I want a citation redear. Plain and simple, that's what I want (among a few other things) this year.
I've got a local pond that I KNOW produces some large redear, well above the 11" citation size. I've seen at least one redear in there that dwarfed the bass it was swimming near, and I'm sure there's probably more.
I've hit this pond up maybe three or four times going for one of these big redear over the past week or so, and I've seen them close but they shy away from the baits I'm throwing. So I got out tonight with a 9' 5 weight fly rod, ultralight fly reel, and super simple drop shot rig. Had a large hit but it wasn't meant to be - the hook was spit after 7 or 8 seconds of that classic move of the big sunfish - using the flat side to their advantage and just swimming around in big circles.
These fish have me possessed - so I'll be fishing there every day if I can. I'll try and update this thread every day, to see what's going on with it.
Tonight when I fished it was around 20 mph winds and 55 degrees. Tomorrow morning in the time span of 4:00-6:00am, it'll be a little under 40 degrees with 14 mph winds. Wind chill of 30 degrees, so I guess I'll be busting out the heavy coat and boots.
Will update it tomorrow. Probably going to take up at 4 to fish, then fish a bit and come back to sleep. Will update it after I wake up again.
Tight lines
Drew
Sounds fun! Good luck!
Can't wait for the updates, feed the obsession! Can't wait to see pics of you with one.
Thanks for the replies. Hopefully a 4am trip in 30 degrees pays off, lol.
Plan is to fish deep, fishing a drop shot rig without any kind of terminal on there except a small sinker and a single hook. Live cricket for bait. That's what I used today, when I had that heavy hit. Instead of an aberdeen, we're going to try a small circle hook. Keep with the live crickets. Using a 9' 5 weight fly rod, because I want that distance in order to fish deep.
We shall see, we shall see.
Drew
Love it, man on a mission. We have a lake by here that puts out some absolute tank redear. Hope you get one tomorrow, That's hardcore.
marble-sized lump of carp dough-bait, suspended 1-2' off the bottom, under a float...
carp are still asleep; bass don't want it; smaller panfish can't handle the size
(well, not quickly & their attempts are an attractant for big mama)
cats may be an issue, but even those are still sluggish -- just raise the bait higher
better hurry up, before the carp get active, but even then...
if you have to cycle through some 1+ to 10+ lb. rough fish on light tackle,
before you get your heart's desire, BOO-HOO ;)
Uk guy here - what's a redear?
Little report, I got out tonight. Fished a total of around 2 hours and 15 minutes, not a ton but man in 30 degree chill and 20 mph winds it feels like a while lol. Got one fish, a decent ~7" sunfish. No big mama though - no hits or anything. Fished live crickets for a while, with no hits. Then switched to the Gulp crickets, after maybe 20-30 minutes got that 7" sunny. Fished a bit more, nothing. Snagged a rock and broke off, so I came in to warm up and rerig for about 10 minutes. Went out with a Rebel crankbait for 15-20 minutes, didn't get anything. Came in and started typing this :)
I don't like the tackle I'm using now. Ordered a 7' light action rod, my two choices right now have been a 9' 5 weight fly rod and a 5' uiltralight, neither are really the preferred rod for this type of fishing. Also going with some 4-6 lb fluorocarbon line instead of this old 4 lb mono.
Trying to decide if I want to get out tomorrow morning early or not, winds are supposed to be the same as today. We'll see, I'll update this thread tomorrow.
Quote from: Tiddlerbasher on March 03, 2018, 01:04:46 AM
Uk guy here - what's a redear?
Redear sunfish, do you know what a bluegill is? They are like that, except they get to be 5+ pounds. I'd absolutely not mind having a large bluegill though, lol.
