TALE WATERS & TIDES · POCKET FISHING GUIDE
ARKANSAS SPORTFISH
Redear Sunfish
GO92SCORE
LAKE MONTICELLOHOME +10
🔥 SPAWN NOWShellcracker. Bottom-feeding panfish that crushes snails.
SIZE
8–12 in
MAX
15 in
WEIGHT
Up to 4 lbs
HABITAT
LakesReservoirsSlow rivers
Hard-bottom flats with snails and freshwater clams.
DIET
Snails, clams, mussels — crushes shells with throat teeth.
BEST BAITS
Red worms on bottom · Crickets · Small jigs tipped with worm
SEASONAL PATTERN
BESTSPRING
SUMMER
FALL
WINTER
Summer: Move to 8–12 ft over snail beds.
ANGLER INTEL · RIGHT NOWHIGH CONFIDENCE
DEPTH
2–6 ft
shallow cover
TIMING
Any time today — steady bite
TOP LURE · LURE
Red worms on bottom
reaction strikes on bed — aggressive
TACKLE
Light spinning, 6 lb line
TECHNIQUE · Slow presentation in shallow cover
ANGLER STATS
SPAWN 66–80°F TEMP MATCHBITE
72
FIGHT
48
STEALTH
38
FUN FACT
The 'shellcracker' nickname is no joke — redears have specialized pharyngeal teeth that crush snail shells. State record is over 2 lbs of one of the prettiest panfish you can put in a skillet.
STATUS
Secure
Native · Centrarchidae
PFG SIGNAL · EST80°F · Lake Monticello● GO 92