Hello crappie anglers

Welcome aboard H2OGAZM. The front will mess'em up for a few days, but the colder temps we need to get the water temp to start dropping again.

Hey Slipcork, if you don't already, are you going to fry some roe up come next spring?

Bobberwatcher - First, they are two different lakes so that makes them two completely different environments even though they may be near each other geographically. Now taking that into consideration, what makes crappie be shallow or deep in any given body of water? -- water temp, and I think that is also relative to the overall size and depth of the lake. Other factors that might have an influence are preditation, amount of cover, oxygen content, and even water clarity. Overall, they're just two different lakes so the crappie will be reacting differently.

The same thing happens here. We fish Hamilton, Greeson and DeGray all of which are inside of an hour from each other. Sunday, Jerry fished Hamilton and it was painfully slow, but on DeGray we caught crappie both deep and shallow. On Hamilton we were catching fish deep. So, on DeGray I started deep too, caught a few but found the greater numbers actively feeding shallow. Jerry says I beat him Sunday, but I did not! Can't make that comparison when you're fishing two different lakes.

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Originally Posted by bobberwatcher

So many questions have been answered on this very thread. Question to all the pro's here: Why is it on Cane Creek this weekend I was catching them 3 to 5 feet deep, but down the road at lake Monticello, they are catching them 35-40 feet deep. What is up with that?

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Hey Allen:

I don't know what it is about Lake Monticello but I'm always hearing about people catching them deep there. I suspect the water temperature probably doesn't vary much from shallower water to deeper water this time of year and there's probably plenty of oxygen shallow or deep now that the water has cooled off some so that may take out a couple of the factors that affect the depth they are holding.

Food source is probably one of the major factors that determine where you can catch them so I suspect different lakes either have different primary food sources or the food source is holding at different depths for some reason.

We're finding the better crappie on Hamilton, Greeson and DeGray deeper than we usually do this time of year but I think when the water cools off a bit more and they (and all the other predator fish) get the shad thinned out some more they'll be coming shallower and getting serious about the Fall Feeding Frenzy.


They do keep it interesting!

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Originally Posted by bobberwatcher

So many questions have been answered on this very thread. Question to all the pro's here: Why is it on Cane Creek this weekend I was catching them 3 to 5 feet deep, but down the road at lake Monticello, they are catching them 35-40 feet deep. What is up with that?

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The crappie on both lakes are doing the same thing this time of year, they are feeding on the schools of shad. On Cane Creek there is not very deep water maybe 16-17 ft. It also has the hydrilla and the shad are staying above the hydrilla, probably because of oxygen. In Monticello you will see huge school of shad on your depth finder, they are moving to the deepest water and the predator fish are going to be following.

Welcome from N.C.

I fish about anywhere and everywhere. Do a lot of smallmouth fishing on streams. But here lately the crappie has gotten in my blood.Been goin out to Clear lake and Plum bayou here lately just not doing real good couple here and there can never establish pattern.I am purchasing a new fishfinder a portable so if you pro lip rippers have any suggestions throw them out please. I'm needing all the help i can get. But sure i'll be out somewhere this weekend.


Talk @ ya'll later goin to work but thinking of ripping lips!!!

Welcome from Batesville.

Welcome from Cape Fair

I too found this sight a few months ago. I feel I have many new freinds even though I havn't met a lot of them face to face. You will enjoy all of the education and BS that goes on here.
DP

Welcome from west-central Arkansas. You can guess where I live and fish by the name.:D Fishing is the best thing a man can do . Never too young or old to enjoy.

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Originally Posted by H2OGAZM

I fish about anywhere and everywhere. Do a lot of smallmouth fishing on streams. But here lately the crappie has gotten in my blood.Been goin out to Clear lake and Plum bayou here lately just not doing real good couple here and there can never establish pattern.I am purchasing a new fishfinder a portable so if you pro lip rippers have any suggestions throw them out please. I'm needing all the help i can get. But sure i'll be out somewhere this weekend.


Talk @ ya'll later goin to work but thinking of ripping lips!!!

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Hey, here is an excellent article that Jerry Blake wrote on fishfinders. http://www.crappie.com/gr8vb3/showthread.php?t=27679

I am currently using a PiranhaMAX fishfinder by Humminbird. Good unit for the money, and they also have a portable version... http://www.basspro.com/servlet/catal...rTarget=browse

I'm not too familiar with Plum bayou or Clear lake, but I know that some others on the board are, so they should be along shortly to help you out. I do know that it will take some colder weather before they start picking up on those lakes. Hope it helps.