Chickamauga Lake crappie report 6/01/2017

Another great day of crappie fishing with a new young fisherman. Samuel Porter, (no relation that we know of) joined me today for 4 hours of fishing and he wanted an education, so we didn't stay in any one spot for very long. But, we did catch fish in every location that I took him with the exception of one off shore spot that had too much current to fish. I taught him bluff fishing, off shore structure fishing, dock shooting (he is good on docks), brush pile fishing in sloughs, and finished the morning with vertical structure fishing.

We released all fish and we caught at least 3 limits or more. We would put the fish in the live well until we were ready to leave a spot and then count and release them in the same water from which they were taken. We had good quality keeper sized crappie, all Black species. The water temp was 72.1 at daybreak and 75 degrees when we finished. Mostly sunny, calm wind, but very pleasant to fish. Had a few clouds in the very end that kept the air temperature down.

Bass Assassin lures really showed off today. They were hot. S&P Phantom with chartreuse tail, Pearl/chartreuse tail, Chicken on a Chain were the best colors today. Bobby Garland Full Moon Slab Slayers and Green Thunder caught just a few fish. Many more of Bass Assassin lures. Dock fish were mostly deeper, over 10 feet, but we did have a couple of exceptions where the fish hit a 1/24 oz jig on a 3 count. Many of the deeper fish were on a 20-25 count and the bite was very subtle. If you live for the thump on this day, you would go home fishless. The bites could not be felt until the hook was set on the fish. Grin.

I had a great time with a young very interested fisherman. I had met his Father and younger brother at the ETCC tournaments and seminars. They are all good people. With a name like Porter, how could they be any different? LOL Of course, I'm bias.

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A great day with an even better teacher. Absolutely amazing. I am convinced DK has underwater eyes and presents his lures to each crappie individually. Something special about landing four big crappie on four straight casts. He is an amazing mentor. Beautiful day on the lake and hopefully more in the future.


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Kind of favors Wally!!!!!!!!!

Great report!! Thanks for sharing

U r killin me, had to spend the day inside working...

Great day!!

Awesome day out. Congrats on getting a new learner out and showing him the ropes. WTG

Just to clarify, it sounds like you are count to a certain number and jerking the rod without any indication of a bite. Is this correct? I'm one of those who has trouble detecting a bite. When I do feel it, my first instinct is I'm hung up :). It is so much easier with pulling boards and cranks, but I need to get better. Anyway, thanks for the post!

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Originally Posted by JBoyTN

Just to clarify, it sounds like you are count to a certain number and jerking the rod without any indication of a bite. Is this correct? I'm one of those who has trouble detecting a bite. When I do feel it, my first instinct is I'm hung up :). It is so much easier with pulling boards and cranks, but I need to get better. Anyway, thanks for the post!

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I count down every cast that I make. Crappie have a tendency to suspend a lot and it isn't always at the same depth from one day to the next. If you make a habit of counting down your lure as it sinks, then when you get a bite, you will know how deep the fish are and you can anticipate a bite on the next few casts at that count. Very few times will I just jerk the lure unless I am trying for a reaction bite from the fish. But the crappie bite can be seen more than 90% of the time and never felt. I don't feel the fish until I set the hook most of the time. Getting someone to detect a crappie bite is the hardest thing that I have to do as a teacher of crappie fishing. I agree with you that it is much easier to let the boat do the hooking of the fish by pulling cranks or other lures. That way all you have to do is reel them in. I would take up so other form of relaxation or entertainment if all I had to do was troll. Maybe needlepoint. Grin.

Good stuff DK! :)

Thanks DK!