Quote from: philaroman on March 03, 2018, 12:38:19 AM
marble-sized lump of carp dough-bait, suspended 1-2' off the bottom, under a float...
carp are still asleep; bass don't want it; smaller panfish can't handle the size
(well, not quickly & their attempts are an attractant for big mama)
cats may be an issue, but even those are still sluggish -- just raise the bait higher
better hurry up, before the carp get active, but even then...
if you have to cycle through some 1+ to 10+ lb. rough fish on light tackle,
before you get your heart's desire, BOO-HOO ;)
Has this worked for you for catching large panfish like redear and bluegill? If so, that'll be my next tactic. Lucky for me, no carp OR catfish. I've been trying to think of a fish to compare fishing for big bluegill to, I think carp just may be the closest thing. These big guys are very skittish, I've caught several before but none that I think would've hit 16 ounces... yet. That's the goal this year.
Quote from: Swami805 on March 03, 2018, 12:36:50 AM
Love it, man on a mission. We have a lake by here that puts out some absolute tank redear. Hope you get one tomorrow, That's hardcore.
Thanks man. Any tips on how you catch yours?
Sounds good. Years ago, my son got a 3 1/4# bluegill on a small kastmaster. We thought it was a big bass the way it was fighting.
Try nightcrawers number 4# hook,,,,it's takes time but you will get him or something bigger you will not expect :)
Use red worms, like a small night crawler and inflated it a little with a small syringe like for insulin. Not so it floats like a cork but so it stays off the bottom. We'd use very small light wire hooks with no eye, just a flattened end to catch the snell. I think the hooks come from Japan, super sharp and very thin. Light 2-4lb floro leader super stealthy. The lake gets a fair amount of pressure so the big ones are skittish. They're easier to catch if you can find the nests when they're spanning.
That's a huge blue gill Mark, they look funny that big, the head seems to stop growing. A small head with a giant body like a mutant.
Redears are nicknamed "shellcrackers" here in Tennessee. They are known to eat freshwater clams, mussels, and snails, hence their nickname. I've seen good sized mounds of snail shells in a certain pond that's full of readears. I've caught redear on about anything a bluegill will hit, redworms, crickets, lures such as 1-1/2 twistertails on tiny jig heads, the smallest crankbaits, 2" floating Rapalas, tiny spoons, inline spinners, and also dry or wet flies. Fishing redworms seems best straight on the bottom without a floater.
from what you describe (weather & zero bites w/ crickets), it's just too damn early -- wait for 2 consecutive sunny days to try again, or you'll catch pneumonia before a trophy sunfish... they're warm-water species; their metabolism is slow, now; they don't have the energy to chase food; when they finally do start to feed, they'll start w/ meals that require minimal effort (might even be a good idea to call your bait shop ahead of time & ask them to save you some freshly dead minnows, at a bargain price)
"Has this worked for you for catching large panfish like redear and bluegill?"
despite the fact that vegetarian baits are not their top food choice, they do work for most sunfish (less so, for the more predatory ones, like big-mouthed green sunfish & warmouth; not at all -- for bass, perch & crappie) if you present a fairly dense, marble-sized spherical lump, you also eliminate the smaller members of the species that actually would want to eat it -- there's nothing for them to grab & pull... you basically cull, before the bite.
of course squiggly, squirmy meat is better bait, but sometimes it's TOO GOOD... you should use it when most fish in the area are desirable, but if you're surrounded by 2-5" nuisances, my "lesser bait" can produce better size (albeit, much fewer numbers)... it's also more conducive to using multiple rods, where legal.
P.S., if the big girls are skittish, don't cast at 'em -- just suspend your bait off the bottom & let them find it.
Quote from: Tiddlerbasher on March 03, 2018, 01:04:46 AM
Uk guy here - what's a redear?
Is this the fish we're talking about (redear sunfish, aka shellcracker)?
Frank
A few ounces shy of 6 lb. (redear sunfish).
(what does "citation" redear signify?)
freakin' WOW!!!
I'm stealing that photo for a different Forum (I promise I won't claim to be you)
...methinks citation = trophy
HappyHooker,
Wow! That's a slab! What lake did you catch that monster at? Congratulations!
