Ohio River Tribs. heating up

Took off work yesterday, and fished 4 local Ohio river tribs. I live on the Meldahl pool of the Ohio river and these creeks are all a short boat ride from each other. I caught a total of 51 crappie, 2 bass, 2 bluegill and 1 catfish. Out of all those crappie only 6 keepers. I caught all of them on minnows and slip bobbers about 3 ft. deep. These creeks are full of small crappie. If you know the submerged brush and laydowns and keep on the move, you will catch a barrel full of fish. Never in my memory have I caught this many small crappie compared to keeper size. I guess this is a good sign for the years to come. But I'm at a loss to explain where the bigger fish are. Do you think as the water cools the smaller fish come into the creeks before the bigger fish ? :confused: I guess I'll find out in the weeks to come as I will be there. :D

I am wondering the same thing. I went to a lake the other day and caught about 30 crappie {shooting docks} but only one keeper (it was borderline!). I hope the bigger fish show up later this fall.

I fished the same 4 creeks today (Sunday) and caught 22. Only 4 keepers, and the bite was slow. Had to work hard for the ones I caught. Same water temps. and same tactics. I am ready for the slabs to come into the creeks for the fall feeding frenzy.