Lake O' Pines - 4/27/19

Just got a boat last spring and would like to take my son and a buddy and his son Crappie fishing this weekend at Lake O' Pines. We are amateurs and looking for any advise / suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I would like to introduce my son to Crappie fishing. Here my other issue I don't have a fish finder or depth finder yet. We tied up at the bridge at 155 about a month ago and it was super slow. Not trying to poach anyone's spot just looking for a spot to have a good time and maybe get an interest brewing in my kid. OK thanks in advance for any help.

It's been a month since I was there, but if you pick a creek, go up it until the average depth is 10-12 feet, find a point that leads to shallower water, and drift, slow troll that with minnows just above the bottom. Vary the depth that you fish. When you catch a couple, try to spend some time in that area fishing a bit slower. Other than that, buy you bait locally and ask them. Usually they will give you some advice if you give them some business. Also helps to have a young'un with you! Sorry that's all I know. I was using a minnow rig(actually 4 minnow rigs and/or drop shot rigs). A slip cork rig also works, but vary the depth. Good luck and give us a report. If that fails, bream should be starting to get in the shallows.

I fished up at 155 bridge area this weekend. Caught 10 keepers and couple unders. Actually had to get away from bridge, quite a bit of current there and prob will be even more now that they have opened up the spillway at the dam more. Bite will prob be even worse. I know you said you don’t have a fish finder but I caught most in 10-12 foot of water. I would just get close to some of the boat lane markers and ease toward the banback and forth until you catch some. Then likeescout said fish that area slower. Good luck!

Thanks for all the advice, were gonna try to out Saturday - also was told to try Hurricane Creek so well flip a coin and decide from there.

This is a little late, but good for this time of the year. The crappie have moved back out and last time I was there, about 6 years ago, we took a cane pole (yes cane pole and a bass boat was a funny sight) and fished about 8 ft down in the stumps. All 3 of us limited out. I cannot remember what the road is, but coming off 155 from Gilmer side we took a right at the stores (Major road) there is a boat ramp a few miles from there. We put in and came out of the cove to the right and fished all the stumps in that area, kind of the middle of the lake. Will probably be hard to find right now with the water up, but when it is normal it is great fishing.