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The popular belief is that Sacaulait only feed up well that's a myth because I dumped grass shrimp in my fish tank and my black and white crappie go and pick them off the bottom when they are not any above them. They even turn sideways to attack them on the bottom it definitely is something to watch.
Always thought this was non sense. Might be a different story with suspended baitfish. I could see where they only feed up in that situation.
Gotta get me a fish tank now for research.
Mike, I was fishing a couple of years back and pitched a jig towards a cypress tree. The jig hit the water right next to the tree and hung up on the bark about 2 inches below the water's surface. A sac came up quickly and turned sideways and picked up the jig. I pick up the fish somewhat surprised.
"gene"
I knew that was a myth, basin sacs feed heavy on baby crawfish in the spring
I know they can be finicky feeders sometimes. Shoot, my experience is that they're always finicky feeders. lol I have found that changing jig depth can sometimes make all the difference in the world. Sometimes they won't go up 2 feet to eat my jig.
That's the truth right there as far as I'm concerned. I've cleaned plenty of crappie with crawfish in their bellies.Quote:
Originally Posted by MO Slab
Good post Informative.
One of my favorite presentations, bounce a jig on the bottom much like speckled trout fishing on the Causaway. Cast it out there, let it hit the bottom, bounce it up a foot or two, let it sink, repeat. Usually get the hit on the fall. Keep the line tight, and watch for any stops or side to side movement. The best time to use this technique is spring, in shallow canals 4 to 6 ft deep.
The mouth of the sac-a-lait is designed for inhaling. So it doesn't matter where the shiner or lure is.
good post.....
Like most rules of thumb, there are exceptions. A white perch is designed to feed up. Doesn't mean they always feed up. That being said, when the perch are suspended in deep water and you are fishing below where the fish are holding, you are in for a LONG day. Always best to fish higher in the water column and work your way down til you find them.
Being full of crawfish doesnt mean they are feeding off the bottom. Those crawfish get in the floating grass too.
I was about to play devils advocate and say something similar... And Im sure the fact that theyre in a tank would change their behavior drastically...Quote:
Originally Posted by PointMan3
very good post, figured they would eat wherever the food was,, but now we know
Had a two pounder pulled up near the surface trying to get him right to swing in the boat while he ran around inside the poles. Another one just as big was chasing him OUT of the water trying to get the bait out of his mouth. I thought the second was hooked up on another line, but he was just aggressively trying to steal the bait. When they're biting it doesn't matter.
When I fish Toledo in May, I always drag a jig along the bottom while I'm casting with my main rod. I get lots of bites on that drag line.
I agree. Have watched many times crappie come up on grass mats chasing small baitfish, and they're pouncing down on them. Sometimes their body stays on top of the hyacinth mat until they can flap themselves through. Although most agree that we feel bites as jigs move downward, we get them coming up too - but I guess we can't tell for sure in what position they attacked the jig.
This post was interesting to me - so I googled up some videos on crappie feeding - some in aquariums and some in the wild.
Most attacked shiners going up, fewer chased them down.