Wednesday Wasn't a Fluke

I posted about this day already, but figured I'd add a little more detail.

Last Wednesday was a very "crappie" day on Chickamauga (in a good way).

I was dying to know if that day was a fluke, and it looked like Saturday was going to be the last decent weather day we're going to see for a while. Cold, but sunny and tolerable. I headed out on Chickamauga Lake with Ed McCoy to see if we could pull off a repeat performance to Wednesday.

We did.

It started slow, but we finally figured out that all (or most) of the crappie in the creek were hanging in one particular area... most in about a 150 yard stretch. Once we began concentrating (trolling) on that area of the creek, we started filling the livewell.

I always tell clients that when you're trolling, it's a marathon, not a sprint. In other words in usually won't be fast & furious as you are targeting fish that suspended, staging up in creeks in a pre-spawn mode and mostly following bait schools. They're not concentrated on specific structure. The theory is to put lots of lures in the strike zone and cover water water (slowly, 0.7 or 0.8 mph).

Ed came up with a great saying years ago. "When you're trolling, it doesn't matter where you go as long as you keep going."

Our hot bait on Saturday was a pink/chartreuse Crappie Magnet on a 1/16th oz. Road Runner head. We caught fish on some other stuff, but by day's end nearly every rod was pulling a pink/chartreuse Crappie Magnet on a Road Runner head.

Attachment 190760
We started at 8:30 and put our limit crappie in the boat at 1:30 (CLICK for cool video of 30th fish). That equals six keepers per hour, which is an excellent measuring stick for the pre-spawn trolling pattern. Anything less is poor-to-OK, anything more is outstanding. Of course you ALWAYS catch a bunch of short crappie and miscellaneous species as well, so there is plenty of action.

Attachment 190761
I'm not sure I'll be on the water with this week's weather. And I'm sure hoping the weather doesn't break our current pattern. But if it does, that's fishing and we'll track 'em down when Mother Nature lets up on a little.

If you want to book a trip, call now. Prime dates are filling up. :pray

Congrats on a good day.

You always got those crappie figured out this time of year, and make those clients happy!:HandsClapping

Congrats on your catch. Crappie Magnets have really worked well for me.


Regards

Mighty fine catch.:ThumbsUp

Good Pix as always

Great info. Nice pics and catch.

Good info and video.

+ 1 on the road runner head. nice fish

Great report and video. What lb test line do you troll with? Do you use a heavier test when using the crappie reaper planer boards.
On a side note, I ordered some crappie reaper planers after watching your video and can't wait to try them out.

I mostly use 6-pound test. Exact same with boards. No need to change. I might sometimes use 4-pound on an odd rod. But when trolling it can be important to have all tackle matched so you know all lines/lures are performing consistently.

Good to know! Thanks for the help.