Hello everyone - seeking general local info

Good afternoon everyone,
I am a hardcore bass angler that is looking to learn to catch a few crappie every now and then.

The Harris Chain is where I spend most of my time since I live in close proximity.

My buddy and I hit up Lake Carlton yesterday and rigged up a few poles with live minnows similar to a drop shot but with 2 hooks on each line, to mimic a crappie rig we picked up at the feed store where we got up bait.

We seemed to find them on the graph, but could never graph them and then catch them. We caught 2...by drifting...never found a school...

I would like to become a little more educated, and have a couple of questions if you don't mind.

1. I was checking out the techniques poll in the general forum, and I see soft plastics is preferred method in every season to catch crappie. Is this true in Florida too?
2. When I see guys with a bunch of rigs set up on their bow, are they fishing live bait? Minnows most likely?
3. What part of the water column should I be targeting?
4. Should I look for deep holes?

Thank you for any input or advice you can offer. I am eager to learn new things.

Most of the lakes around here are shallow (8ft).
Consider your fish finder sends down a cone of ultrasonic waves,
Standard theory says that the cone hits bottom will be 1/3rd the depth
in diameter.
So, say ..... lake is nine feet deep, that would mean that your cone
would only be 3ft in diameter hitting the bottom, and even less as it
travels up in the water column = pretty much useless, fun to watch but .......

Most of these guys just use jigs, tube/grub/roadrunners, and a few do use minnows
and minnow tipped jigs.
Ha ! ! Ain't no deep holes around here that I know of (some deeper lakes are found in
Kissimmee area)......

As far as depth, set different poles at different depths till ya find em, still you'll find em
a foot deep to four/five foot etc, etc, etc .... Just gotta experiment with that..

More better info from the rest of these guys ......

That’s good info. The front of the boat stuff you speak of is called spider rigging and usually uses rods 12’ or more in a fan. To better utilize what you probably have now, i think you would be better served to troll with long lines. 1/32 and 1/16 jigs with many colors of curl tails, pulled about 1 mph give or take. Colors vary, just read what guys post about and set up a box just for them. You’ll have enough to fill it with different colors soon enough. This covers enough water to give you some fish and begin the education as the fish aren’t in tight schools and are more scattered in broader areas. Lots of posts in the archives will answer a lot of your questions. My favorite colors include popsicle, black body/chartreuse tail, electric chicken, and pearl or white body/chartreuse tail. Good luck and keep us posted.

Most of all, welcome to the addiction from Debary.

Thanks guys, good info. Allow me some time to do some digging and I will let you know if I need further explanation on a certain topic.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Phantom309

Most of the lakes around here are shallow (8ft).
Consider your fish finder sends down a cone of ultrasonic waves,
Standard theory says that the cone hits bottom will be 1/3rd the depth
in diameter.
So, say ..... lake is nine feet deep, that would mean that your cone
would only be 3ft in diameter hitting the bottom, and even less as it
travels up in the water column = pretty much useless, fun to watch but .......

Most of these guys just use jigs, tube/grub/roadrunners, and a few do use minnows
and minnow tipped jigs.
Ha ! ! Ain't no deep holes around here that I know of (some deeper lakes are found in
Kissimmee area)......

As far as depth, set different poles at different depths till ya find em, still you'll find em
a foot deep to four/five foot etc, etc, etc .... Just gotta experiment with that..

More better info from the rest of these guys ......

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Heck, I call deep anything over 10 ft...and there's water up to 26' on the Harris Chain...I was fishing in about 14' of water in Carlton the other day....but not deep like reservoir deep. :Rofl

Thank you for the feedback!

Try Dora.

:pukeOr Monroe
Or Crescent
Or Woody
Or Dexter
Or George
Or :deadhorse

...or......or..........(getting the picture?)
Disclaimer........I’ve been told I’m clearly not a fan of the Harris chain....
:puke

Did pretty good on that lake last winter. Most guys you talk to fish minnows on a skirted jig. I just used a plain hook. What ever the depth half way down as they suspend. 1 mph troll.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by stickman1978

Did pretty good on that lake last winter. Most guys you talk to fish minnows on a skirted jig. I just used a plain hook. What ever the depth half way down as they suspend. 1 mph troll.

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Just to clarify...when you say "minnows on a skirted jig"...artificial minnows or live minnows?

Thanks Stickman...I appreciate the specific information...I'm very unfamiliar with this type of fishing, lol. I can catch bass on artificials all day...but it's always tough when you're learning something new.

I appreciate all of the input and feedback guys.

Usually live minnows.