Has this ever happened to you

I live on what used to be a fine crappie lake Lake Erling fish at least 3 times per week have out about 18 tops for summer fishing do okay but most fish are small winter fishing has allways been prime last 3 years fishing has been less than bad very very bad tried fishing other lakes did ok as long as some one gave me pointers as to where when and how would make a few trips pattern would change and I would be lost find fish on home lake catch a few fish pattern would change and I would be lost this destructive (aggravating ) series of events has dicouraged me a lot . I have allways loved to fish Crappie but all tactics seem to be failing me need help .
Any pointers on how long slump can last and ways of changing fishing results would be appreciated.

I will not give up just wanted to vent since I could not brag.

Noslab

Experiment with different styles like; long line trolling or spidder rigging. Use live bait.

I assume you have a boat rigged with depth finder, if so go out with the intention of charting and plotting your next outting. I do this often, mainly because I am learning new water. It seems to be the same issue with you, you need to regroup. I usually grab a rod and some tackle, cause you'll have to boat check a few to see what they are;)

I am not familar with your lake so I can't speculate on the best style or technique.

Sometimes fishing is just that... don't get discouraged...

What ever you do don't revert to bass fishing:eek:

I can understand your frustrations. They say that lakes go through cycles, although that really doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me. Maybe just try a technique that you've never tried or fish an area that you've never thought would hold crappie.

Hey Noslab:

"If it aint working, try something else". :) Depending on how much cover is in the lake and where it is you may need more cover in different depths of water. They may be feeding at different depths on different parts of the lake too. If nothing is working try something you wouldn't expect to work. This morning a friend and I were doing a little scouting - fishing 15 to 16-feet over some old brush and bamboo that has been producing pretty well lately. The back of my boat happened to swing over a Bamboo Crappie Condo we just put in last week for a spring staging bed and it showed some fish. We raised our bait up to 10-11-foot and BAM we caught 4 good keepers in short order. I would not have expected crappie to be that shallow with the cold water temps and crazy weather we've been having but we found them that shallow in another similar area this afternoon. We've caught crappie from 6-feet deep to 36-feet deep on the same day on different parts of the lake. If there are crappie in the lake and you have plenty of cover at a variety of depths you should be able to find them somewhere if you keep checking different depths. You may have to find the exact depth they are willing to bite for each location. Sometimes 6-inches one way or the other will take you out of the "Strike Zone".

Using real small minnows no more than about one and a quarter inch on a light wire hook so they can swim around some is usually productive.

They always seem to want to be close to deeper water and "deeper" is relative. In a shallow lake a ditch 6-inches to a foot deep may be all it takes to hold crappie nearby. In our deep mountain reservoir a drop of 4 to 6-feet with cover at the top will hold them well, especially if it's on a point or inside bend of a creek channel.

Hope this helps.

Coming from Texas and fishing deep water in Sam Raybern or Toledo Bend in the Fall or this time of the year, I had to learn to search the creeks in the shallower lakes I frequent here in Arkansas. The biggest benefit was, there were other fishermen with many techniques to watch. Sure got expenseive trying to rig up to imitate.
DP