Im headed down to what I hear is the best Crappie Lake, Kentucky Lake! My Buddy and I are looking for a Trophy Crappie! In your opinion what fish should we target? The Black Crappie or White Crappie for the best size.
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Im headed down to what I hear is the best Crappie Lake, Kentucky Lake! My Buddy and I are looking for a Trophy Crappie! In your opinion what fish should we target? The Black Crappie or White Crappie for the best size.
Your chance of catching a wall-hanger crappie will probably be best if you target white crappie in deeper water. That said, there is not a prettier crappie than a spawning male black crappie that is very colored up---really black vermiculation. I mount fish (and lots of other animals) for a living and this is just my opinion. A trophy fish is in the eyes of a beholder and making a trip just to catch a trophy fish will most of the time end up in disappointment. Come to have a good time, catch some fish, and consider a trophy to be gravy.
When are you heading down, and where do you plan on fishing? Gofeesh
Scott,
I would hold off for a week or so till the water clears up some. The blacks should be on the bank by then and like Mrdux said, they are the best lookin fish to mount. On Ky lake, you can catch 2lbers and some times up close to 3lbs but if your looking for a big ole 4lber you need to head south to Tunica, Grenada or Arcabutla(sp?) or some lakes like those. I saw guys weigh in 4lbers down there when I use to tournament fish.
Hi Scott,
I would go for a big white female in the first to second week of April. Of course a lot depends on the weather and lake levels. But whites are forecast to be down in numbers this year. If you catch a real hog, say 3 pound plus, you might consider getting a lot of pictures, some measurements, and turn her lose. A fiberglass replica may cost a little more but will last a lot longer. Plus all the babies she makes will be here for you when you come back after these slabs in a few years! Thumbs Up
Old Guide
We are headed down the week of march 28th. Fishing blood river. Bring lots of money for the locals! And dont worry, if i see the floating packs of fisherman i wont come join the crowd, i like to stay away from everyone. Not that i dont like people, i like finding my own spots!
As far as the trophy, im just happy to be on the water!
Thanks for the information. If you ever come to cincy let me know i will put you on some craps. Not as big as ky lake but still craps!
Just a fyi... We r not fishing the crappie tournament that coming weekend, just pleasure fishing.
Hit the lbl side bays, have a shore lunch, and enjoy the day and the fishing.
I do not have the number of fish under my belt that most of the guys on here have. I have caught about 10 over the last few years. I have come a long way with the help from great guys on this forum. Finally starting to know what conditions and structure to look for, and have gathered a wide assortment of recommended gear.
Caught this black last year, last weekend in April. Sunny day, probably mid to upper 60's water temp. Drifting a minnow under a slip float in about 3-5 foot of water up Eddy Creek past the bridge to the marina. This is my largest crappie.
Got a new used boat this year to get after 'em with. Hopefully I can upgrade to some slab whites this year. Other pics to come.
http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s...0/5a0351a9.jpg
Good looking black crappie brother! You can tell that sucker was spawning. The great thing about the increase in black crappie the last 10 years or so is it has really extended our season. When whites come in and out in early April you can find blacks shallow from mid March well up into May and even June. Looks like his face and gill plates were rubbed with charcoal. BEAUTIFUL! Thumbs Up
Lyndon
Nice fish for sure! I like my trophies on a round or oval white background with a scoop of homestyle coleslaw and some of them french fried taters! Hold the mustard!:D
Anyone catching any Black Nose in the trophy size on KY lake? I have been catching a few for the past few years on the lake but they are not even the legal length limit. I know they are a sub-specie of the Black Crappie. Fishing for those on Center Hill Lake in TN when you do get into them most are in the two pound range. Of course TWRA stocked that lake with thousands of them. But if I am going Crappie fishing I will stick to KY Lake. I am still trying to get that 18 inch plus fish.
Actually, AH .... Blacknose are just plain Black Crappie with a gene that creates the black stripe. Not a "sub-specie" at all.Quote:
Originally Posted by Alphahawk
And I tell ya what .... if Center Hill wasn't a gin clear kinda lake, and was a little closer to home >>>> I'D BE THERE ANYTIME I COULD .... LOL !! Watts Bar has'em ... and I dearly love setting the hook into them, most any size. I can't imagine catching 2lb Blacknose, with any consistancy. Man ... I'd probably have to change my line to 6# test (& maybe even my skivvies) ... LOL !!
... cp
I stand corrected. Now if I could run into the TWRA fish hatchery man who told me that so I could correct him...LOL. I do know that in the late 90's and early 2000's TN were stocking 2 million of those a year in our lakes. The only place I have ever caught any keepers were Center Hill and the Caney Fork River. Maybe there are a lot in East TN. I don't get there much to fish. I have not caught any in Percy Priest either. I guess the big thing with those from what I read in a TWRA release years ago was that they transported easier with much less death rate for stocking..among other things. But as far as I know there has been no conclusive evidence that they fight harder or grow bigger. Having said that, my son and I both swear they do fight harder...LOL. Why they get so big at Center Hill is beyond me. They are also that big at "The Pond" on the Caney.Quote:
Originally Posted by crappiepappy
Regards
Yeah, Alphahawk ... I think they fight harder, too. Not to mention that they are the ONLY Crappie that I've ever had jump clear out of the water, once hooked. I've had 3 of them do that ... and one even jumped clear over the front of the boat I was in !! LOL !! Guess that don't qualify as "fight harder", to the experts/biologists ... hehe !!
We've had some good discussions on the Blacknose, in various forums on this site. Lots of good info, for those interested ... just do an advanced search with keyword = Blacknose.
... cp