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Live right next to this chain. Haven't been able to find any areas to consistently produce. Tried minnows at night with lights and have long lined jigs in evenings. Anybody have any experience on this chain? Driving to St Johns to fish Monroe and Harney gets expensive. Not looking to replicate Monroe like success, but some average crappie fishing has to exist on this chain. Its certainly big enough. Any help much appreciated.
Where on the chain r u at? Its early yet for crappie turned on over here. For whatever reason they come in at Monroe early fall, still surprises me.
Attachment 142407My best trip to Monroe thus far was on 11/2. Terrible weather. Had squalls of rain every 30 minutes or so. In between I'd pick up a fish or two when the wind died down long lining them. Nice ones though. Took me about 8 hours to get these so it was work. I'm willing to put similar work in any where I fish including Conway. If I can get results. Just haven't had the success on Conway chain yet over the past 2 years. In fairness, I haven't fished it nearly as hard, but it's because I haven't been encouraged by even an average day. The fish I catch sometimes are really nice on Conway, but I'll only get like one in 4-6 hours and that's long lining them in the afternoon. Like I said the fish will be in the 12 inch range and nice though. When I fish minnows at night with slip float rigs and lights I'll get an average amount of 6 to 10 fish, but they'll all be like really small with a big one at 8 to 10 inches. Since its a clear water lake that is well developed I really would prefer fishing at night to cut down on the amount of traffic I have to deal with. Anyhow I've always heard the chain was good, but have yet to run into anyone with any local knowledge to just give me a hint which tree to bark up so to speak.
I live in the Conway area about 2 miles from the Hofner launch. Which is what I use since the fern creek launch they close at night. My boat gives me range to fish any three of the lakes on the chain. I figure clear water Conway is much like private lake holden. I occasionally catch tank spec out of that lake fishing shiners for bass, but again when I've tried to target them I can't seem to get any numbers. Is it just clear water or do I need to find the "spots"
Welcome to the site. Don't know of anyone that fishes that area. Wish I could help. The clear water might very well have something to do with it.
Thanks speckantor. I'll keep at it and if I figure it out I'll report it. Honestly, the St Johns river/lake system is the most impressive crappie fishing I've had the privilege to fish. The fact that you can catch nice fish in the middle of the day boggles my mind. My home waters up north you had to fish evenings and nights. Those were clear water lakes.
Took me two years to find spawning shell crackers on Conway but I did finally find a good spot. Hopefully the spec will b the same
If its clear the fish will be deeper. Probably not a good lake to be longlining in since its hard to get real deep when longlining. I fish several clear lakes in my area and I tightline pretty close to the bottom to catch the fish.......do some riding around, mark some deeper area of the lake and then try tightlining real slow around the area. I don't know of this chain or the characteristics of the lakes so my suggestions are pure speculation and references to how I approach clear bodies of water. Good luck.
Thanks for the advice. Yeah, I have trolled around quite a bit have some of the deeper areas marked and even found some humps that look promising. I have never tightlined either pushing or pulling with any significant amount of weight to get down. Only long lined on Monroe with really light jig heads 1/32 to 1/64 because honestly its so easy to do here and most of the lake is 6-8 ft deep with stained/dirty water.
But I live next to a clear lake chain so as you have suggested I need to change my tactics. Been looking at videos online of different terminal rigs. Some guys using three way swivels with leaders and drop weight line as heavy as 1/2 oz. Some guys claim they can just use a larger jig head 1/16th oz and let out a ton of line. I don't know if I like that idea. I have four rod holders off the back of my boat. I also have one of those black widow rod holder bars installed in the front with 4 holders where I guess I could try pushing. I have two 8 ft ultra light rods and two 6 ft ultra light rods. The "deep" holes would be in the mid 20 foot range. Any suggestions about how a rookie like me should proceed with what I have. My rods are all running 4-6 lb suffix moss green mono if I remember right. I could really just use some suggests about terminal rigging and whether I should pull or push. As an avid fisherman I know success is in the details so I don't want to spend my time dredging bottom with too much weight or untangling terminal rigs that I put together wrong.
Thank you for the advice. Much appreciated.
Slipfloater pm sent
The lake you described sounds a lot like a lake I fish called Lowry Lake. Super clear, almost as clear as tap water and depths in the mid 20's. I use a 3/4 oz egg sinker, 2 way swivel, with a 16-20" leader. Usually have a jig tied on and tip it with a minnow. Lower the baits to the bottom, when the hit just reel up a few cranks then troll really slow. Maybe do 2 rods like that then take the next 2 and real up a few more cranks until you find the fish. A good depth finder works wonders also. Good luck
Used to catch a lot of specks in Lake Mary Jane at Moss Park, opened late but fishing was good and some fished Lake Hart, not too far from Lake Conway. Good luck --shu
When you go at night how much light do you use? I ask because once upon a time I was fishing a private pond in Land O Lakes, Fl. Daytime with minners and a cork. I could not buy a bite for love nor money. This pond was clear water with a dark or muddy bottom. They could see me. Just as the sun went down I started to catch a few. I didn't have a light but had to leave to punch the home clock. Made plans to go back at night with Coleman gasoline lantern mounted on my boat. I got boat rigged to hold lantern out over water. I had everything ready to go. I had that lantern pumped up so tight if it had caught fire it would have blown me back to Plant City. I lighted that thing and had it burning bright as day. Dropped my minners and guess what, not a bite! I was dumb founded and didn't know what was going on, ther was no way this was not going to catch me some specks. I sat there in that boat fussing and fuming, then I thought about before when the sun went down behind the horizon it wasn't as light as I had with that lantern. I turned the lantern down to just a nice glow and low and behold I started catching fish. My point is you can have too much light even when night fishing.
Very good post Yelim. Paying attention pays off.
yep that is an interesting story.
Thanks for the advice I've been out of the game for a while my boat trailer axle broke on the highway. Just got it back so going to start trying again.
thanks for the advice. Sorry so long to reply. My boat trailer axle snapped so I had been busy with repairs.
Thanks for the detailed info. I'll keep to myself. Much appreciated. Sorry for the lateness of my reply. My boat trailer axle snapped several weeks ago and I just got it all repaired. That was consuming my time. Now I'm back in business and I'll be trying again.