CrappieFishing 101

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10-11-2006, 09:25 PM
bobberwatcher

CrappieFishing 101

I am new to the wonderful world of crappie fishing. (Only a year or so.) I am looking for any "tricks of the trade" from some of you pro's. (Jerry Blake comes to mind.) I have always been a bass (green carp) fisherman and have made the transistion almost whole-heartedly. I can promise you guys I have more questions than answers. Ex... How do Bass and Crappie compare when it comes to lure colors, water conditions, techniques, etc? I have a 4 yr old girl who loves to watch Wally Marshall on DVD and I even took her down to Shreveport Bass Pro last year to meet him. (Great guy and really made a big deal out of meeting her.) Now when I come home empty handed, she always tells me that Mr. Wally always catches fish. :confused:
10-11-2006, 10:42 PM
ceb

Glad to have you. Nothing wrong with lots of questions. You might ask a question that others may want to know also. So, we all learn together. What types of waters do you normally fish?

Here is a good spot for loads of knowledge. Just browse through the articles that interest you. http://www.crappie.com/tips.html
10-12-2006, 08:14 AM
Jason Piper

I always prefer a 2" curl tail grub with a chartreuse tail. The body color varies though. I like a black, purple, pumpkin, green or grey body for the type of water that I fish. I primaraly fish stained water (2'-5' visability), I like this the most.
I also have found that YUM puts out an excellent bait with the 1.5" wooly curl tail, my best bait overall! I use them on a 1/16 oz. round jig head. I fish them deep usualy, 20' or more, but casting shallow cover works as well with this bait.
Good luck!!!
10-12-2006, 09:44 AM
crappiechappy

I agree w/ JT 2'' curly tail w/ chart. tail. The color of the body changes, but almost always use chart. tail. Never tried them but have only heard great things about the bevertails. Just my 2 cents.
10-12-2006, 11:34 AM
gooch

I would suggest that you go out with a guide or two for a few trips. I know that I personaly learned more tips and techniqies in one afternoon of fishing with Darryl Morris and Jerry Blake than I have my whole life with my idiot crew. I know JT up in the great NW aslo puts some incredible stringers on the board as well. The cost of a guide is more than most want to spend but when you think about the fact you dont have to take anyting but you when you go its really not that expensive. You dont have to buy the ice, bait, gas, drinks, ect. I know I cant even go look at the lake for less than a 50.00 bill.

Another idea is to come to crappie camp. There will be some crappaholics there who not only are some fine folks but are very knowlegable on many different ways to catch a crappie. LA stump jumper is a roadrunner pro, J White is a trolling machine and Darryl and Jerry are spider rig, jig guides. So no matter how you like to catch em there should be someone there who is an expert willing to share info with you.

Take care and good luck

Gooch.
10-12-2006, 01:35 PM
bobberwatcher

I had planned on attending crappie camp with a friend of mine on this board, however, those plans got changed by our job. (Will be in training). We are planning on coming down to Greeson this Sunday afternoon and camping Sun and Monday night for sure. If we can't make it Sunday afternoon, we will definately be there Monday - Tuesday. We have never fished Greeson and we are really looking forward to it. Weather has turned off really nice! I will definately post some pics of our catches upon our return. Looking for a hot tip for Lake Greeson to put some slabs in the boat!
10-12-2006, 02:14 PM
Liptwister

Fishing Tips

I"m new to crappie fishing so this might seen like a stupid question. Went for a walk this morning on Cooper Lake(North East Texas). The lake is down about 17ft. Just wondering if Crappie go back into the creeks in the fall were they spawn in spring ? Found some 6ft to 8ft drop off's on the edges of the creeks that I thought might hold some fish. Just wondering.
10-12-2006, 02:59 PM
ceb

I have found that crappie like to hold on creek channel ledges almost all year. Granted, they will sometimes get up on flats and/or shoreline cover.

During the fall, the crappie will move shallower, but their desires are different than the spring. During spring, they are seeking spawning grounds. During the fall, they are following baitfish. As the water cools in the fall, the crappie will follow the baitfish into shallower water. So, this time of year, find some baitfish and you will probably find some crappie as well.
10-12-2006, 03:01 PM
ceb

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobberwatcher

I had planned on attending crappie camp with a friend of mine on this board, however, those plans got changed by our job. (Will be in training). We are planning on coming down to Greeson this Sunday afternoon and camping Sun and Monday night for sure. If we can't make it Sunday afternoon, we will definately be there Monday - Tuesday. We have never fished Greeson and we are really looking forward to it. Weather has turned off really nice! I will definately post some pics of our catches upon our return. Looking for a hot tip for Lake Greeson to put some slabs in the boat!

