybrid Crappie Bluegill?

I am having a hard time deciding but, l'm sure if I stare long enough it will come to me.

shellcracker scientific name: aintsheacutie

LOOKS LIKE ROCK BASS MIX TO Me!!!!

Don't matter, would sure like to get into a mess that size on a light Flyrod.

They are shellcrackers. Beautiful young lady though, a lot prettier than my fishin partner, sorry GDG.

Here is one I caught in Virginia. Most have yellow in the belly and no red around the ear spot. I thought it was a Shellcracker and the experts here confirmed it.



...Bill

I have caught several shellcrackers that have been almost jet black like a male crappie in tux. The water clarity plays a big role in how they look. The females have a yellowish ear and the males are brighter orange to red. They are really a neat fish and very adaptable. For example, I stocked about a dozen crackers between 1 lb and just over 2 lbs in a private pond my grandfather fishes with his fly rod. He called one day this summer saying he caught the biggest bluegill of his life to later realize it was a big shellcracker that had changed colors to the point of being almost unidentifiable. I originally caught those fish in 12-14 fow. In the pond, he caught that fish with his fly rod on bream popping bug on the surface. Really neat how they adapt. They are tough fish.

Slab, we call em Red Ear in IL.