Shallow Lake Crappie

I need some guidance...

Background-

I built on a shallow oxbow lake in Scott. I'm on the western end which is separated from the main lake by a thick area of Cypress trees. It's several acres of navigable water, brush and Cypress line the banks. I've criss-crossed it with my depth finder, and there really isn't a channel. The middle area is 5-7 feet deep, and that's with all the rain we've had. I'd imagine at normal it's deepest is 6 feet. I have been trying to catch Crappie since June with absolutely no luck, by trolling and jigging minnows around brush... both on the bank and in the middle. I've caught tons of big bass, but crappie???? Nada.... zilch.


Until.....

I just built a boat slip/dock to keep my boat in the water in late October. So, I put rod holders all around and started putting minnows out at night to try to get a few cats or bass, having given up on Crappie. Lo and behold, I start catching a few crappie every night, and they are very nice ones.

Where are these peckerwoods during the day????????? How do you find them if there are no deep spots with structure??????

It's driving me nuts!

Thanks

I live in dewitt but come through Scott often! Challenge ACCEPTED!!!! lol! I bring my boat up there and give em heck with ya! Im no pro........But ya know sometimes second opinions pay off!:biggrin We both may learn something!

I would also like to be a part of that trip!!!!! Maybe you can get the crappie club to have a derby out there to "help" ya figure it out!!!!:biggrin

Sounds like a plan to me!!!!!:biggrin

I could invite some game wardens........Ya never know what kinda stories could come up......:dono

I want in too. I'll buy hubcaps at Cothams after the fishing is done:biggrin Mackenstein. I guess you figured out if you have access to a private oxbow, you will always have lots of friends. Welcome to the board....friend.:biggrin

That little lake has run out of the fishy. I out there today and got the last 2 out of the water:biggrin welcome to the board

Looks pretty ducky out there too, if I'm looking at the right lake!

YOU ON TULLS OR BEARSKIN ? Fish tight to cover (boat docks and trees )

My guess is your lake is experiencing a seasonable late evening or night bite...this occurs on most shallow lakes from Mid Fall into Winter. This means a day bite for the most part is very difficult and sometimes you haft to give them what they want...And right now for you is to fish at night.

I have dealt with several shallow lakes and from what you are saying the deepest water is 6 feet. Whenever your dealing with this shallow of a lake remember shade and cover become even more of a factor, and fish tend to become even more spookier.

If day fishing is all you can do right now try getting as deep into the dark'est shade you can find.... be it under docks or next to big live cypress or lay downs.
You must get your baits way back up under those docks in the daytime. This may mean sticking a jig pole way up under a dock with six inches of space from the water. With your non rod hand hold a little line so you can pull the trigger when you feel that thump as you wont be able to set the hook well. Being able to give your line a quick tug and setting the hook from a side ways motion under the dock will help you keep the fish buttoned up and get him out from underneath those tight areas. You can also try dock shooting the deepest docks or you can find or try a slip bobber and jig rig, keep your slip bobber close to your jig with a small split shot, this will enable you to pitch your bait way back under those docks, under tree limbs, or back into deep shady pockets with a bobber and enable you to give those spooky fish a nice slow, calm and steady offering. if you have allot of trees they will most always be on the wind leeward shade covered side, or in the tightest darkest pockets of trees you can find.

With all the recent cold nights we have had... sometimes they will fool ya and be on the sunny side basking in the warmth of the sun as it hits the tree trunk, so I would encourage you to try the sunny side of the tress also right now.

If you are trolling try your best to lay off the trolling motor as much as possible and use the longest trolling rods you can find to get the baits away from the boat as mush as possible. When trolling Oxbows make sure your covering the water column until you find what depth they are in, my guess right now... they will be on the bottom but they could also be a foot deep. Lastly when trolling look at your lake and how the sun throws shade over it in the mornings and evenings. Start your trolling efforts there where the shade lays across the lake the longest.

Keep trying the same bait you are using to catch them at night, chances are you will eventually find some day feeders that will hit it. If that don't work keep trying as many different baits as you can, starting with the ones you have the most confidence in. Remember stay the course... if you are catching nice fish at night, there are fish to be caught during the day. Good Luck.

Wow... never knew a guy could get so popular...... so quick:cheers2....

I'd love to do that derby thing and invite you all out to fish, but I'm afraid my neighbors would lynch me. They're pretty protective of their territory. The guy that checks for the community fishing tags in vehicles has gotten onto me twice for not displaying mine. I do appreciate the advice!

Thanks!

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Originally Posted by NIMROD

YOU ON TULLS OR BEARSKIN ? Fish tight to cover (boat docks and trees )

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Horseshoe. Probably the smallest oxbow in the Scott area.

Check your private messages

Well, Still no luck cahttp://www.crappie.com/crappie/asset...0&d=1455114706tching them during the day. Fortunately, they are still biting the lines I set out off my dock at night. This last cold snap has slowed the bite a bit. Here are some of my victims...

Someone I know lives on Mound Lake and said it had gotten fished out . That can happen when lots of houses are built around a small lake . Everyone wants to invite friends . He said when he built there you could catch lots of big slabs .

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Originally Posted by Mackenstein

Wow... never knew a guy could get so popular...... so quick:cheers2....

Thanks!

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You noticed none of then were invites to fish on their waters . :Rofl Funny how most always ready to help someone out with their honey holes .:biggrin

HAHAHAHAH THIS IS TRUE NIMROD. I'll throw em a bone. I dont know ya, but I will take ya fishing sometime!

We fish your water last night and did pretty good. Got last two brothers and sister

Yo-yo's or pole fishing?

Were you in the main lake or the smaller area that's separated by the Cypress swamp?

Use to fish the smaller one back in the day. Launch off the road. Needed a four wheel drive and had to be very careful, steep!!!! The yo yo guys started hitting it and then it was never the same. Then started catching a lot of Cyprus trout. Those critters can kill a good fishing hole.

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Originally Posted by JST

Use to fish the smaller one back in the day. Launch off the road. Needed a four wheel drive and had to be very careful, steep!!!! The yo yo guys started hitting it and then it was never the same. Then started catching a lot of Cyprus trout. Those critters can kill a good fishing hole.

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Ok, I'll bite.......What is a Cyprus Trout?

I bought a lot that is right on the smaller lake and built my house there. I know a lot of folks used to fish and hunt it because they had built a rough earthen ramp where I just built my dock/slip. Weird thing, I catch two kinds of Grinnell. One is just like any Grinnell I've ever seen. The other is identical except it has neon blue pectoral fins that actually seem to glow in the water. Next one I catch, I'm taking a picture and posting it on here.

Grinnell....

Probably a male bowfin. The males have prettier colors than the females. Also juvenile bowfin have different color patterns as well.

Thanks! I had never seen it before...

Matt, any idea how hard they are on the game fish species? Eating them that is.

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Originally Posted by JST

Matt, any idea how hard they are on the game fish species? Eating them that is.

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They are definitely fish eaters. I haven't read any diet studies on bowfin, but most fish eaters eat the most plentiful fish available to them. In most cases this is shad. The majority (greater than 50%) of fish biomass in most systems is gizzard and threadfin shad. But like all fish eaters, a bowfin will eat a small bluegill, largemouth, crappie, catfish, or any other game fish that swims in front of it. But if I had to guess, they mainly eat shad.

The worst thing on a small lake is yo yo's !!!! They need to be outlawed !!!!

Mackenstein, let me know the next time you go to the oxbow, i have my drone ready to fly and you won't even hear it.:biggrin

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