Hey bobber, here is a link to Jerry's daily trip reports. These will give you golden tips for your trip. Hope you get a bunch, and be sure to take lots of pics. http://www.actionfishingtrips.com/tripreports.htm
10-12-2006, 06:05 PM
minnowman

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobberwatcher

I am new to the wonderful world of crappie fishing. (Only a year or so.) I am looking for any "tricks of the trade" from some of you pro's. (Jerry Blake comes to mind.) I have always been a bass (green carp) fisherman and have made the transistion almost whole-heartedly. I can promise you guys I have more questions than answers. Ex... How do Bass and Crappie compare when it comes to lure colors, water conditions, techniques, etc? I have a 4 yr old girl who loves to watch Wally Marshall on DVD and I even took her down to Shreveport Bass Pro last year to meet him. (Great guy and really made a big deal out of meeting her.) Now when I come home empty handed, she always tells me that Mr. Wally always catches fish. :confused:

Hey bobberwatcher, this is minnowman...I am new to crappie fishing also in a sense. I recently went with JT Crappie Guide here in NWA and he taught me a LOT....I know the beavertail works good for me also, on top of what all was mentioned....I used to sit and watch bobbers all day, now I like to rig one poll with live bait (normally minnow) and use one with a jig or bait of some sort....I too have lots of questions, have only been on here since April but it has really up'd my fishing and I have picked up some really good advice and suggestions from some seasoned veterans. Caleb
10-12-2006, 06:05 PM
Darryl Morris

I don't want to rain on your party but tomorrow and Saturday are suppose to be beautiful days and weather is calling for rain Sunday thru Tuesday with a 60% chance on Monday. Now fall precip. usually only comes in the evening, but this one is a product of ole El Nino coming from the southwest. I would never tell anyone not to go fishing because "you never know till you go" but just be prepared for some high humidity and heavy dews, lol. Right now, if I don't book those days I'll probably be on the lake doing some GPS work. If you see me, don't be shy and say hi.
10-12-2006, 08:00 PM
bobberwatcher

Thanks Darryl. Unfortunately, I am one of those guys torn between family life, bow season, and fishing. The only window I have for the near future will be Monday and Tuesday so I may get a bit wet. I went out to Jerry's site and sounds like he has been wearing them out. I am "assuming" he is spider-rigging along these points and around his bambocondos. Sure hope I can stumble on a couple of his condo's. Might provide him some PVC condo's coordinates up on Lake Ouachita in return.
10-12-2006, 08:50 PM
Jerry Blake

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobberwatcher

Thanks Darryl. Unfortunately, I am one of those guys torn between family life, bow season, and fishing. The only window I have for the near future will be Monday and Tuesday so I may get a bit wet. I went out to Jerry's site and sounds like he has been wearing them out. I am "assuming" he is spider-rigging along these points and around his bambocondos. Sure hope I can stumble on a couple of his condo's. Might provide him some PVC condo's coordinates up on Lake Ouachita in return.

Hey BW:

We use a system we call "Hovering", which is similar to spider rigging except we put a maximum of 6-poles out, all down one side of the boat and then ease over and around the brushpiles and bamboo condos we put in.

I have some coordinates I can send you by email if you like. You'll need EasyGPS and a data cable to load them onto your GPS. If you don't have a data cable you can enter them manually.

I am more than happy to help you any way I can but as was mentioned earlier Darryl or I could help you a lot more on a guided fishing trip. We don't mind if our clients bring their GPS units and save waypoints on the places we fish so they can come back on their own and fish them anytime.

We'll be on Greeson next week so be sure and give us a shout and we'll try to put you on some fish whether you hire one of us to guide you or not. You can reach me anytime at 501-844-9028. What campground will you be staying at? We usually put in at Kirby Landing and have a lot of condos in that area.
10-13-2006, 08:54 AM
bobberwatcher

Thanks Jerry! I think you have conversed with JohnR on this message board. He will be with me on Monday and Tuesday. We will stay at Kirby either East or West. We have never been there, but we have read your posting at actiontrips, so we have an idea on how to fish it. (Great big THANK YOU). Feel free to send those GPS cords to [email protected] or send it to my private messageboard if you like. (JohnR is sitting here in my cube. He said feel free to post them to his Private Messageboard as well :D ). If you are going to be in the area, look for a 85 model red with black softtop jeep pulling a camo War Eagle or a tan Ford F150 pulling a tracker185. We will be looking for you as well as Darryl.
10-13-2006, 02:35 PM
Jerry Blake

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobberwatcher

Thanks Jerry! I think you have conversed with JohnR on this message board. He will be with me on Monday and Tuesday. We will stay at Kirby either East or West. We have never been there, but we have read your posting at actiontrips, so we have an idea on how to fish it. (Great big THANK YOU). Feel free to send those GPS cords to [email protected] or send it to my private messageboard if you like. (JohnR is sitting here in my cube. He said feel free to post them to his Private Messageboard as well :D ). If you are going to be in the area, look for a 85 model red with black softtop jeep pulling a camo War Eagle or a tan Ford F150 pulling a tracker185. We will be looking for you as well as Darryl.

I sent you an email with an EasyGPS file and list of the same coordinates you can enter manually.

See you on the water!
10-13-2006, 03:27 PM
bobberwatcher

Thanks Jerry. Wear them out today by chance? I read your posting from yesterday and ran over to Academy here in LR. They had 1/12 ounce Silver Kastmaster Spoon's, but no 1/4 ounce. Did not have any color of the slaters hair jigs either. Looks like Rosey Red's it is for the weekend. Just wondering, while "hoovering" are you using slip corks?
10-13-2006, 03:31 PM
Jerry Blake

Yes, 1/2-ounce Thill Pencil Style slip floats. I think Gander Mountain carries them.
10-15-2006, 10:23 AM
bobberwatcher

I carried a neighbor of mine with my 2 little girls up to TarCamp in Redfield. We caught 4 decent crappie, 5 bream and a pretty nice kentucky. Caught them on Blue/White crappie thunders. Couldn't get much "quality" fishing in with a 4yr old and a 2yr old in the boat, but we sure had a good time! Heading to Lake Greeson this afternoon. Will provide a report when I get back Tuesday.