baiting crappie hot spots

[treboryerf]

OK guys I got a question for you.How and what are some things that can be used to bait a crappie hole to hold and attract crappie.I've heard some people say dog food and other thingd what would be the process for doing this,example how much would you sink and how often,how much time should you wait between the time you bait a spot and the time you actually fish that spot,and also is it legal? Come on everyone there has to be someone on the site that knows some good secrets to pass along.

[MO Slab]

I hired a guide in Toledo Bend several yrs ago and asked him the same question.He told me he has heard of people baiting brushpiles with rice cakes.I heard it again from someone else not too long ago.Maybe try calling a local feed store and see if they have them.I guess placing several cakes in an onion sack with a brick and chunk it over!:D

[willk]

Man, I have heard about as many diffrent crappie attracters as crappie jigs. I have heard, and tried most of these. Dogfood both dry and canned, Fish Meal, Rice, Cottenseed meal, Alfalfa Hay (havn't tried only because I couldn't get any), and others I can't remember. The best thing I have found is to sink willow branches for brush piles. It seems habitat is the best attractant. There was a thread about a year ago on this subject and if you search you can most likely find it. There are also may threads on building habitat, with pics that are really good. Hope this helps.

[Scoot]

I would try different things mentioned. You are not attracting Sacs ,you are attracting Minnows and grass shrimps to the food. That in turn brings Sacs. I myself use horse and mule feed with molassas in it. Terrerific bait. The sweetness of the molassas ferments and draw minnows and grass shrimp by the thousands. Willow branches are good also. IF THEY HAVE CANE SYRUP ON IT BEFORE YOU SINK IT. Don't tell anybody I told you this. Good luck.

[Tree Fishing]

I have seen a rectangle constructed of pvc pipe with many ribs of pvc
pipe in between and verticle pieces off of the main ribs,make sure the
pvc pipes will go through the holes in a brick(s) which you will use to
sink this contrapsion,after you drill plenty of small holes 1/4 so it will take
on water and sink.Sorry I don't have a picture but I hope this helps.

Tree Fishing

[gabowman]

I really feel no bait is needed as long as a well placed structure is placed in the RIGHT SPOT. Bamboo works for me. Bait hides good in this thick structure and it holds crappie nearby.

[waxnslabs]

As far as dog food, people typically get a fairly large pvc pipe and strap it to a tree or pier with openings on each side. The top having a cap and the bottom having a small holed net to hold the food and allowing the food to slowly sleep through it attracting the bait fish. Also you can buy a 50lb bag of rice brand, which comes in white threaded bags, not paper, and just sink it in your spot. This is a little easier bc there's no preparation, the food can come out of the bag on its on so you just have to attach something to it to sink it and you're done.

[Team M&M]

I will answer your questions for you

I know several professional guides who use "baiting."

Now if it's ethical or not is beyond me, I don't want to argue it. I just know that when they have a paying customer come here from another state and they don't catch any crappie its super bad for their business. So they will do whatever it takes to make sure their customer is put on some fish and catches a boatload.

Here's what they do to guarantee a catch in almost any weather or day of the week. They use home-made structure and mealcakes in combination. Structure consists of taking a plastic mop bucket bought cheaply for 4$ at the dollar general store and filling it with quickcrete. Before the concrete has a chance to dry you shove a bunch of bamboo down into it. Bamboo needs to be around 4-5 feet in length and its ok if the leaves are on it. In fact its better to leave them on.
Let the concrete dry and then take the buckets to your fav spot and drop them slowly over the side of the boat.

Now as far as baiting goes, there is no better product than meal cakes. Some feed stores sell them locally and even market them as fishbait. However call around first because not every feed store has them.

The mealcakes are compacted tightly and slowly release in the water attracting baitfish by the multitudes. Wherever there is baitfish, crappie and bass will definantly follow.

PLEASE NOTE: If your local store doesn't have mealcakes they most certainly will have "Range Cubes" which is basically the same thing and works equally as well. Range cubes are 2-3 inch long pellets that they feed cattle. you can buy them in 50 pound sacks for around $7 a sack. Make sure to ask for 20% range cubes as the other types will dissolve too quickly in water.

If all else fails you can buy mealcake here:
Mealcake.com -Old Fashion Mealcake & Hoggum Concentrated

Now, if it's catfish your after, go to the everything's a buck store and buy that really cheap canned dog food. The kind that is 4 for a dollar. It's nasty stuff trust me, lol my dog wont even eat it.
Take about 8 cans and go to a spot on your fav lake and use an icepick to stab about 5 holes in the top of the can and 5 holes in the bottom of the can. Then chunk the cans overboard. You want to sort of throw them out to make a big circle.
Now come back the next day and you will catch tons of catfish like you have never seen. You can fish there over the cans as soon as you throw them out but it takes a while for the food to start seeping out of the cans. Usually a couple hours and the water is saturated.

Dont put anymore than 5-7 holes in the top and bottom because the idea is for it to be a slow leak so it lasts longer.

[scalebait]

but is it legal?

[waxnslabs]

Yes it's legal, it's the same as chumming catfish.