I live in NW Arkansas so I realize conditions in Texas are a bit different when it comes to catching redears or shellcrackers. To start here's an excerpt from the annual Table Rock fishing prospects:

Redear sunfish are also present, especially in the James River and Upper White River Arms. In spring 2024 electrofishing surveys, 73% of the redear sunfish captured were greater than 9” and 11% were greater than 11”.

I'd be very happy to catch a mess of 9-11" redears.

The Upper White river branch of Table Rock is rocky, also with gravel banks. Quite a bit of older standing timber in the lake with scattered brush piles. Lots of bluffs. Many coves with docks and timber.

Looking for advice on what to use and where would be good places to look for these fish. I can find bluegill, but usually there are few to no redear with them. It's still winter here, water temps in the low 40's, but things will be warming up soon.

Don't know of any local redear chasers so thought I'd come here to seek advice.

Rivers and creeks with good flow and gravel beds should hold some nice Redear. Also large lakes. Fish by dams, dock slips, coves, and creek channels. I use live worms with very good results. Do not fish for them much during winter. I usually start fishing for them in March through November. I have caught them during the winter fishing lakes. Usually in 12 to 20 feet of water holding by structure.

Quill...I catch a lot of red ear during the spring & summer months...and they are always mixed in with the bluegill colonies. Some colonies are heavier red ear than others, but have never found a red ear colony exclusive. May just be the lake I fish...not sure. I catch all my red ear on Gulp Alive 1" minnows on a drop shot set up. Any color will work, but my favorites are Chartreuse shad, watermelon & Starry Night. For live bait you can't beat worms & crickets. Richard Gene the Fishin Machine has lots of videos on red ear fishing on You Tube as well...they are informative & fun to watch...

Thanks for the advice, Banker and Vogey - I'll have to watch those videos. I'll check into those Gulp alive minnows too.

Plus #1 on both what Steve and Chuck said. I would also add that I have caught a lot of Redear in creeks while fishing from a Kayak. Look for rock bottoms. They also seem to like being by Hydrilla in all water bodies that have it.