Cedar Creek??

[electric chicken]

Does anyone fish Cedar Creek, for crappie? Im having trouble with the current muddy water conditions. Its amazing, on the days when the water is clearer, its really no problem at all to get into a few. This is awful, theres fish to be caught, but the rain just wont quit!

[CrappiePappy]

Does anyone fish Cedar Creek, for crappie? Im having trouble with the current muddy water conditions. Its amazing, on the days when the water is clearer, its really no problem at all to get into a few. This is awful, theres fish to be caught, but the rain just wont quit!

They're likely burrowed up in the standing trees, waiting for conditions to clear & stabilize.

I haven't fished for Crappie there, in the last couple of years. But, when I did fish there, this time of year ... I found them to be in <5fow & around submerged wood, even when visibility was >3ft deep. Most of the rest of the time (post spawn) I would find them along the outside of rows of standing trees, or schooled over a submerged tree or brushpile in deep water.

This is the only source I know of, outside of here, where you can get a reasonably accurate report ..... http://cedarcreeklakeoutfitters.com/blog/?page_id=158

... cp

[electric chicken]

CP, You have really tried to help me out here, and its a breath of fresh air, thanks for your help.

But, I so agree thats where there at, hanging out in the cedars and standing timber, but if there waiting their in for along wait. Another round of storms rolling thru tonight, calling for rain most of the week too. Its sad, theres some really good fishing that could of be happing right now, when I was out there Sunday the water has made it to the upper 50's now. Sad cause its the only lake i can fish with my boat, another thing is there is now some really big fish, and I know where their at. Just the water condition is messing everything up.

Cp, this is when i get in my best fishing of the year. Cause its easy to locate crappie, I and everyone else knows where they want to be, and for the most part i know just what they want too. Once this window closes, so does my chance at having fun productive days on the water. But, I have been studying up for this summer though too.

Cp, if you dont mind, I really could use some guidance. I have bought every book out there it seems, but nothing is clicking. I love to fish, but for what ever I have fallen completely for crappie fishing. I am determined to be able to catch crappie year around, not only that I wish to be good enough, that when I take someone fishing I can put them on the fish. How full filling that be!

Outside of the spawning time slot, Im really clueless. Electronics, all I have is a little dual beam, Humming bird and I really cant read it, I have questions there for sure. So searching for fish is not going to happen for me till then, plus in my little boat I cant cover much water, and I cant do it fast either. So understanding location is a big. CP, if I just had the four "W" down, (Where, When, What to use and Why). I know you must have some understanding of these concepts. Would mind helping me out? thanks again EC

[CrappiePappy]

CP, You have really tried to help me out here, and its a breath of fresh air, thanks for your help.

But, I so agree thats where there at, hanging out in the cedars and standing timber, but if there waiting their in for along wait. Another round of storms rolling thru tonight, calling for rain most of the week too. Its sad, theres some really good fishing that could of be happing right now, when I was out there Sunday the water has made it to the upper 50's now. Sad cause its the only lake i can fish with my boat, another thing is there is now some really big fish, and I know where their at. Just the water condition is messing everything up.

Cp, this is when i get in my best fishing of the year. Cause its easy to locate crappie, I and everyone else knows where they want to be, and for the most part i know just what they want too. Once this window closes, so does my chance at having fun productive days on the water. But, I have been studying up for this summer though too.

Cp, if you dont mind, I really could use some guidance. I have bought every book out there it seems, but nothing is clicking. I love to fish, but for what ever I have fallen completely for crappie fishing. I am determined to be able to catch crappie year around, not only that I wish to be good enough, that when I take someone fishing I can put them on the fish. How full filling that be!

Outside of the spawning time slot, Im really clueless. Electronics, all I have is a little dual beam, Humming bird and I really cant read it, I have questions there for sure. So searching for fish is not going to happen for me till then, plus in my little boat I cant cover much water, and I cant do it fast either. So understanding location is a big. CP, if I just had the four "W" down, (Where, When, What to use and Why). I know you must have some understanding of these concepts. Would mind helping me out? thanks again EC

I'll do my best, but I can't guarantee anything. The 4 W's change every day, and sometimes several times a day. Every year is different, especially the timing of water level & temp changes.
Being versatile in your techniques & presentation of your baits is going to help you catch fish. There is no single magic bullet bait or technique that works every time, or all the time ... just like no one angler "always" catches fish when they go fishing (not even the pros).

I don't know how much help I'll be on Cedar Creek, but I have no problem telling you everything I've experienced there ... including "where" & on what I've caught them. But, I will have to say that I haven't Crappie fished there much, lately ... and the lake has changed a bit since I did fish it regularly. Several places I could count on for fish just didn't hold any the last few times I fished it for Crappie. And to be perfectly honest with you ... the biggest Crappie I've caught from there was 9" long (and that was back when the 9" size limit was in place).

That's one of the reasons I quit going there as often, and started going to Green River Lake. Same deal with fishing Taylorsville Lake .... it just wasn't producing for me, like it had in the past, so I moved to another lake (Green). I also switched from casting jigs 99% of the time, to other methods that were more in line with how the fish wanted the bait to be presented to them and "what" bait they wanted. I saw how others were fishing, and I got like'em ... or as close as my equipment allows me to do.

... cp

[electric chicken]

Thank you CP, its starting to come together, some what. So its been awhile since you have been to Cedar Creek. Theres is no size limit anymore, and its average day to have fish 12 inches and up. Oh, you may get a few smaller ones. But, its nothing to average them in the 1lb pound range. I swear it theres big health crappie there now. I feel blessed, this lake is only 20min from the house, and its producing both big bass and great crappie fishing.

But, I have so much to learn CP, its so overwhelming. It takes the fun out of it, cause I cant seem to connect, or break out of the box. Like my techniques, I have to laugh, I have two, pitching and vertical jigging standing timber. As for anything else Im kind of lost.

[Garrard Slab]

I may head out there on Wednesday this week

[electric chicken]

Well best of luck! the water is still muddy as all get out. the lower end is clearer though. If it doesnt rain anymore till Friday, thats when ill be after them.

[CrappiePappy]

Ever catch any Blacknose Black Crappie out of Cedar Creek ?? I've caught 2 from there. Also caught one Crappie that could have been a White Crappie (or a hybrid cross) ... and there aren't supposed to be any White Crappie in there.

Of course, there wasn't supposed to be any Gizzard Shad in there, either. Or any other species of sunfish, other than Bluegill & Shellcracker .... but, I've seen & caught several others, like Green Sunfish & Longear Sunfish.

... cp

[electric chicken]

Black nose crappie? Yes I believe I have, if your referring to the long black strip down there nose, then yes. Those make up some of the largest fish, thick too!! Love catching those, strong fighters! Whites, yes I have caught a few so far this year, but I have noticed Ill always catch them in the same spot, so I guess that means there must be some sand or gravel bottom there. But for the most part blacks, and there some good fish to be had. Shad, yep that too! I have found them stuffed full this year of them, its amazing how full they will be, some i found two whole shad, larger than my thumb, and they still inhaled my 2'' slab slayer.

[deadaim]

I fished it hard Sat and it was muddy and I got skunked. I have my best fishing at night under the lights. I will start about the first of may thru august at night. I catch a limit of crappie at night if I set up on the right spot. I am in a 24 foot pontoon that looks like a Coleman Lantern landing strip. As far as the shad go I have millions under the lights.