...... Roosevelt? ....maybe😀
Brett
Holy canoli! that's Huge!! It's like the head quits growing at about 2 pounds and the body just gets bigger. Trophy redear.
My mistake--that ain't a fish I caught--just wanted to show how big they get.
Besides, the guy isn't nearly as debonair as I am.
I believe he caught 'er on Lake Havasu, AZ.
Frank
Frank,
Lol!!! Now your confusing me with fancy words😀😀😀... debonair....have to look that one up (just kidding)!!!
Still a really nice slab though. !!!!
Brett
Does look like one a those Southwestern reservior environments. Amazing how productive some those lakes can be. I'd think I'd see a sunfish species that large come out of a natural lake in the Southeast or Midwest.
Gfish - I agree completely. If I wanted a trophy I'd head for the southeast without a doubt, but those southwestern lakes are putting out big fish...
Just an update for everyone, haven't gotten anything yet. No time on the water yesterday, going to try and get out there today for a bit. Been sunny and slowly warming up with the wind dying down, so we'll see if we can get some luck today.
Drew
In Tennessee the biggest bream seem to be caught from big ponds on the Cumberland Plateau. The state record bluegill (3 lbs) is a tie between a farm pond in Bledsoe County and Falls Creek Lake, which is a small 300 acre lake. The state record channel cat was also caught from Falls Creek Lake, 41 pounds. The state record redear sunfish 3 lb 6 oz was also caught from a farm pond.
If I wanted to go after big bream, I'd head to West TN at Reelfoot Lake (a natural lake) or southern KY/northern TN to Land Between the Lakes (Lake Barkley and Kentucky Lake).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--_qtmMOZcA
Personally, I'll go to Kingfisher Society one day. You pay the price (over $500 a day I believe), but you've got legitimate shots at multiple bluegill over 2 lbs in a day
Drew
a bit too close to pets... kinda' like hunting Beefalo
I have heard of snails being used for bait (going after sheepshead, catfish, carp). Use a scratch awl or something similar to punch a hole in the shell, then slip the hook in. Crack the shell a tad to let the juices out (scent). Or, might work if you got rid of the shell altogether.
Frank
Got out last night, only for about 30 minutes after work though. Tried a new dough bait, got completely skunked - think it's still too cold for these guys right now.
Drew
Yes my friend it's to cold,,,,,I think you got a good spot,,,,maybe 3 or 4 weeks,,, I'm in the same boat
Don't think I'll have time to fish today, too cold anyways though.
I've got a 7' 2-8 lb rod coming in soon, with some 6 lb fluorocarbon too (same diameter as my 4 lb mono I'm using now). This setup will probably be a bit better suited to catching larger panfish specifically, I don't want to take any chances with tackle that's too light on them. This should be plenty light enough to still enjoy the fight though.
Drew
Got the new rod and line in. Going to either try tomorrow morning or tomorrow afternoon, been super busy this week with driver's ed and work all week, then SAT today.
Will post any updates if I come across anything.
Drew
WOW !! Wouldn't have beleived had I not seen the picture... Jeff
Made it out four or five times the past few weeks, nothing though. Had warm weather last week, but got cold here a few days ago - not warming up until later next week.
Drew
Have dinner plans tonight, but I can update the thread right quick.
Was just out for around 40 minutes, trying a completely new approach. Big baits, big hooks. Using a 1/0 wacky hook and a breadball the size of one of the big 25-cent gumballs.
This worked on a 7" redear (so not huge, but still decent-sized), so no reason it won't work on the bigger 10" and above fish. However, it eliminated me having to deal with gut-hooking small fish, and even hooking or even messing with them at all. I received no attention from the smaller fish. An added bonus was that I could cast further, meaning I can get to deeper water with less terminal. Hopefully this setup will help me win a trophy.
