Crappie fishing crowd lakes - by Brad Wiegmann

[Slab]

Who let the boats out? Its summertime with the youth out of school and holidays like the fourth of July boating traffic is at an all time high. For anglers boating traffic can turn off biting crappie quickly ending a fishing trip.


Lake Pickwick crappie pro Kevin McCarley noted that boating traffic has always increased during the summer months, but since COVID the number of boats and big boats have multiplied. “Big boats and traffic are not conducive for crappie fishing on Pickwick Lake in Alabama,” McCarley continued, “During the summer months an angler has to take advantage of the first couple hours and the last couple hours of daylight. Normally from 10-am to 5-pm it’s time to get off the water and let the pleasure boats have the lake.”


In the past, McCarley would have been long-lining or pulling crankbaits in traditional areas, however, with LiveScope crappie fishing has changed. “Now, I go out and graph the area of the lake with down sonar and side imaging looking for crappie,” McCarley went on, “After, I have marked some spots it’s time to turn around and fish them. This is the fastest way to locate and fish for them before boat traffic becomes an issue.”


For Live Scopers boat traffic makes crappie fishing more challenging as boat wakes slapping the boat can spook off crappie; in addition to the waves bouncing the angler up and down making the correct presentation challenging.


“I keep it pretty simple when crappie fishing in the summertime,” McCarley continued, “A lightweight
14 foot B’n’M Poles Blue Diamond Series rod gets the lure away from the boat making my approach stealthier. As for lures I will use a Slider Lure Company 1 ½- inch grub in baby bass and I love the Delta Jig Company in 1/16- or 1/32-ounce in a gray or white or a color pattern called Frost. As for the weight, I keep it simple and use just a split shot that’s heavy enough to keep the jig head in the strike zone.”


McCarley noted that boaters in Alabama were required to have a boating license. “It’s great that boaters and anglers need to have a boating license to operate watercrafts in Alabama, but nothing takes the place of an experience boater teaching novice boaters on driving skills and boating etiquette,” McCarley continued, “All boaters whoever they are need to respect other boats out on the water.”


So do you need a boating license to operate a motorized boat in the State you live in or operating one in? A quick search on Google brought me to www.boat-ed.com website that had courses for all 50 States; in addition to Canada boater safety courses.


Alabama requires that any motorized boat operator over 12 years old is required by Alabama Law to pass a boater safety course and carry a boater education card when operating a motorized boat. It noted that you have to be at least 12 years old to take the online course and don’t have to be a resident of Alabama to take the online course. Boater education certificate in Alabama is often called a boating license and doesn’t expire or need to be renewed.


Each State has its own requirements; however, the online course available for that State has the requirements. To get certified online you have to sign up for that State approved course and pay for the course which takes about 2- to 3-minutes. Study and pass the course at your own pace on any desktop, tablet or mobile device. Complete additional State requirement forms and you are certified to operate a motorized boat for that State.


Also note that in certain States operating a Personal Water Craft such as a jet ski requires individuals to have a State approved boater safety education card if they are born after a certain date. State boating handbooks should be reviewed for any State requirements for boaters.

[SuperDave336]

Like most I’m not a fan of all the lake traffic during the summer. Go early and get off the lake before lunchtime.

[M R Dux]

I am loving that several states are considering laws mandating when and where the wakeboard boats can operate. They are a scourge on our lakes along with huge 100mph cigarette boats , neither have any consideration for anybody.


Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com

[Ketchn]

big wallets and big boats are not fun to deal with , I avoid that mix 99.9% of the time ....
even little wallets with little boats come into play in the mix .....
more people equals less fun in most cases ....just saying