By Chris Erwin
Are you scratching your head about now and saying to yourself, what is he going to write about this time? Hey guys, I know many of you think that fishing for bluegill is for kids. I can tell you this, for about two weeks of the year I turn into a big kid, and I just love it!
My good friend, the late Larry Besant, described me in a newsletter as a multi-fish angler. At the time, I wasn’t sure it was a compliment since the readers were hardcore muskie anglers. I have since worn that badge with honor. As we approach the next full moon phase, I’ll be ready to pick up the ultra-light gear to have some fun with one of the first types of fishing I fell in love with.
When the water temperature reaches about 70 degrees, the next full moon phase will be when the largest bluegill and redear sunfish commonly known in the south as “shellcrackers” will begin their spawn. Unlike many fish, the bluegill will take your offering while they are in their nesting cycle. The next full moon phase will be May 6 to 12.
While there are many differences between these two fish, there are also many similarities. Both go about nesting in the same way. They nest in colonies. The male fans a dish bowl looking spot and herds the female into the prepared area for nesting. After the female lays the eggs, the male guards the nest until they hatch. Finding a nesting area usually means finding many pairs, and the fishing can be fast and furious.
The shellcracker is not a fish that likes to be right against the bank. Instead this is a fish that likes to be in deeper water. They will spawn in eight to 15 feet of water depending on how clear the water is. Shellcrackers look much like a bluegill on steroids, and of course, they have an opercular flap with an orange-red edge ahead of a dark splotch.
Most bluegill are considered large if they approach the eight-inch mark. However, shellcrackers are known to reach 11 inches and weigh over a pound. The shellcracker gets its name from molar-like teeth that can crush shells, allowing inedible parts to be ejected and soft parts digested. They feed on the bottom, more often than bluegill, on small hard-shelled invertebrates, which make up the majority of the redear sunfish diet.
When you locate a spawning bed, it’s important not to let your boat drift too close to the beds. Everyone has his or her own method and gear to take advantage of this window of fishing opportunity, so I’ll share with you mine.
I use a 12 ft. light-action crappie rod with a spin-cast reel setup like a spinning reel. It is spooled with 6-pound line and a few baits, according to the mood of the fish. My No. 1 bait is a live red worm. My second choice is a 64 to 32 ounce hair jig tipped with a wax worm.
Many people use a slip bobber, I don’t. I like to watch the line and I want it to make it to the bottom. When you find active fish, the line rarely makes it to the bottom, but the largest fish tend to be in deep water and this rig doesn’t need to be adjusted for different depths.
If you have kids, this is one of the best ways to introduce them to fishing. The action is fast, and the fun is non-stop.
Yatesville Lake will get a stocking of shellcrackers this year, making an already good bluegill lake even better as the years go by.
This is a perfect time to take a kid fishing and have a ball while you’re doing it!
Till next time
Good Fishing!
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