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As we all know, I don't have a boat and I fish a local Pier which is only sitting in 5 fow, feeding into a slough off the main river. There is a channel that runs through the slough.
The weather for the area (Columbiana, AL, Lay Lake) is starting to cool off. 52 at night, 75 daytime. When do you think they'll start searching the shallows or will they remain in 20 fow until Spring?
Are they white crappie or black crappie ? Or both ?
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I've caught both at this location.Quote:
Originally Posted by "G"
Now...here in Southeast Missouri, when it starts getting cooler at night the fish move up around the bridge pilings. The concrete holds heat and they stack up on the down current side of them in the early mornings/late evening. When I don't have time to make it to the lake I fish some bridges on the dirt roads down from the house and do pretty good this time of year.
What was your experience last year at this time ??
If the Shad start coming back into that area, the Crappie will likely follow.
But, it's been my experience that during this time of year and on into the Fall ... 5ft of water is a bit shallow. Now, I don't know about your waters or any waters that far South ... but, on the lakes in my state & one in E Tenn (Watts Bar), mid to late Oct I've found the fish to still be out in deep water. Not necessarily deep themselves, but always with deep water under them. And by "deep" I'm talking about the 20-30ft depth range. Occasionally I have found them in shallow water (<10ft) at a local lake, then went to the Tenn lake and found them at 20-25ft deep a week or so afterwards. That's why I asked what you have experienced in the past ... because every lake can be different during the same time frame.
You might also post your question on the Ala forum, if you haven't already. You may get more "local" opinions/ideas from members that know the lake. Heck ... you might even get a invite to share a boat with a member that fishes Lay Lake !!
I have been asming for a boat partner since the beginning of Spring. Noone wants to take me that is local. Bama offered one time but that's a 2 hr drive.
I've never fished the Piers in the Fall. I just moved here last November. Spring I did quite well. The slough is 5 ft, but they say there is a channel that runs through it. It feeds off the main lake. It's not like a creek.
Now as for the bridge there, you have to walk a wooded grown up trial, and big rocks everywhere. Snakes are out, so that's a neg ghost rider lol. Guess I'll stay home tomorrow and just wait for Spring, because I don't have access to a boat.
Thanks guys.
I would not hesitate for a second to drive 2 hours for a chance to go fishing with Bama. Jumping Jacks Icon
Well, I would like to talk to someone on the phone before driving 2 hours to a place I know nothing about. I can't just jump up and drive 2 hours. I need to have funds, so a plan would be nice. Gas is $2.19 here. I'm on a fixed budget.
Mamba, I'll be happy to fish with you at fort Rucker. I'll take care of everything if you can just get here. For that matter, we can fish Dale, Coffee, or Geneva County lakes.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mamba334
Awesome! Give me an address to type in and I'll look it up! Thank you!
2068 County Road 711, 36330
2 hrs 37 mins. We'll have to plan that.
When did you want to go?
I'm fishing with the wife this Saturday morning. Let's plan on Saturday week - early.
Ok, great! Thanks. And good luck this Saturday! I'm going at dawn in the morning, trying this pier. Hope they are shallow....it rained today too.
That's what it's about right there!! Kudos to you friend and good luck guys :)Quote:
Originally Posted by John Doe
Thanks Showme!
I'm getting tired of getting up at 5AM, going to the store buying a dozen minnows, sitting at the Pier for 3 hours ... not one bite. Does anyone know about what time in the Fall they might come shallow? Like the temp? It's been cool at night.
Personally, I've never known them to come that shallow in the Fall, especially on lakes with very clear water.
Here's a link to a report I did from last Fall ... and though it's not quite as far South as you are, it's become the norm for my Fall fishing in E Tenn. Even on my home lakes, the fish seem to still prefer the >10ft depths for the most part.
http://www.crappie.com/crappie/kentu...3=#post2817405
You might be better served to find another location, where you can reach deeper water with your baits ... if that's possible. :dono
You may have to find a different spot with deeper water. My experience this time of year is deep water. 15 ft or deeper. Try around the dam or rip rap somewhere. Surely there are other spots to fish.
And that, my friends, is what crappie fishin is ALL about. Nice job, guys.
That's why I was trying to get a boat buddy. I live 10 minutes from Lay Lake. The only spot to bank fish is Beeswax Park, metal piers sitting in 5 fow feeding off a Slough. The other spots by the bridge are holding snakes and grass is knee high, so no thanks LOL.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave and Lynn
All is good though. It's too hard to find a boat buddy, so I just ordered a Class II Hitch for my Impala, and in Feb I'll be shopping for an aluminum bass tracker. I don't want to do a Jon Boat. I'll be spider rigging soon!!
