That elusive two pound redear

[redearhoosier]

My goal is to catch a two pound redear and mount it. I figure a two pound redear in Southern Indiana is a trophy fish, I might even mount a 1.5 or so pounder depending on the fish itself. I figured I spent over five hundred dollars this summer in pursuit of this fish, probably closer to a thousand dollars to be honest. I caught a couple of redears right at a pound and about 11 inches long, so it's going to be really tough to get this fish. I figured this fish would be at least 12.5-13.5 inches long and probably six or seven years old. It's been a lot of fun trying to catch this fish, I'll spend another 500-1000 next summer trying to land this elusive redear. It's a fun goal of mine and it keeps me focused. This pursuit is done on public waters too, not private ponds where it would be much easier accomplished IMO.

[raporter]

Good luck with your persuit. We know they are out there, just have to be lucky as well as good.

[Fisherjoe]

Growing up, I used to fish Indian, Tipsaw, and Celina just about every weekend with my Pappaw Taylor. He passed away about 5 yrs ago and I don't get there as often these days. I was with him when he caught a 2lb-2oz redear over 20 yrs ago from Tipsaw. His kids had it mounted for him as a gift. Another trip that I missed, he caught a 2-1/2 lb redear from Indian. He traded it plus a basket of smaller fish to a friend in return for 2 hours of bulldozer work to clear a stump field on the farm!!

I have caught 2 from Indian that were slightly over 1 lb so you are fishing in the right place. Good luck!!!

Joe

[Hoosier Hunter]

Buddy of mine caught a 2.3 pound redear while we were fishing Delaney Lake back in the mid 90's. He had it mounted.

[redearhoosier]

I"ve heard from several people that Delaney has big redear. I know an old man that caught two 2lb. redear from there in the sameday and mounted them on a piece of drift wood. Of course this was fifteen years ago, I'm not sure if the lake's still quite that good. I've been there twice and caught a few decent fish with one real good redear weighing a pound. Tuckers in Paoli has big redear too, my dad caught a 11.5 inch redear out of there this year.

[Embrey]

i dont think i ever caught a keeper bass at delaney this year. pretty much sucked

[Fisherjoe]

I agree with Tucker as well. Redears especially good if you can find the mussul beds on the banks across from the ramp.

[Panfish Man]

Good luck, I hope you get one this year. Hardy has produced some of the biggest redears I have ever caught, but none pushing the 2lb. mark. I have heard great things about Kentucky Lake redear fishing. Been thinking of goiing down early summer to try it out.

[coachjoe]

I am on a similar pursuit and have fished many of the same places.... my biggest redear this year came from Dogwood Lake. Biggest this summer was 12" and 1.75 lbs. The 2lb's are out there and I will continue the quest as well!

[LJP]

Try the strip pits in Greene and Sullivan Co.

[redearhoosier]

I am on a similar pursuit and have fished many of the same places.... my biggest redear this year came from Dogwood Lake. Biggest this summer was 12" and 1.75 lbs. The 2lb's are out there and I will continue the quest as well!

Dang, that's a hoss cracker, that would be one to maybe mount. I've caught a few 12 inch crackers but didn't weigh them at the time. Glendale has some monster crackers but this year our overall catch was lacking in size from previous years. It was stunning to me, I was expecting the normal routine of catching plenty of 10-10.5 inch crackers, but few that size were caught.

What do you weigh your fish with, I've got a cheap scale of some sort that I question whether it's accurate.

[coachjoe]

Dang, that's a hoss cracker, that would be one to maybe mount. I've caught a few 12 inch crackers but didn't weigh them at the time. Glendale has some monster crackers but this year our overall catch was lacking in size from previous years. It was stunning to me, I was expecting the normal routine of catching plenty of 10-10.5 inch crackers, but few that size were caught.

What do you weigh your fish with, I've got a cheap scale of some sort that I question whether it's accurate.

I use a Berkley digital I used when I bass fished all the time. Not sure if it is super accurate or not. I did not find the good crackers in the normal spots this year... found a place that didn't produce too many but was good for 2 or 3 over 10 inches every trip as well as the biggest perch I have seen in Dogwood caught by my niece. I have family in Vincennes so I usually fish glendale 10 or more times per year. Just started fishing Hardy late this fall and want to learn more about it there as well. Trying to post a link to the big one its not a good pic, but the only one I have access to on this computer:

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...l122009001.jpg