I know this seems to be a Saltie forum but I know there are a few freshwater guys here too and I was wondering if anybody targets crappie like I do??? Any tips for this time of year?? I went on my second nightstalk last night and didn't do worth diddly-sh*t!! I had the baitfish swarming around the light all night but couldn't buy a bite....as I was leaving I caught one little 4-inch crappie.... So any tips??
Posts: 171 | Location: N. Central Indiana | Registered:: December 17, 2007
I was gonna say, I don't always bring fish home, but I'm not that bad...
Used to do a lot more than now - got hooked on saltwater a ways back and don't hit the lakes like I used to. For me crappie fishing (Specks down here) was a winter and spring deal when they were bunched up for spawning. You could catch them other times of the year if you new what you were doing, but the cooler months was easy for almost anyone. I've seen some of your catches, and I wasn't even good enough when I did that type of fishing to give you any advice!
Druid61, formerly "mojoman"
Posts: 1864 | Location: Central Florida | Registered:: July 24, 2007
They're a winter fish down in these parts. I've been meaning to try to fetch a stringer full in Lake Trafford over near Immokalee in SW Florida, but have missed two winters now. Lake Okeechobee is full of them too, and the water levels are finally near normal due to Fay.
xsonmyeyes, I love crappie for eating. We catch them here a lot, but I never have much luck unless I am using small live minnows. Jigs never got them for me. Also, I hardly eve go at night, but do really good on cool days that are pretty overcast.
"The root cause of almost every problem is a government solution."
Posts: 430 | Location: Inola, Ok | Registered:: September 09, 2007
This time of year, I like to fish crappies around pilings and snags in small rivers. Usually around the end of the summer the weather conditions grow a bit droughty in the Midwest, and the stream's groundwater flow cools and clears the current. Crappie move out of the bayous into the cooler water, and they concentrate around the wood haunts.
Old bridges are a good place to start.
A tube jig juiced in minnow oil and fished against a slight current works wonders!
RS
This message has been edited. Last edited by: RickS,
I used to fish for crappie under the lights. This time of year, we would go really deep, maybe 30-40 feet in or next to a flooded creek channel. Around here, they need the deep water at least nearby.
We'd drop a 2-3 lines each to the bottom each them pull them up a couple of feet at a time (alternating so we would fish different rods at different depths). Just watch the rod tips for strikes, then grab it and lift.
I always use artificials in spring, but I always used minnows when lantern fishing.
It was always hit or miss fishing for us. That's the nature of stillfishing I guess.
Kayak fishing... paddling with a purpose.
Deputy Associate-Poobah, ETKFA (Motto - No Standards, No Rules, No Dues, No Benefits).
We had invited friends from TKAA up to fish for the weekend and it was cold and wet and spent a day on our favorite reservoir.. .and didn't do much. We we dragged in like drowned cats, Tina said she had gotten permission for a trip to "THE" farm pond. A very big deal..
Through three or four gates, across four or five pastures, dodge the cows and calves and careful where you step. The cows lick your car while you fish and IF you are dumb enough to leave a window down... they might DO something into your car.... but... the rewards? A picture is worth .... The location is secret... written permission is required.. and we don't overuse this place.
But getting crappie here is best accomplished with storm minnows or spinner baits. The irridecent storms killed on this low light day for some reason, and working these guys with a fly rod also works.
Jim in Virginia
Posts: 1469 | Location: Cumberland Co - Central VA | Registered:: July 24, 2006
I'm no expert, but these are my observations this summer. I target what bites . I mostly fish in a private strip pit,and for some unexplained reason, I've been catching large numbers of crappie IN SHALLOW WATER this summer. The Storm baits are producing, the ones that look like a small 2in crappie.
Posts: 43 | Location: Western KY | Registered:: May 24, 2008
I usually do really good, like Druid said....but the last 3 or 4 times out I just can't seem to get much action. I just realized what I typed...heh, heh, Yeah no action..
Posts: 171 | Location: N. Central Indiana | Registered:: December 17, 2007
. I mostly fish in a private strip pit,and for some unexplained reason, I've been catching large numbers of crappie IN SHALLOW WATER this summer. The Storm baits are producing, the ones that look like a small 2in crappie.
I just realized what I typed...heh, heh, Yeah no action..