Another thing I tried was, instead of keeping the rod high to try and keep the line tight, keep the rod low. This keeps the line in the water, and since I'm using fluorocarbon, it's sensitive when limp. And I'm actually relying on line twist, because when a fish picks up, I can see the line start to straighten. This keeps the line from making a big bow in it, so I can actually tell when there's a fish on.
Hopefully these tactics will help catch a nice fish. Now, the hard part is finding the fish.
Going back out tonight, I will be sure to update this thread.
Tight lines to everybody,
Drew
Dang, the night bite has just been nonexistant here. Before the sun set I had a few runs of what seemed to be decent-sized fish, but once that sun started going down it just shut off. No more fishing around sunset for now, I'll focus my efforts on daytime hours.
Drew
Quote from: biggiesmalls on March 24, 2018, 02:14:29 AM
Dang, the night bite has just been nonexistant here. Before the sun set I had a few runs of what seemed to be decent-sized fish, but once that sun started going down it just shut off. No more fishing around sunset for now, I'll focus my efforts on daytime hours.
Drew
They don't call 'em
'Sunnies' for nothin'.
:)
I'll get some pics up shortly, but I got a massive hybrid sunfish today.
There are two ponds I fish, for the most part - both have big sunfish in them. One is across the street from my house, with stained water, and it's got some decent bass and a bunch of nice-sized hybrid sunfish in it - very rare to pull a pure bluegill out of there, and I've never caught a pure redear from it before. The other pond is in my backyard, this pond has gin-clear water and not a ton of good fish - but it's got the biggest redear I have ever seen in it. That's the exact fish I have been going for day in and day out and haven't had any success catching.
The hybrid I caught today was at least 10 inches - I have to look at the picture to remember how long exactly, I got a picture with the tape measure on him. He was 9.5" in girth, he was definitely one of the bigger sunfish I've ever caught. Got him on a big chunk of bread fished on the bottom not even 6 feet from the shoreline, he wasn't scared of me at all. I think the stained water helped with that.
I debated putting him back in his original pond or moving him to the backyard pond... I made the decision to move him out back in the clear pond with the hope that I can get a couple more nice sunfish in there.
Anyone have any reasons they think I should take him back out?
I'll post pics of him shortly. Big fish, but the pure redear out back is even bigger :)
I think you made the right move. Maybe get one of those auto feeders the use for dear and scatter a hand full of trout chow every day and fatten them up. That might be cheating though or you could think of it as your pet redear pond
Yeah, there used to be a ~4 pound bass in there, maybe 5. Then I added another bass which was bigger, probably 6 pounds, to the pond as well. Over the last summer I found both dead, unsure of the cause of one, the other got caught by an osprey though. Neither of them are in there, and I think something with big sunfish would be a little more interesting than a typical pond where bass are the target.
I don't know if I could set up an auto feeder since it's in a neighborhood - but I could probably throw some out by hand every day. That might get them a bit more used to coming into the shallows, and I would have a dependable spot to catch them in - which would save blindly casting across an entire pond to try and find the fish.
You are right though, where does the line come with cheating? That might be it, I'm not sure. That's something to think about.
Drew
Try nightcrawers on a bobber,,,,and i did take some big trout and stock them in a creek where you only see kid fish :D and good job on that sunfish ;D
Boone and Crockett would recognize a trophy dear shot over same said feeder....I sling a solo cup of chow from Tractor Supply off my dock every day. Got shellies well bigger than my hand under dock, cats about ten lbs, and some bass 6-7, plus pinheads.
Quote from: thorhammer on April 15, 2018, 10:51:54 PM
Boone and Crockett would recognize a trophy dear shot over same said feeder....I sling a solo cup of chow from Tractor Supply off my dock every day. Got shellies well bigger than my hand under dock, cats about ten lbs, and some bass 6-7, plus pinheads.
Wish I could fish your pond John!!!
