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Here’s where the crappie are hiding!
Here’s where the crappie are hiding! by Brad Wiegmann
So where can you almost always find crappie out fishing? If you guess under docks you would be right. However, fishing around docks can be challenging and having the right tackle will play a major part in your success.
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Beaver Lake crappie fishing guide and Bobby Garland pro Payton Usrey is an expert when it comes to dock shooting. After years of fishing docks he has figured out what rod, reel, lure and presentation is required to catch them. Usrey noted its one technique that doesn’t require forward facing sonar to be successful at for catching crappie.
“While big crappie can be caught year around under docks the best time is October through February at least on Beaver Lake,” Usrey continued, “The big crappie move under there during the colder winter months. Also the lake is void of wake boats and less people are on their docks to spook crappie off.
When it comes to rods, Usrey uses the 6 foot B’n’M Poles Company Dock Shooter. The ultralight spinning rod made from 100% graphite has a solid backbone, but with the flexibility to shoot a jig under docks. He pairs that up with a real small size 100 spinning reel. For line he uses Berkley 6 pound test low Vis Trilene line.
When picking what lure to fish under a dock, Ursey likes the Bobby Garland Itty Bit Slab Hunt’R or Baby Shad Swim’R. His favorite colors are purple monkey, blood minnow or Grenada Gold. “It’s crazy, but some days you just can’t keep them off of that Grenada Gold,” said Usrey.
In general Usrey likes to fish docks with 15 feet and deeper water under them. “You want to fish the deepest, darkest spot because that’s where the crappie will be which is often under lifts, swim platform or boats in the slips of the docks,” said Usrey. He retrieves the lure through and above the crappie till they start biting.
When the crappie are super shallow Usrey will use a slip float to hold up the 1/16-ounce jighead and soft plastic lure. Usrey uses the balsa wood Thill Night ‘n Day Glow Float. Its buoyant balsa body rides lower on the shortened float shaft making it easier to see a strike during the day or low light conditions. “During the cold winter months, I will rig up a 5 foot rod and spincast reel like a ZEBCO 33 and pitch or shoot around docks. I will only set the depth one foot or so deep and work the lure back slowly.”
Usrey gave these tips for being more successful when dock fishing for crappie. “I like to use Blakemore Reel Magic Line Lubricant when shooting docks on my fishing line. Reel & Line Magic will increase your casting distance and reduce line memory on your reels. I normally put it on about every 20 casts or when I feel like it’s not casting far,” Ursey went on, “Next don’t go into dock shooting and be afraid to get hung up. You will get hung up. That’s why I use the cheapest round ball head 1/16-ounce jighead with a size 4 hook I can find.”
Lastly, Usrey noted that boat dock fishing can be more challenging with boat positioning. “Respect the boat dock owner’s property and keep off the docks, however, it’s important to note that the boat dock owners don’t own the water around or below their docks.”
