shellcracker fishing

Question
Mr. Gaither,
   I have been fishing catfish in the flint river a long time and have been very successful. I want to learn how to find shellcraker beds and catch them. I am going out from rattlesnake point in the morning to try them so if i am not lucky, i was hoping for some tips on rigging and how to find the beds. Any info would be appreciated.

Answer
Royce; The first part of your question is easy.  Get a cane pole or a spinning outfit.  I like the cane pole (or a brim buster) myself.
I use 6 or 8lb line the same length as the pole.  On this I use a small foam bobber about 2" long and a small hook.  For bait I use worms. I like the bigger ones myself but some people like the small red worms.  I hook about half a worm leaving both ends to wiggle.

Now comes the hard part, finding the beds.  I must admit that I am not the best at searching out beds.  I usually find them by seeing other people fishing on them.  I make a point of not crowding the people who are already there.  Usually unless it is an extremely small bed one can catch fish without bumping the other guy's boat as some people I have known to do.  Stay far enough away that you never throw where the other guy can reach.  At times I have found a bed by following the scent.  When I smell a bed I turn around and follow my path back where I came until it is strongest.  Then I try to determine what direction it is coming from which is usually up wind.
Move in that direction and zig zag across the smell until you have it detected.  If you can't pin point it start by dropping your worm in the area and if no bite in 30 seconds move it a few feet.  Keep this up until you find the fish.  

Most shellcracker beds I have found on this lake were in relatively shallow water (under 6')  The area starting just upstream of the boat road going straight out from Sealies Landing into the Flint arm of the lake.  Fish the areas along the islands upstream from the boat road from Sealies Landing.  Sometimes there will be beds near some of the docks between Rattlesnake Point and Sealies Landing.
We used to catch them off our dock but they haven't bedded there since the state put the chemical in the water to kill the hydrilla about 6 years ago.  They stopped putting it in a couple of years ago so I hope they will be back.

That's about all I can give you on shellcrackers.  I do not fish for them very much unless I have someone tell me where they are bedding.
Sorry I couldn't be more specific on how to find them.

Thanks for calling on me to try to answer your question.  I hope you find them tomorrow.  If there are other questions please call on me and I will do my best to do better next time.

I am
Jack L. Gaither
Lake Seminole,GA.