Reply With QuoteHey, we can write a grant and get paid to study the magic hour, patterns, etc. What a job!
Peke
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Crappie Wall Hanger II - Sponsor
I think I want to study and pattern the forage base....the rest should not be too hard?
"Never Fry Bacon Naked"
Crappie Wall Hanger
Hey, we can write a grant and get paid to study the magic hour, patterns, etc. What a job!
Peke
Moderator OK Forum
I'm the one that started calling it the "Magic Hour" here on Oologah during this seasons spawn. It has not failed me on a trip yet. Oologah Crappie tend to have a different schedule than most other bodies of water. Oologah does not have that many coves or creeks, yet has 107k surface acres of water at normal pool. The Crappie don't seem to like being close to the surface on a sunny day after a particular time. It's held true for me for the last 5 years. They always move deeper after sunrise. Only a stragler or two can be caught shallow. However, I've found many places during the spawn that the fish just seem to slam the crap out of a minnow about 30 minutes prior to sunup, and sometimes lasting 1.5 hrs. I fairly certain, I coined the "Magic Hour" phrase. I have no clue as to if it works on other bodies of water. I like to launch around 3-4 a.m. weather permitting. I've never experienced any fast and furious catching in the middle of the night, except for during the "Magic Hour". I gotta call 'em as I catch 'em.
Reaper, Where Fish come to Fry
Trophy King II
Well my theory on successful shallow water fishing during the "magic hours", that occur at sunrise and sunset, is because fish do not have eyelids. I know as crazy as it sounds I think there is something to this.
In the early morning and late evening hours, the sun angle allows it to reflect off the water and thus allows the baitfish a chance to come into shallow water to feed. The game fish will always follow the baitfish and in shallow water the baitfish are much easier targets. It seems that this almost always occurs near dropoffs of creek channels. (fish seem to love to be closer to deeper water too.)
As the sun rises, the angle is such that the light penetrates the water and thus the fish move out to deeper structured areas of the lake. (I feel this occurs due to them not being able to control the amount of light that enters their eyes.) In the mid mornings when I catch fish shallow, there is almost always a log or tree that is creating a shadow to protect the fish eyes. I will always fish the shadow side of the structure and a lot of times I can do good especially during the spawn when they are protecting the beds.
I fish eufaula and around the Longtown area, in the clearer water, inevitably I will catch fish 2 to 3 foot deeper than when I fish CC or Rock Creek. Again, the clarity of the water allows the sun penetration forcing the baitfish and gamefish deeper.
I have read other articles on this so it may or may not be true but it sure coincides with the "magic hour."
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