Thread: Jackson 3/3/15

We weren't planning on fishing Jackson again today but when we saw the weather report this morning we changed our minds. After looking at the forecast for the next few days we decided this would be our best chance for the rest of the week. The weather was not as predicted. It was a messy cool day. The fishing was good however. We kept 41 fish, 10 inches or better. We caught many more than that. Shooting docks was the ticket. Most were caught on a STB grub. The biggest fish was just under 13 inches.

What depth water seemed to work best?

Way to go hotwater. Ya'll are slaying those Jackson crappie.

Thanks Spider. See you soon. Jackson is our "spring training" for the upcoming "regular season" on the big "O".

Think I might take next week off. If I do, I'll be on the water everyday, rain or shine.

We found them around docks with at least 15 feet of water off the end of the dock. As is common they were under the darkest part of the dock. The side scan showed the fish stacked from 5 feet down to the bottom. Docks with downfalls or brush piles near the dock were productive also. I was using a 4.5 foot Crappie Max rod with a Shakespeare Alpha reel loaded with 4 lb. test. I use a 1/24 oz jig head and a slow steady retrieve. Watch the line closely. Some strikes were not felt but you could see the line jump or start moving sideways. Right now I believe about any jig will catch fish. It's kind of like using a firearm. Shot placement is the key.

I just got a new humminbird helix with side imaging but can't figure out how to use the si to see under the docks. What setting did you have the si on for the feet? I troll with it scanning 150 feet on each side.

QuackHead 90 I have a Lowrance and I'm sure others with more knowledge can help you with the technology better than I. I've had mine about 6 months and I am still learning. Here is what I do. When checking docks I idle by with the unit set to scan the right side only as my transducer is to the right of the outboard as you look at it from the rear of the boat. If I scan left and right I have to tilt the motor up some as it tends to block the image on the left side. I set the range to approximately 2X the depth or about 25-35 feet. As "Shoot2Grill" told me once the crappie look like little pieces of rice. They are not under every dock but when you find them they are "stacked" vertically and you will know that they are fish. If you have seen them in open water on your unit that is pretty much what you will see under a dock. The attached is a screenshot I found online. It was taken under a bridge. You probably won't find this many but it is a good picture of what to look for. I hope this helps.