Thread: Short crappie trip 7/21/24

We had a short little over 3 hour trip this morning and found the crappie bite very slow. But we did land 3 bass up to 2.75 pounds. We fished an offshore structure where we caught most of our fish although 2 crappie and 1 bass came from another location. I only had one pic taken of a 13.5” black crappie.

I will go into a little detail about the offshore structures that I look for and areas that crappie like to show up from time to time. In the summer and also in the winter, I fish the main river channel delta areas where creek channels or ditches intersect the main river channel. I will also fish bluff areas where the main channel runs along the bluffs.

Always fish the downstream side of the areas as that is where the fish set up to intercept what Mother Nature brings them for dinner. When the fish go on a feeding spree, they will move up on the flats above the drop offs of the creek channels that bisect the delta structures. When the bite is over, they will settle back over the creek channels suspended many times at the depth of the drop off or slightly below.

Although crappie move a lot more than we like to think, they rarely chase lures. In my opinion, most fishermen that fish for crappie present their lures too fast. There are always exceptions to that rule, but if you listen to what I am telling you, you will catch more fish. Slow down your presentation to a crawl. You would be surprised how many fish that you will catch if you dead stick your lure 20-30 feet deep over structure. The fish can’t stand that little Bobby Garland tail on the Baby Shad’s or Slab Slayers waving gently in the current just daring them to bite.

There are portions of a bluff where the main river channel is moving away from the bluff and I generally ignore there spots and concentrate where the channel is right against the bluff. I may be missing a lot of fish, but I may be saving time by concentrating on prime locations. Fish suspended 1/2 way down in the middle of a creek channel, I find to be mostly inactive as they aren’t suspended over any kind of cover or structure. It is a waste of time to fish for them. At least I don’t make very many casts to them. My time is short and I want to maximize it to the fullest.

Many of these spots are prime bass structures and we have to compete with the bass guys for them sometimes. That is why I have so many areas already located. I just move from spot to spot and look for active fish. Make sense? Any of this make sense?

Great stuff!
thanks for sharing!
I have pulled up to the mouth of a creek with a huge suspended school many a time thinking I was going to load the boat usually catch 1 or 2 if I’m lucky most time not even that ! Very seldom do I fool with those fish anymore!