What is a Shell Cracker? Are they on Kentucky Lake?

What is a Shell Cracker? Are they on Kentucky Lake?Is it just a bluegill?

Shellcrackers are in the same family as the bluegill, They are a panfish. They have a red on their ears. Google up Shellcracker or Redear, or you can look on KDFWR website for pics. They are some really scrappy fighters. They are on Ky and Barkley lakes both.

I don't fish for them, so I could be wrong, but I have always understood them to be the same as redear sunfish, which are a larger version of a bluegill. From my understanding they can get fairly good size and I have read some posts on here about people catching them in Kentucky Lake.

I watched a buddy catch a 1 pound 8 ounce Shell Cracker on Ky Wed. Biggest I have ever seen. It pounded a Rattle Trap.

Shellcrackers are redear sunfish. They look similar to bluegill, but with red behind their gills. Yes, they are in KY Lake. I have caught them while crappie fishing.

they feed on the bottom.takes just a small peace of worm. man love to catch them on light tackel.

They like to eat snails, hence the name. They also help control parasites in lakes and ponds by eating the snails that are part of the life cycle of the parasite. You know, the bird, snail, fish parasite that leaves little grubs in panfish.

Right ,Shellcrackers are redear sunfish.Similar to bluegill,BUT BIGER eH !/ ;)

Great fishin for them in KY Lake & Barkley .--Eddy Creek,Eddyville Recreation Area & Poplar Creek Area are GOOD !

On KY I fish for them @ Moss Creek. We have caught them over 1 1/2lbs


Randy got this one @ Moss Creek 5/12
[URL]http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8db37b3127ccea82382751a4a00000016100QcOGLls5bsb[/URL]

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but my understanding is that only the bigger ones are called shellcrackers, because only the bigger ones eat snails. It's kinda like calling crappie "slabs."

Coming down memorial day weekend, anyone know some bays to for fish redear or bluegill around 68 bridge ky lake. Thanks

[QUOTE=RoadToad;326810]Please correct me if I'm wrong, but my understanding is that only the bigger ones are called shellcrackers, because only the bigger ones eat snails. It's kinda like calling crappie "slabs."[/QUOTE]

Bluegil and shellcracker are two completely different species.

[quote=condusivecranker;326818]Bluegil and shellcracker are two completely different species.[/quote]

Yes, I knew that. What I was saying (and hoping someone would either correct me or corroborate this) is that only larger redears are commonly called shellcrackers, because when they're small they don't eat snails.