Crappie Movements?

[Eufaula boy]

I have a question and would like to hear the input? I have recently moved to Checotah and have been fishing the north end of Eufaula the past few weeks more than I ever, and I think the crappie in dirty water are more nomadic than in clearer water. I also think that the crappie on the north end suspend more than they do on the south end, or maybe I just don't have the confidence in it like I do the south end, it is frustrating to go out one day and catch them pretty good then go out tommorrow and catch very little! I have done some research on this and found out that in most lakes that are prodominatly muddy trolling methods(long-line trolling, pulling cranks,power spider rigging, pushing cranks etc.) seem to work best! semms to me that the more water you cover the better? I would love to hear the opionions? EB

[The Lip RIPPERS]

You are right about them moving alot. When I used to fish the N. end alot we also found they were sporadic and moved alot. They also seemed to suspend very shallow compared to other parts of this lake. Also the shad seeem to move alot as well, does this spur their movements or is it a combination of weather and forage? But keep in mind this was before the high tech electronics were available.....but even with all these tools, wont clue you in on movements very well. Need to implant some tracking tags LOL!

[Eufaula boy]

I even e-mailed Steve Coleman and asked him what he thought? He said when the water rises and muddies the crappies worlds are turned upside down. He said find better water if you want to catch'em until it settles down. I had to agree, one of the most important things I look for is water color. A few years ago when we had the drought, everyone was killing them on the north end. The water up here was clearer than I had ever seen it. Lip I agree with you about the fish being so shallow, we were spider-rigging Sunday evening and catching some fish 2 ft deep in 5 ft of water, and the fish we caught on the bank were 6 inches deep! SHALLOW!!! I think the water that comes in from the pierce flat messes it up more than anything! But fish got to eat, there is some way to catchem consistantly! EB

[Crappie George]

EB you can catch them when they move out on the north end pulling jigs I have done it up there and caught some good fish when they were scattered and spiderriging was having minimal sucess never be afraid to try it anywhere just not real good in timbered areas to many hang ups !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[OkieDon]

I think one thing you have to keep in mind, at least in the Gentry Creek area, is that this part of the lake stays murky/muddy most of the year in my experience. I'm sure the Crappie and other fish are use to this and have adapted. It's not like in other parts of the lake where it stays clear or slightly stained most of the year and only muddies on a rain or rising water.

I mention this because the same tactics you use when a predominately clear lake gets muddy a few times a year may not be the same one you use on a lake that stays murky most of the year.

BTW, my spider rigging efforts have been hit and miss in the Gentry Creek area this year as well. I can't bet on these fish. If I catch them in one area spider rigging one day, there's no guarantee they'll be there the next...and they usually aren't! Of course, I've seen bank fishermen have the same 'luck' as well!

I'm thinking the fish on the North end are smarter than those down South...that has to be the only explanation!