Catch Expectations without Electronics

Well, I've fished a wide variety and dad kept me on crappie when I was a kiddo. Recently retired and have returned to fishing crappie. Given it a real effort, out 11 times out this year. Boy am I frustrated. 6 crappie total and have yet to catch a single crappie from the bank/bridges. The few I caught were out a ways padaling a kayak.

Sometimes I drive to the nearby Lakes (Weiss and Guntersville in AL) and ask around. Lots of folks not catching much though once folks had their buckets full. Another time I watched 2 boats catching 'em but not enough room for me to squeeze in between 'em.

Is catching a mess of crappie more often than not realistic without electronics (baited boathouse or brush piles excluded)?

I've caught a whole lot of Crappie, long before I ever used electronics. Mostly tied up to a tree & fishing with minnows, but there were times when casting a 1/8oz Doll Fly jig would put fish in the boat, too.

Even now, I'm using my electronics to stay in a specific depth, as I cast or troll my jig or Roadrunner (to fish on or around beds). When that's all said & done, I'll go to casting a jig to blowdown trees or standing trees.

Next time you see people catching them (and you're not) ... just strike up a conversation with them (without getting in the way or interrupting them) and just inquire as to what they're using and why. Learning why the fish are where they are, at a given time, is an important factor to file away in your memory.

Well, there's wisdom in your advice. Could've caught more but created my own bad luck. I'm doing what you suggest, funny, had 2 guys catching 'em on minnows both sides of me while I fished with jigs. Bought some minnows, returned and witnessed the bite coming to a stop. When the 2 boats pulled out (OP), myself and another boat got into the spot, I caught 1 and the boat of 4 caught zero. A 3rd time, my new Christmas lantern had dead batteries, caught 1, I tangled my line and couldn't retie in the dark. Watched my buddy land a dozen and they stopped biting.

Anyway, as I go thru this learning process, do I need the fish finder electronics? I don't mind getting out and not catching, I get lots of wildlife sightings in the yak. Just when my son-n-law visits from out of state, would like to see him catch crappie. Plan to get a little jon boat but have a limited budget now that we're retired.

I take it you only have a kayak to fish from and don't own a boat. Here is some youtube sites that will show you how they rig their kayaks and how they catch crappie.

Watch youtube videos they will teach you a lots if you take the time to watch them.

https://www.youtube.com/results?sear...rappie+fishing

No you do not have to have electronics. Time on water will be your friend.

I remember when my depth finder was a piece of trot line with a big weight on the end. When it stopped dragging the bottom I knew there was a drop off. Caught as many or more then as I do know using all the bells and whistles. Observation and experience will help you the most

FBC, I was wondering where my depth finder was....
Sosalty, just keep your eyes on those catching around you. And don't fear doing something different, than the herd. You'll come across them, in time.

A good quality pair of binoculars are the best fish finders.

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Originally Posted by scrat

A good quality pair of binoculars are the best fish finders.

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A small spotting scope might just be a better idea, lol.
Last week a few guys in a pontoon boat stopped and asked how I was doing?
I told them the truth, that being I wasent doing well, then asked how they were doing.
The answer was we don't even have any rods with us. They went about 1/4 mile down the canal and stopped
and didn't move for over an hour. I got out my 7x35s and saw they were casting, and thought they were using bobbers.
With a spotter, I could have read the words on their T shirts, and also got a lot more information than that..

I am one that I find my electronics are the most useful tool I have. Try and find cribs or sunken brush piles or suspended Crappies with out them is near impossible. Not saying you can`t catch fish without them but it will up your odds 10 fold if you learn to use them. One lake I fish it is strictly suspended Crappies out in the middle of no where with out electronics darn near impossible to catch fish. If it was me I would install some kind of electronics.

Thanks everyone for responding. Spying on other fishers is not a bad idea! I did get into the shellcrackers this morning, plus the you tube vids are encouraging. I've done lots of scouting and more fishermen are just enjoying a day on the water than filling the boat with slabs. The Guntersville Crappie tourney posted their results. Seems the smallest crappie submitted by the 15 entrees was a 1 & 1/4 lb.er. I'm guessing they caught way more than the 7 fish each weighed in, but to average very nearly 2lbs per fish is impressive.

You need to find or build cover . That means work or searching . The searching not easy without electronics unless your fishing visiable cover .

Start with blowdows, points, known shallow spots (find the drop off ) weed lines, and docks.
Down here you can smell em when they're bedding.
Lots of places to check out. If your sold on depth finders, Scotty makes quality transponder mounts, for the small boat crowd.
You can get to places others wouldn't think of going, with a full size rig.
Good luck!
Post often!

Sink brush in places where you can find it, it'll help you catch more fish.

Well, at least I had mixed luck this last trek out on water. As I launched the yak, a repair crew showed up on the bridge. I caught 3 x 9" crappie in 20 minutes then the jackhammer started up real close with cement chunks splashing down. A crane with a man on a platform was lowered to about 15' away with his back to me. I caught another small crappie then gave up due to the racket; paddled underneath him and hooted out at 'im.

Nim, you're right, I need to create bottom brush like my dad used to do. I did get a $35 hand held 'lucky fish finder.' At least I don't spend time fishing where there are none, when I pin point ledges and fish icons, it's a go. First impression is the little basic unit eliminates a lot of unfruitful searching.

I did catch a couple baby bluegills along the launch so put on a 3.5incher and tossed him under overhanging trees. Ahh, the Chattooga River has blue cats. This guy yanked me sideways pretty fast. Good thing the paddle was in my lap ready to become a rudder. He took off across the 50yd channel pulling me faster than I normally paddled. On the far side I decided to chance breaking my 6lb test line to see what he was, got his head up. Maybe 5-6lbs, someday, he'll
be a 50lb.er.
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Crappie was a hit or miss, many years ago without electronics.. we had structure sunk, or fished around stumps, or blowdowns. Sometimes we did good sometimes not. I still see fisherman fish this way a lot. Electronics allow you to find crappie when away from your favorite cover. That part of the puzzle solved, it comes to bait and technique. This last part is a constant learning curve. Only on the water experience can help here. Getting with a partner that is experienced can speed things up...!

It depends on the lake. If they tend to suspend in the middle of a lake as someone else pointed out you will need electronics. On some lakes they stay close to structures and shoreline.