Thread: Night fishing for Crappie

Tbird is a mud hole so I need to be shallower than the 25ft I was in at both spots. Twin bridges channel is just such a spot. Like 10-15ft last time I went through there. And there is a channel through there.

I've caught many catfish in that area when I was shorebound so i think it will be ideal for both crappies and cats.

Will post again after I try it out this weekend, depending on the weather.
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Okie you need to call the people in charge of the lake you want to add brush to as rules may very per each lake.

I hate brush piles the last thing I want to do is stay hung up all night. In KY I look for deep channels and drop-offs even better if they come up close to point, Clear water and the darkest nights.

I use (2) lights when I night fish for crappie; One bright halogen light submerged about 12-16 feet and one floating light. I usually bait out the spot with hog pellets and then wait. It may take hours before they start coming in, but if the water is clear and you're patient, the crappie will come.

I think fishing with lights at night is something that relies entirely on the fact that there is structure there that already has crappie, or the light source has been there for awhile that forces the fish to come to the light because they know its a consistent source of food.
I'll give some examples. We have a small city lake that has lots of docks on it. Some of the dock owners, mainly the ones with covered boat houses leave lights on every night, suspended close to the water. There is nothing there to attract crappie or any other fish, but since its on and just above the water it attracts bugs, and bait fish, so the crappie and every other specie come as well.
On Kaw lake, the marina has a navigation light on at the end of the marina for boaters.
Both of the examples I've given have zero structure, only mud bottoms, but they are on consistently and that is the key to attracting fish to them.
Throwing out a light and expecting fish to magically appear probably won't ever happen unless your centered on structure they are already holding on.

Ok, my speculative answer with no substantive proof rant is over. I've got some bluegill to cook for my late supper.

Haven't had bluegill since a kid. That is some good eating fish. Problematic with the bones when not filleted, but Its danged good!

My son, Montanaboy, uses lights quite often. We have fished with him, using the lights, on docks on three different lakes. We killed them every time, when others were only catching a few. Two of the docks had brush, and one didn't.
Last year, a guy on the dock at Arcadia was doing pretty well with a light.
This past year at Ft. Cobb, some guys did very well most of the time, but not so well on other nights.
Most of the guys I have seen at Carl Blackwell didn't do very well when using the lights.
Amen on the bluegills being great eating.

Okie, check the homepage for a decent little write-up on nightstalking crappie. I'll be trying this method when I get a chance.