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MickThompson

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 9, 2006
Messages
5,571
Location
Cookeville, Tennessee
2 TARP shellcracker yesterday evening. Sorta frustrating- fish all evening then finally find a bed and catch a 20 minute flurry. Had this 12", an 11.25", 3 that went 10.5", and a 9" in about a 10 minute span. Broke one off and lost another. Still haven't found a bluegill bed with much size. Fishing 1/32 oz jigs I tie tipped with worm or powerbait.
F5166216-69AA-4323-B9A6-6B8CADDE52D5.jpeg
 
My shellcracker fishing has been hit or miss so far. However, the few I've caught has been really good ones. Have found lots of brim beds the past couple weeks. Starting to think the crackers bedded last month as water temps have been 72+ for 4-5 weeks on Pickwick. Gonna try something different tomorrow & concentrate on the islands in middle of TN River.
 
tellico4x4 said:
My shellcracker fishing has been hit or miss so far. However, the few I've caught has been really good ones. Have found lots of brim beds the past couple weeks. Starting to think the crackers bedded last month as water temps have been 72+ for 4-5 weeks on Pickwick. Gonna try something different tomorrow & concentrate on the islands in middle of TN River.
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Are you finding fish to be feeding on beds all day or really hit or miss? I fished through some areas that looked textbook for bedding and got nothing
 
MickThompson said:
2 TARP shellcracker yesterday evening. Sorta frustrating- fish all evening then finally find a bed and catch a 20 minute flurry. Had this 12", an 11.25", 3 that went 10.5", and a 9" in about a 10 minute span. Broke one off and lost another. Still haven't found a bluegill bed with much size. Fishing 1/32 oz jigs I tie tipped with worm or powerbait.
View attachment 228629
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Center Hill??
 
MickThompson said:
Are you finding fish to be feeding on beds all day or really hit or miss? I fished through some areas that looked textbook for bedding and got nothing
Click to expand...
Really hit or miss it seems. I didn't fish for them in April and have found lots of beds with side scan this month 5-6' deep, but few crackers. Maybe catch 2-3 or maybe nothing...lots of bluegills on bed though. Have 40-50 to clean this morning.
Did have a guy tell me that he caught 28 crackers Monday in 4' of water. He was fishing some islands that are next to the river channel, so deep water very nearby. Was gonna give them a try today, but forecast was 70% storms mid day. I decided to finish my garden instead, now storms pushed back to late afternoon 😡
 
tellico4x4 said:
Really hit or miss it seems. I didn't fish for them in April and have found lots of beds with side scan this month 5-6' deep, but few crackers. Maybe catch 2-3 or maybe nothing...lots of bluegills on bed though. Have 40-50 to clean this morning.
Did have a guy tell me that he caught 28 crackers Monday in 4' of water. He was fishing some islands that are next to the river channel, so deep water very nearby. Was gonna give them a try today, but forecast was 70% storms mid day. I decided to finish my garden instead, now storms pushed back to late afternoon 😡
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I've got to learn how to use my side scan more efficiently specifically for finding beds
 
tellico4x4 said:
My shellcracker fishing has been hit or miss so far. However, the few I've caught has been really good ones. Have found lots of brim beds the past couple weeks. Starting to think the crackers bedded last month as water temps have been 72+ for 4-5 weeks on Pickwick. Gonna try something different tomorrow & concentrate on the islands in middle of TN River.
Click to expand...
Only one of mine was female and the eggs weren't very mature. Hopefully they are just starting to move up
 
MickThompson said:
I've got to learn how to use my side scan more efficiently specifically for finding beds
Click to expand...
Makes a world of difference. Once you figure it out, they can't hide beds. I don't even fish a creek off river anymore if I don't see beds with it. Usually scan at 5 mph, so it doesn't take long
 

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