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Hey guys, I live down in western ky and fish the lakes, but right now the tennessee, cumberland, and ohio rivers are all very high and out in places. have any of yall ever fishing in backwater for crappie? i can see where it could be very productive to fish around new flooded structure. any advice is appreciated!!
I'd like to here some input on that also :popcorn
Don't know about any of the big rivers you mentioned but I do fish the Barren River below the spillway. It all depends on how much water is being released as to where I fish. You'll need to look for big eddies with at least 4' of water for the crappies to settle into and get out of the main current. Some eddies are 20' across and some are a quarter acre. The more water being released, the deeper you'll need to fish. Some guys like a single hook, split shot, and slip bobber. I like using a 1/32 or 1/16th oz jig under a bobber with a twitch, not trying to move the bobber, just trying to shake it. If your walking the banks, look for the old guys fishing the area and ask them. Most of us just look old an grumpy, but willing to share.
Slab, you ever had much luck when they hold the upper end of barren in the trees? I have never had any luck when it stays up. You would think with all that new cover you could swim or dip a jig anywhere up in it and get bit. That has not been my experience however.
To be honest, most of my fishing is in the middle of the lake. I do venture down to below Browns Ford and around the dam once a year, but as a rule, I'm within a few mile of the lodge. I'm not a fan of fishing trees, weather dead falls or placed by the state, as they eat a lot of my jigs. I like vertical jigging over beds as they do hold fish about any time, matching that time when they're there when you are is the key. For me its hard to beat spider rigging this time of year, along channel edges and cliffs. Summer time I like pulling crank baits to find schools and those fish, as a rule are bigger fish. My next attempt to chase crappie is to try my hand at long lining or flat lining. I've done a little with planer boards but would like to hone it a little. From what I've read, the key sounds like using the right size jig at the proper speed. Finding new techniques and working them to your advantage is the key, no matter what area or lake you fish. I enjoy the thump but learning new ways to take crappie is just as exciting.
Go to a small diameter Power Pro braid, stop loosing Jigs.
Personal experience
Pepper
I was wondering the same thing. I own a 7 acre slough off the Ohio. It is about 1 mile from the river but the river will flood over it by 4-5 feet. My slough is about 3-10 feet deep normally. I just wonder if many fish will make their way through all the trees and open farm land and remain when the water receeds.
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Or start using some of Grousefly's weedless jigheads !! He makes several different styles, but my favorite is the one with the Y guard. He can pretty much custom make about any type of jig or jighead that you can come up with, within reason. He's a site member & Ky boy, down in Vicco, Ky.Quote:
Originally Posted by Hotpepper
... cp :kewl
I fish from the islands to 31-E. That is about it. I will fish what I placed or brush I have marked. I only cast weedless sliders or minnows or tubes under a float. I pulled cranks a few times in the summer but the lake lice make it near impossible.Quote:
Originally Posted by slabseeker1
I had a smaller boat at one time and fished down in the river but only made it to the downstream end of the old oxbow. Only caught gar and a smallmouth down there.
I would bet you have fish of every flavor in there.Quote:
Originally Posted by ctf58
There are those dang asian carp in Grassy and Powell's lake. All those sloughs down there have fish in them from the river. Now, some dry up during summer or get cut off from the creek/ditch that connects them. But sounds like if your slough is 10' deep you should have fish year round.
I am going to use my kayak to fish some of the ones down around highland creek this spring.
What kind of river level makes it so you can't get to your slough? 30" on the eville gage and you can't get down into the lower bottoms where grassy is.Quote:
Originally Posted by ctf58
I'll GUARANTEE you there's crappie in there!Quote:
Originally Posted by ctf58
I'm North of Jenny Hole and East of Grassy. I'd be cut off about the same time. I've got a little Jon boat I could put in and try. From the bank I've only caught catfish, not even a single bluegill. Beavers keep it at a nice level, barring drought. I just do not know how to fish for crappie. I'll admit it, I bass fish. In my defense it is because I do not know how to crappie fish. I've got a 7 year old boy and want to get him into fishing more and want to broaden my fishing knowledge by learning to crappie fish. PLUS they are good eatin.Quote:
Originally Posted by smashdn
Buy that boy a minnow bucket and a couple of dozen minnows and go fishing from the bank.
Minnows under a slip float on a light wire hook. Throw up near your cypress and any lay downs.
I have been past your slough before. I found it on google earth.
30' and rising and you can't get past the place where all the old campers are right along the river. Falling 30' and you can't get past the bridge on the creek that drains grassy.
Takes 35'+ on the uniontown gage to flood out at highland creek.