If you do it by hand after awhile they get used to seeing a big shape by the water and lose their fear. Easy pickings for a coon on harron or something. Lots of people here have koi ponds and it's easy pickings for the harrons, the swim right up to them.
I'm with Chad. Love that pond fishing
Let's see if these work. Fish was estimated over a pound, probably 18-19 ounces. 10.25" TL, 9.5" girth.
There's still a bigger one ;)
That's big one,,, good job;D
Nice! Congrats on your success! 8)
Thanks y'all B)
This week is packed, prom is this weekend but I'm sure I could get up early and get a session at the pond in ;)
That fish was big but it's the bigger one that's been swimming around in my head.
That is a nice fish.
You know it is the thoughts of bigger ones that powers the drive that has some of us continuing to go back. All while enjoying this thing we call fishing... Jeff
I think the thought that there's DEFINITELY a bigger one swimming right next to the one I just caught is driving me nuts... going to order some stuff from Charlie Brewer here soon to try out.
Drew
The endless joy is...
Some Where Some Place There will Always Be a Bigger One.
My hope is you've found that place... Jeff
I got out today and... my fish was right there in the shallows. Casted a whole nightcrawler about 6 feet past him, he saw it falling and took off. Not sure if it was me that scared him off, the float, the bait, or the hook - but clearly something did. He moved to another spot in the pond, I did the same thing again except from much further away, and he took off again - after another 30 minutes, I couldn't find him again and went home.
I'm starting to go a little bit crazy over this fish. I will not stop fishing until I have this fish in my hands, that I promise you.
I saw him next to the hybrid I put in a few days ago, and he's an easy 2-3" bigger, possibly even more than that - I think this might be a 2 pound redear.
Does anybody have any more tips I could possibly try to catch this fish?
I used to do this crazy thing, we'd catch a turtle and we would put a gopro on his back and tie it with a rope - so we had a camera that we could take almost anywhere underwater. I might get out this weekend to try that, and see if I can just find where the fish stays. I can send a live feed of the GoPro to my phone, so I can see whatever the turtle sees wherever he is. At this point I'm willing to try absolutely anything I can.
Drew
I used to love fishing farm ponds in central NC (Harnett County) back in the early 80's after I got off work. I caught some huge bluegill and redears on a small floating popping bug called a Moonglow (I think). At dusk dark I'd shine a flashlight on it and it would glow for 10 minutes or so. I guess they thought it was a lightning bug on the water. All catch and release. I caught the same huge copperhead bluegill maybe 10 times over a year or so. 12' fish, maybe 24 oz. And a lot more like him almost as big. Flyrod and 4 lb test line. Wasn't quite in the same league as catching a supercow, but it sure was fun. The Moonglow worked better than red wigglers.
Mike
Drew, if this fish is as easily spooked as your saying I think your your right in reassessing your tactics.
It's been my experience that some of the biggest fish I've caught after locating them visually or on my electronics were also some of the most easily spooked.
Some of these fish I caught was using a stealthier approach. I would make my cast a good distance away but not so far I couldnt deliver my bait accurately. Some times I'd be a good ways from the water when doin this.
Also I would cast well past the spot where I believed the fish was holding at least 15' bringing my bait slowly into the target area.
If you can see them they can see you. If there is not much going on around this pond the fish can tend to be a bit shy of any thing out of the ordinary
This can be people, bobbers flying through the air & any thing that makes a splash.... Good Luck ! Keep us posted.
I've enjoyed reading of your adveture... Jeff
The consummate/obsessed fisherman:" I will not stop fishing until I have this fish in my hands, that I promise you". I love it!
That's what sets us apart from other fisherman. I wonder how much time in my life I've spent casting away, when I know there's one out there..."If I just do something diffrent/right, I know I can get 'em!"
Have you tried night fishing Biggie? Large trout in rivers, surrounded by fisherman during the day, don't even seem to feed until it gets dark and the fisherman are gone(except me a number of times). Gotta check on the legality a that one, though.
