Author; Don English

Redear, although they get their nickname “Shellcrackers”
from their favorite diet of snails and/or fresh water shellfish, are really not
as difficult to catch as
you may think.
If you compare their eating habits to that of the bluegill they really arent
that much differant except the Redear has a little bit larger mouth for eating
larger bites.

Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus)
Small mouth size limits the size of food particles ingested and almost dictates
a diet of insects and similar small organisms. While insects remain the staple
food item for adults, crayfish, snails, small fish, and fish eggs are also
consumed.

Redear (Lepomis microlophus)
Redears are opportunistic bottom feeders, foraging mainly during daylight hours
on a variety of invertebrates. Important food items include snails and clams
which are crushed by grinding teeth in the throat; larval insects, fish eggs,
small fish, and crustaceans.

Most of the Lepomis (Sunfish) Family pretty much have close to the same diet
but
yes they can sometimes be finicky to all but a certain presentation.

I have found that they will bite on woolly worms in various color combos and if
feeding on the top will hit small sized midge patterns.

They will also hit Czech Nymphs and pretty much any scud pattern in various
color combos

One of my all time favorite fish to catch and eat, hence the User name Redear

On one particular trip I was able to land atleast 50 Redear I kept 10 to take
home and eat and the rest were released to fight another day.

as far as live bait (getting off flies just for a second dont panic) I know
here
in Indiana I have the best luck with Redears on plain old ordinary Redworms
Spring Summer and Fall, I like to call them red wigglers. This is when fishing
with Ultralite spinning rod. With that being said… (back to flies)
Sanjuan worms are a very red colored worm type fly but what if you were to tie
them in a more natural looking color? I would think making them to look more
like a natural Red Earth worm would get their attention. Natural
colors…….that is a biggy for me……I have some flies I tied awhile back
that are Crawflies. They arent totally my own pattern I took someone elses
pattern and tweeked it some. Here are a few pics. I cant remember the recipe
right off the top of my head but if interested I will try to remember it and
post it.

These can be tied in various sizes and colors and I know the Largemouth bass
will hit them, Smallies hit them and smaller sized ones Redears cant pass them
up. I have several that are all chewed up from so many Redears and Gills biting
on them. They are easy to get down to the fish if they are feeding bottom as
they have the lead barbell eyes. You might have to use a longer leader or
perhaps a sinking fly line, either way should work as I have caught them in
anywhere from 5 to 12 feet of water. Depends on the season. I do know when the
gills are on the beds you can usually find the Redears close by about 10 feet
out from the beds. These Crawflies can also be thrown on an Ultralite Spinning
rod so they are not totally restricted to just flyfishing.
Keep in mind this is Southern indiana I am speaking of I am not sure of their
behavior in other States but some of these tips may help to atleast give you an
extra edge.

Flying Ants
Most panfish love ants, if the fish are surface feeding I would reccomend the
Black flying ant the smaller the better, I have been tying most of mine #16 they
are very simple to tie just a dry fly hook thread, dubbing to make the rear body
section, hackle in the middle for legs, white duck quill section for the wing
(or any other floating white material) More dubbing for the thorax section.
really simple to tie and to fish. If fishing current throw it up stream from you
and let the natural current carry it down. Most of the time you will find
Redears in still waters though.

Drowning ants
For bottom feeding panfish/Redears, I have found the Drowning ant pattern that
was introduced to me by a fellow tyer and fly angler. These bugs are made simply
with 3 or 4 (depending on hook length) glass beads threaded on a hook and
hackled in the center. The glass beads will sink slow you can also substitute
the front bead with a weighted bead for faster sinking. I always cushion between
the beads with thread so they dont smack together so much and break the glass
beads. A little drop of super glue between beads helps also. I have had the best
luck with redears or any other panfish with yellow or Orange, I dont know why
they seem to like these colors more than others but I get more bites on them
than any other.

Play around with the colors for these ants in your area you may find a color
that attracts them the best for you also.

Midges
Again back to surface feeders, Redears do primarily feed on the bottom but, for
some unknown reason they do tend to sometimes feed on the top. I believe it is
either because they are searching for what is available on that given day or are
just simply curious when they see something land on the water surface.
I have found that pretty much any Midge pattern when tied small are effective. A
good example is a parachute midge or a Sulfer pattern. Again very easy to tie
and easy to fish. Most of mine are #16 but I have tied a few #20s and almost
went blind tying them.

Scuds
I havent actually tried any scud patterns yet for redears/Panfish but fully
intend to this spring. As you already know redears primary diet are shell
creatures. A couple of patterns that I will be trying and am totally confident
that they will produce, are the Czech nymph and Sow Bug. I have tied several
Czech Nymphs that look a lot like a grub and some that are darker colored and I
believe both will produce for me.
The sow bugs I have tied a few differant colors of those also but the lighter
colored one is the one that I am most confident will produce.
My Czech Nymphs were tied on a curved #10 Caddis hook to make them look more
wormy/buggy looking.
Both are weighted with fine lead wire (Lead Substitute) wrapped on the hook
under the dubbed body.

My Sow Bugs are tied on usually a #10 or #12 Caddis hook. They can be tied
smaller if you prefer

Again these can be tied in various sizes and colors to fit your needs.

Another Pattern I will be trying this year that I have never tried and had
never
heard of is the Curved Hex Nymph. I am absolutely confident that this pattern
will produce for me. Mine are tied on a #10 curved caddis hook.

Very fun pattern to tie and I am sure it is going to be just as fun to fish.

The key is to try and match the hatch as best as possible although these fish
arent really hatch oriented feeders. Otherwise, find what they like and throw
that to them.