Stupid question here, but a quarter weight is 1/4 right?
Yeah, that would be my assumption.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mamba334
quarter weight - quarter ounce weight - 1/4oz weight = same same
Thank you! I thought so! I was fishing and was using 1/4 weight. My fishing partner said that was too small. Use a quarter weight. I was stumped. I hate math ha!
Well, my report. Lay Lake.
We went out the other night around 6PM. Fished until 11PM. It was cold on the water too. Fish were all scattered out. We searched 7 ft all the way up to 40 feet. The fish finder saw a random fish every now and then alert the finder and some were 5 ft, some where 11 ft, some were 24 ft. It was hard to locate them. New to the lake, so we were really searching for structure. People said there were downed trees around the bridge, but no tree found. You guys think we should try drop offs? Main channels?
My setup was 1/4 egg sinker with a #2 Aberdeen hook with minnow about 12 inches from the sinker. Tight lining.
I have been hearing people catching a lot of fish at 15 fow and not 25 fow. They are catching slabs in i fow.
Are the Crappie not deep yet? Having a hard time locating them. Fishing coves, downed trees, brush, ledges, humps, bridges ... No fish
Might be questions better asked on your state forum. Identify the lake you're fishing and ask ONLY for general info (not specific spots or areas) and you'll likely get pointed in the right direction ... and a lot faster than waiting for someone to answer these questions, here. :twocentsQuote:
Originally Posted by Mamba334
I never like asking for spots. People aren't honest anymore. But thanks! I was just asking because we can't seem to locate them.
Ummmmm, honest?
I said that because when I ask people for good crappie spots, they always say oh there's a good spot over there, then I get over there and it's a swamp. But I know what you're getting at ET. It's cool man. I've never had any luck meeting anyone off this site. Seems everyone is either too far north or too far south. But have a great day! :) I just thought I would ask because I been going fishing and heard it was great in the fall and I see all these people posting slabs, but I just can't seem to find them. I've sat here and read soooo many articles from pros. Still no luck. I keep buying lures and baits too. Just tired of wasting my money. I'll be buying myself a boat in February, so I'll find them.
I wish you luck!Quote:
Originally Posted by Mamba334
Thanks. I'll be trying out Ohatchee Friday.
Mamba 334 dont give up! The fall bite to me is the best. Here in central Illinois the fishing has been on fire. The bite started picking up in October when the nights started getting cooler. Here they come up shallow and hang out near docks,lay downs, stumps, just about anything that protrudes into the water. and Im talking from 2'-10' usually. We always fish with jigs (1/16 oz.) in different colors (black/chart, chart, black/pink, pumpkinseed/chart, etc...). I know it says you use minnows, but you might give 1/16 oz jigs a try. The water temp here now is in the high to mid 50's and like i said the bites been Great. The water clarity is stained and murky but the fish don't mind. Sometimes it surprises me how shallow they are!!! GOOD LUCK:ThumbsUp
Hey, Crappiejigger! Thanks for the encouragement brother! Yeah - I been hearing they are shallow. Me and my buddy are going to try the bridges at Lake Guntersville this evening after I get off. I have a BG Chart and BG Pink Glow jig head 1/16 I was going to use on one pole. Then minnow on the other. I am having an issue however with the dang slip bobber stops I purchased last night (Rod and Bobb's). I got it tied tight, but it won't slip through the eye hole and then I use a thill wobble bobber with a red bead on top. The dang string goes through the bead/bobber hole. But I got a plan for that. I got a few Rocket Bobbers. But I don't understand why the stop doesn't go through the eye hole. It blows my mind because it's on there tight. :scratchhead
I also got some beacon bobber sticks. Hopefully we will catch some slabs. I've been fishing deep and not one bite. It's supposed to be 81 today and 56 tonight so we'll see how the bridge produces. Supposed to be around 18 ft deep. I might fish like 10 ft.
Also, quick question; I've always used a 1/16 jighead on my 1/16 wobble bobber. That is correct right or should I use a 1/8 jighead on the 1/16 bobber? I thought if I used the 1/8 it would pull the bobber down.
Try 6 to 8 ft.
I'll do that, Sir! Thanks! I have a 6 ft pole, so that'll be good. Do you know why the string slip bobber stop won't stay in place and slide through the UL pole's last (top) eye? It gets stuck. I got it on there tight, but I didn't want it too tight ya know. I thought they worked well?
Depends on what type/size guides your rod has on it. Some rods have micro guides (like my ESP rods), which are great for keeping the line straight (longer casting distance) and less weight to the rod ... but, not so good for most types of bobber stops.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mamba334