Quote from: Wally15 on April 19, 2018, 12:28:11 AM
I used to love fishing farm ponds in central NC (Harnett County) back in the early 80's after I got off work. I caught some huge bluegill and redears on a small floating popping bug called a Moonglow (I think). At dusk dark I'd shine a flashlight on it and it would glow for 10 minutes or so. I guess they thought it was a lightning bug on the water. All catch and release. I caught the same huge copperhead bluegill maybe 10 times over a year or so. 12' fish, maybe 24 oz. And a lot more like him almost as big. Flyrod and 4 lb test line. Wasn't quite in the same league as catching a supercow, but it sure was fun. The Moonglow worked better than red wigglers.
Mike
I haven't thought about the possibility of getting him on the fly, I might have to try that. I need to find a 4-weight or so to do it.
Quote from: Rivverrat on April 19, 2018, 02:55:20 AM
Drew, if this fish is as easily spooked as your saying I think your your right in reassessing your tactics.
It's been my experience that some of the biggest fish I've caught after locating them visually or on my electronics were also some of the most easily spooked.
Some of these fish I caught was using a stealthier approach. I would make my cast a good distance away but not so far I couldnt deliver my bait accurately. Some times I'd be a good ways from the water when doin this.
Also I would cast well past the spot where I believed the fish was holding at least 15' bringing my bait slowly into the target area.
If you can see them they can see you. If there is not much going on around this pond the fish can tend to be a bit shy of any thing out of the ordinary
This can be people, bobbers flying through the air & any thing that makes a splash.... Good Luck ! Keep us posted.
I've enjoyed reading of your adveture... Jeff
This fish is on a new level of "easily spooked"... I don't think I've seen something quite like this fish before. In terms of size or wariness.
My new goal is to spot the fish and stealthily and quickly move far back from the pond, and just wait. Let him think I'm gone. Then cast a bait at least 15 feet past him, and just wait. I'm hoping I can out-wait him.
Quote from: Gfish on April 19, 2018, 06:20:46 AM
The consummate/obsessed fisherman:" I will not stop fishing until I have this fish in my hands, that I promise you". I love it!
That's what sets us apart from other fisherman. I wonder how much time in my life I've spent casting away, when I know there's one out there..."If I just do something diffrent/right, I know I can get 'em!"
Have you tried night fishing Biggie? Large trout in rivers, surrounded by fisherman during the day, don't even seem to feed until it gets dark and the fisherman are gone(except me a number of times). Gotta check on the legality a that one, though.
I have tried the night bite, it seems to have been non-existant. I will try again though and see what I can do with it, just in case.
New plan... live crawler tail-hooked on a #4 mosquito hook. Casted around 15-20 feet past the fish when I spot him, far from the bank. We shall see if this works.
Sidenote - I got in touch with a guide from Richmond Mill Lake, where 1 pound bluegills are caught daily and 3 pound fish have been caught. He advised Charlie Brewer Slider Grubs, rigged on jigheads with clothespin spinners, as well as cork float rigs with live crickets. Still talking with him, but we'll see what he advises. My problem with crickets has been that the smaller fish simply get to them before the bigger fish can.
Drew
Today, I fished with a #4 Gamakatsu split shot/drop shot hook, with a whole nightcrawler hooked twice through the tail. Nothing else on the line.
This combination resulted in a massive sunfish, I unfortunately got this fish to shore and the hook came undone. But, I saw it and it was large - but not as large as my fish, which has come to be known as Tiny. I saw him today but he was gone by the time I went back out there.
I wonder if the fish I caught was the one I put in there last weekend? Maybe the clearer water caused it's pattern to change, it was certainly around the size of last weekend's fish.
Anyways though - I think I may have found the winning pattern. I just need to be there right when the winning fish is there.
I can go out tomorrow, but the weather will present a unique challenge - rain and nearly 20 mph winds. I'll have to see if I can use it to my advantage.
Tight lines everyone,
Drew