Chomping at the bit!

Hey all! Chomping at the bit to get to my local water and target some Slabs. I am up in the tip of VA. and there is probably still some ice on the water. I have fished this lake for bass but never targeted Crappie before. It is a deep, clear lake TM only, and about 110 acres.It does have a Crappie population although not a great one. I have a 19' Gambler Bassboat with a Minn Kota Maxum 101 and HB 798si . From what I'm reading it sounds like I should target the main lake basin which is about 40'. How do you all suggest I do this? The lake has 2 main stems with many feeder stems and channels going into them. Also, as far as tackle goes, I have way too much already! Bass gear for every situation, Blue Cat gear for the Potomac Monsters, and Chesapeake Bay trolling gear. Now I need Crappie gear?!!!!lol I have spinning gear and casting gear but no long lining/spider gear. I have 8 driftmaster rod holders I use for Catfishing that I will adapt to my Bassboat. I also have 8 matching Abu Garcia 4600 reels which i would like to use if possible. And now the big question, what should i try??? I know i've thrown alot out here and appreciate any and all help. I'm fired up!:biggrin

Rick

I'm going to talk of finding what you have instead of rigging the boat. I use Bobby Garland Baby Shad in a variety of colors. These would do well on one of your medium spinning rods, 7' works well for me. If you have no light action rods, find a Shakespeare Micro Graphite rod in 7' light at wally for about $18. A 2000 series reel with extra spools and 6lb line is handy if you don't already have one. Using a 1/8 or 1/16 bare lead head, lower the offering to the bottom and reel up a turn or two, and do your best to keep it still. Of course you can't, but at this time of year the fish are lethargic and usually won't chase bait far and like to look at what they are about to eat. You will find some aggressive fish too but I'm talking of generalities that will get the slow ones and others too. Find the fish on the FF and present at their depth or a little above, or do the bottom up thing and count the reel turns so you can return to it on the next cast. Braided line helped me yesterday as the bite in 39* water was very light, I use 10/2 power pro. Blue thunder and black chartreuse and threadfin should get you started, good luck and tight lines.......Skeet......Welcome from Middle Tennessee

Thanks for your time and input Skeet! Just ordered up a couple packs of each and will give it a go as soon as ice is gone.

Rick

I was same as you just a few years ago and have slowly been making the crappie crossover. Being young and newly married I can't afford to buy a bunch of new stuff. I bought a 14' crappie combo from gander then used a 6.5' spinning I had alread and dug around at home to find a 5' spinning bluegill rod. Set them all up with twister tails of different colors and started experimenting with long line trolling. Before I knew it the fish were stacking up in the freezer. It helps to have better gear I'm certain but it can be done with less than awesome gear. Come summer time I put hi vis line on a few spare bass rods, hooked up some bandits and trolled them. Absolutely wore them out in August. Didn't even know they could be caught that time of year but I was sure wrong.

Just getting started get you 8 12 ft Pinnacal limit rods from Monks Crappie or Grizzly jig. Get 4 for 60.00 good poles for spider rigging. Then if you really like it later you can go up to some more expensive poles. Those reels will work fine for spider rigging.

rod holders and bass gear; if that is the case you might want to read the long thread on the Mississippi board on trolling crankbaits. Might want to add some clip-on linecounters to get started.

Madman, thanks for your thoughts. I will likely use what I have for starters.

Cray, at 4 for $60 cancel my above thought !lmao! Maybe I will start with four rigs until I get some experience

Bfish, trolling or longlining is what seemed most attractive to me with the equipment I already have. Plus, not knowing the waters, this will give me the best chance. But I will have to wait for the waters to warm and the fish to become more active right?

Thanks for the input!

Rick

Not necessarily. Just depends on the depth and forage base.

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Originally Posted by skeetbum

I'm going to talk of finding what you have instead of rigging the boat. I use Bobby Garland Baby Shad in a variety of colors. These would do well on one of your medium spinning rods, 7' works well for me. If you have no light action rods, find a Shakespeare Micro Graphite rod in 7' light at wally for about $18. A 2000 series reel with extra spools and 6lb line is handy if you don't already have one. Using a 1/8 or 1/16 bare lead head, lower the offering to the bottom and reel up a turn or two, and do your best to keep it still. Of course you can't, but at this time of year the fish are lethargic and usually won't chase bait far and like to look at what they are about to eat. You will find some aggressive fish too but I'm talking of generalities that will get the slow ones and others too. Find the fish on the FF and present at their depth or a little above, or do the bottom up thing and count the reel turns so you can return to it on the next cast. Braided line helped me yesterday as the bite in 39* water was very light, I use 10/2 power pro. Blue thunder and black chartreuse and threadfin should get you started, good luck and tight lines.......Skeet......Welcome from Middle Tennessee

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Skeetbum, what color is your 10/2 and where do you get it?

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Originally Posted by bfish

Not necessarily. Just depends on the depth and forage base.

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Bfish, this is a deep, clear lake with the only forage base of smaller gills/crappie/ and maybe escaped minnow population. No shad etc.

I was in pretty much the same boat as you and I bought 6 of the Pinnacle Limit rods from Grizzly Jig. Both Grizzly and Monk are sponsors here and either one will make you a good deal. I have been well pleased with the rods. I wanted some inexpensive reels too, as I did not have a bunch of spare reels laying around. I bought 6 of the Pinnacle Tiny 20 Classics. At the time I found them for $10 each and figured I was probably throwing away $60. Turned out they are pretty good reels and 4 years later I am still using them. I also found an Okuma ultralight at FishUSA for $17 and I have 4 of those. They have 3 ball bearings and are a little smoother. but both do well for the price.
I do use more expensive reels for casting and jigging. My favorite is the Pfleuger President, it comes in 3 sizes and is a nice mid price reel.
I would love to have a lake like yours to fish, as the larger reservoirs more often that not kick my rear. I fell in love with tight lining so I got an I-Pilot TM and that is the best money I've spent in all my years of fishing. It really gives you control of the boat from any seat and is almost like having an extra person to run the boat for you.
good luck it is all fun and addictive

SeaRay, Thanks for posting. I would love the ipilot but have a fairly new Maxxum 101. I think I will take the advice and try the Pinnacles! I cant wait to get on the water but we just got 18+ inches of snow here today! killing me! This lake at 100+ acres is smallish but deep, and crystal clear. Im not sure how to attack it come ice out.

Attack it with gusto and good luck to you. Of course we will be wanting to see pics.

Hotrod

bfish hit it on the head, those slabs can be pulled in year round and they have to be eating something. Blue gill fry along the drops is a biggie too...not just shad. Cold just means to fish slower, you will find yourself pulling in more fish this time of year with a jig or bait you can leave in front of them longer. When you have ice out and several days of sun don't forget about the upper water level or shallow mud flats. The water will warm faster and pull them and what bait you have in.

Like skeet and some of the others said, just go with a liter rod with a sensitive tip for better feel.

Slabbacks, Thanks for the advice! I've ordered a bunch of hair jigs, in1/16 & 1/32 and some BG baby shad in whites and colors that are in the bluegill. I also ordered 4 of the Bass Pro Shops 2 inch 10ft. cranks in bluegill like colors. I do have a few sensitive tipped spinning rods to start with and will order 4 spider rods to start. Pinnacles have been mentioned and Southern Crappie rods???? I am going to use some Abu Garcia 4600s (i have a pile of them) spooled with 6lb. camo crappie line from BPS. 2000+ yd. spool was less than $5 ! Am I on the right track? I think all I need is to get on the water! Come on weather!