Shellcrackers on the Tar River

[creekman]

I keep hearing about the shellcrackers (redears) on the tar river getting pretty big, over a pound is common. I am just wondering if anyone on here is catching these things in the tar river ? and how? I always panfish in the sloughs and smaller creeks off of rivers thinking that is better, and its hard to fish a cork when the water is running 70 mph out in the deeper river. Are the bigger fish out in the river? please help