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Trophy King
I agree with most all of ya. I am sidescanning ledges, cover on flats, etc. I see fish on everything but often can't get a bite or I catch dinks. I truely believe crappie are more in tune to changes in weather, lake elevation, etc. than any other fish going. And because of that reason they have been tough this year on Kentucky and Barkley. I have been on the water almost every day since mid March and this has been my toughest year I can remember.
But I am seeing numbers of fish on everything. My catch has been dominated by white crappie which were suppose to be well out numbered by the black crappie this year. I believe one reason is while the blacks were spawning the conditions have been miserable! I have had some good days and overall size this year I believe is bigger than ever. But I have also had days where I went without one keeper. I don't claim to be the best fishermen on the water at all. But I rarely go without one keeper (let alone a decent mess) this time of year.
For those you with sidescan do me a favor. If you have seen this let me know and if you haven't, start watching whether using Humminbird or Lowrance. Tell me if you see fish in and around cover. I have used sidescan since its inception and as a guide, I have been on their field staff program for several years.
Some don't believe me but I can see the fish on sidescan in and around the cover. The crappie look like tiny dark grains of rice. What got me noticing is when I see them on the edge of or working outside stakes, brush, etc. I get hits. If I see them hugging stakes up in cover they rarely hit. Even when I drag a jig like a silder or dangle a minnow in the stakes. I usually find them working outside the stakes in low light conditions like early morning, late evening, or in heavy cloud cover or rain. I believe this is the time they are more comfortable and are moving away from cover hunting for and attacking baitfish. If you have seen this let me know or if you haven't start watching your unit. I am getting a report together for Humminbird.
Thanks,
Lyndon
Old Guide
Matthew 6:34
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Slabmaster II
Old guide, I respect your views and appreciate your honesty when posting reports. I read your reports very often as I'm sure others on this board do as well. Thanks for the feedback. Here's a couple of picks with a Humminbird...is this what you're talking about??
Crappie Wall Hanger
It is a combination of things, I feel the top of the list is very poor water quality, the water is simply kinda or very muddy or stained. That is the issue in MHO. Water clears a bit, watch em go
Pepper
Jeremiah 29:11
God says he has plans for me.
Trophy King
Great shots deepcover! I love downscan. Any yep, I have seen that as well. The thing I was talking about was on the sidecsan images. Small streaks that appears in or out of cover while sidescanning. I am sure it is fish but want others opinion as well. I wish I had a good screenshot to post but I don't right now. I will try and get one this week. Also, thanks for the comments!
Lyndon
Old Guide
Matthew 6:34
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Slabmaster II
I have a tough time finding them in sidscan...this is on the only picture that I have, but I don't think it's what your talking about. Hope you can get us a pic this week.
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I seem to find more keeper size fish by the amount of baitfish and baitfish balls I see on the SI.....no baitfish around-no crappie...
I see lots of schooling fish on the SI...but the only thing I can catch when I see this is dinks....
The larger fish seem to be more loners this year...rarely am I catching more than 2 on one piece of structure unless I leave the structure for 30 minutes or so and refish...
So I have been starting about 3/4 of the way in the back of the bays and working my way out and I'm not catching fish until I start seeing the baitfish on the SI....I have found no baitfish in less than 9ft of flat bottom water (like in the back of the bays)....then I'm searching different depths around the baitfish until I find the depth where I can find a few...and even then, they are not very aggressive...I have to sit on them to get them to bite...
The females I've been catchin are mostly whites in 14 ft of 65 degree water....
These white females seem to prefer a very large bait package...either a larger minnow or a jig tipped with a minnow...sometimes I even put 2 minnows on 1 hook to get the offering to look bigger.....this seems to help some...(but it may be that I am just more confident in live bait)....
The blacks are probably shallower but I find it difficult to spider rig in less than 7 ft of water without spooking fish...I'll leave these to you guys that like the shallow bite...I'll fish the larger female whites out in the deeper water....
Rickie
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Great info guys. I have been seeing a lot of stake beds and trees that look like they have Christmas ornaments on them with down scan.I usually only catch very small crappie when I see this. I have noticed the bite being way off when they have a lot of gates open on KY. & BKLY. Especially with the whites. I think the blacks are done for the most part.If a guy could figure out this pattern and get them to bite you would be on to something.I think it is all related to the water level going up and down and the strong current. Tough bite this spring but we have managed some good fish.
Life is Good !
2018 Kentucky & Tennessee Crappie Masters State Champs!
Crappie Wall Hanger II
Also, many people here the words "Kentucky Lake" and they think of catching 100 Crappie per day, and they think of 2 pound Crappie everywhere.
Most people think this simply because the fishing media has told them this, also because years ago people could catch 100 or more Crappie per day in many spots around the lake.
Sure you still can get lucky and hit a hot spot and catch a ton of Crappie. But I think most fisherman are lucky to catch a limit of fish in 1 day.
Many years of tens of thousands of fisherman, fishing on KY Lake has simply taken a toll on the Crappie fishing, and it also has added a ton of fishing pressure to many areas of the lake.IMO
However, I agree that the lake levels, and bad weather are probably the main factor for the tough fishing this Spring.
I live 10 miles from the 160,000 acre Kentucky Lake, and the 57,000 acre Barkley Lake is within 25 miles of my house. I live 10 miles from 220,000 acres of Water.
I live in an Outdoor Paradise
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