crappie fishing the pits?

I got a bar pit I been fishing for about 3 weeks now. Last week in March caught some really nicens full of eggs, but looked really pale. Then, for two weeks, I just catch a few here and there. Today, we went, nothin in the brush or the willows. Drifting across the middle produced a few, nothing really major. I did catch one female, about 1 1/4, had pale eggs again. Three smaller females with eggs almost red. The pit is about 5 ft deep most anywhere you check it, and lined with willows and buck brush on both sides. One side has several acres of woods and the water backs up in there, but it is less than a foot deep. Question is, do you think the crappie will spawn in these woods? And if they all had eggs three weeks ago, should they have spawned already? I don't know about the water temp, but it should be there already.

Myself I would be in the shallow water, but stay in the brush or grass. I catch them in about 1ft. to 18 inches of water in the brush.

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Originally Posted by LilSpeck

I got a bar pit I been fishing for about 3 weeks now. Last week in March caught some really nicens full of eggs, but looked really pale. Then, for two weeks, I just catch a few here and there. Today, we went, nothin in the brush or the willows. Drifting across the middle produced a few, nothing really major. I did catch one female, about 1 1/4, had pale eggs again. Three smaller females with eggs almost red. The pit is about 5 ft deep most anywhere you check it, and lined with willows and buck brush on both sides. One side has several acres of woods and the water backs up in there, but it is less than a foot deep. Question is, do you think the crappie will spawn in these woods? And if they all had eggs three weeks ago, should they have spawned already? I don't know about the water temp, but it should be there already.

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I have the same trouble with the slough I'm fishing,fished it this is the next week,not worth a crap.The crappie just two or three with eggs,bream about 1/3 with eggs and the bass bellies are hanging down.One day they will be around the buckbrush and the next day around trees only then the next just catch them on one side only and the next day I'd have no ideal where they hidding.I retired this year and I'm going to fish this slough to death as to learn it.If you fish the same bar pit long enough you'll learn how to catch more of them.
It too has water backed out in the woods and I told myself yesterday I needed to walk back in there and check things out if I was going to learn this slough.Looks awful snakey back in there LOL.The back water goes along ways back in there and could have deeper water back in there.The crappie could have already spawned in the back water as for the reason for just a few with eggs.Maybe next year I'll have some snake boots as to brave the back waters to check it out.Wednesday I almost crapped in my pants when a snake wanted in the boat real bad,dang a feller could have heart attack.I know sooner or later ones going drop out of a tree into the boat or even me and whats when I'll need more than newpaper to wipe with.

This is just one country boys opinion that has spent his life chasing the papermouths on oxbows and bar-ditches.

Crappie will spawn as shallow as they can and as far back in the brush as they can get. As long as your lake or ditch is at normal level, the crappie will spawn in that shallow water you refer to. But Crappie as I know them have a tendency to only spawn on "normal" or natural banks. I mean, if the bar-pit is 3 foot high creating "new" banks, I tend to fish the old bank line and find most of the spawners there. However, high water can produce new feeding areas and crappie tend to move to this fresh area to feed only.

Some of the biggest crappie I have ever caught has come from water less than a foot deep during the spawn. Black crappie are famous for laying behing cypress trees in less than a FOW.

Be careful though, crappie are extremely spooky in water this shallow and you may have to extend your pole reach to 11 or 12 foot and fish the lightest line you can( typically 4 or 6lb test).

But again, I'm no expert and this works for me!:)

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Originally Posted by dafshklr

This is just one country boys opinion that has spent his life chasing the papermouths on oxbows and bar-ditches.

Crappie will spawn as shallow as they can and as far back in the brush as they can get. As long as your lake or ditch is at normal level, the crappie will spawn in that shallow water you refer to. But Crappie as I know them have a tendency to only spawn on "normal" or natural banks. I mean, if the bar-pit is 3 foot high creating "new" banks, I tend to fish the old bank line and find most of the spawners there. However, high water can produce new feeding areas and crappie tend to move to this fresh area to feed only.

Some of the biggest crappie I have ever caught has come from water less than a foot deep during the spawn. Black crappie are famous for laying behing cypress trees in less than a FOW.

Be careful though, crappie are extremely spooky in water this shallow and you may have to extend your pole reach to 11 or 12 foot and fish the lightest line you can( typically 4 or 6lb test).

But again, I'm no expert and this works for me!:)

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I couldn't agree more. From bar pits to oxbows, these strategies will work if there's any crappie to be had. The only thing that I may add is that you will probably need a scullin' paddle. A lot of times, these crappie up in 1' of water won't stand for a trolling motor to be kickin' up mud and makin' a ruckus. You can also grab limbs and whatever else to "pull" the boat back up in there.

Drift fishing across the middle will really heat up in May and June (after the majority are finished spawning). Good luck with 'em and let us know how you do. Every day is different, so don't get frustrated.

Myself I carry a 8-10 foot pvc pipe that I use as a push pole in the shallows.

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Originally Posted by ceb

I couldn't agree more. From bar pits to oxbows, these strategies will work if there's any crappie to be had. The only thing that I may add is that you will probably need a scullin' paddle. A lot of times, these crappie up in 1' of water won't stand for a trolling motor to be kickin' up mud and makin' a ruckus. You can also grab limbs and whatever else to "pull" the boat back up in there.

Drift fishing across the middle will really heat up in May and June (after the majority are finished spawning). Good luck with 'em and let us know how you do. Every day is different, so don't get frustrated.

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